Cheer on these Cornellians participating in the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 2!
You can read more about the alumni running on behalf of the NYC Cornellians Scholarship Fund at their fundraising site.
RUNNING ON BEHALF OF NYC CORNELLIANS: Arianna Kohilakis ’22
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell Bowers
New York, NY
“In the past year, I’ve had the honor of being accepted onto the NYC Cornellians Board and have founded the NYC Cornellians Run Club. It is one of my missions to help connect our Cornell community through running. So please reach out if you’re interested—we support every runner from casual joggers to serious long distancers.
As I look back at how running became important to me, Cornell stands at the center point. I remember all the beautiful hiking trails and gorges that I explored on vibrant fall days and crisp spring mornings. It was in those moments where my appreciation for the outdoors and running really began.” Continued
RUNNING ON BEHALF OF NYC CORNELLIANS: Brad Ginesin ’92
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Hudson Valley, NY
“I started running at Cornell and now live and train in the Hudson Valley. A portion of the Empire State Trail, aptly named The Great Swamp, is my favorite training ground. The area’s beauty boosts my energy and spirits, and reminds me of my old running turf, Cornell Botanic Gardens.
In my marathoning journey, I’ve been fortunate to run three in NYC for various charities. This year will be the most special as I raise funds for my alma mater, which I am so grateful to represent! Supporting student scholarships is one of the best causes I can train and run for. It is crucial to enable a path forward for the next Cornell generation who otherwise couldn’t afford it. I look forward to fulfilling that responsibility as part of the Cornell running team.” Continued
RUNNING ON BEHALF OF NYC CORNELLIANS: Jessi Kruse ’18
Cornell Human Ecology
New York, NY
“I love moving through the world—whether hiking the Adirondacks, backpacking in Patagonia, or exploring NYC as I train for a marathon. I got into endurance sports young. I raced cross-country mountain bikes throughout my childhood, racing at the semi-professional level in high school. I later discovered running as a way to explore Cornell’s campus and unwind from classes. Running became my main form of exercise in graduate school, especially after my husband and I rescued a high-energy dog who required long (10–15!) mile trail runs to tire her out. After she sadly passed from an aggressive cancer earlier this year I decided to train for my first marathon to honor her and the many miles we shared. Having it be the NYC Marathon—and running on behalf of NYC Cornellians student scholarship fund—feels incredibly special.” Continued
RUNNING ON BEHALF OF NYC CORNELLIANS: Jacob Wynkoop ’23
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
New York, NY
“After I finished playing in my senior year, I was looking for another athletic focus—and I found running. At first it was casual, but after I began running longer distances (especially the Black Diamond Trail near Cayuga Heights), I started to think more seriously about marathons and made them my main pursuit.
Over the last two years, I’ve run marathons in Philadelphia, Cape Cod, Berlin and London! The last one was my first running for a charity—and I now look forward to continuing that effort for Cornell. And what an experience the NYC Marathon will be. Last year, I had a wonderful time supporting the race as a Cornell water station volunteer (which I highly recommend to everyone)—and this year, I’ll be on the other side representing Cornell’s spirit throughout the course!” Continued
Sam Allen ’24
Cornell Engineering
Woolwich, NJ
“Marathoning is one of my favorite activities to do! When you’re racing, it feels like you are floating down the road. It’s a truly out of body experience. I started marathoning while at Cornell, so having the Cornell community cheer me on reminds me of those tough workout sessions in the hills around Ithaca. Getting to run the NYC Marathon checks off one more marathon on the World Marathon Majors list!”
Attakrit Asvanunt ’02
Cornell Engineering
New York, NY
“My 7-year-old daughter has really enjoyed watching NYC marathons and cheering on runners for the past few years. She knows I ran it once before she was born, and asked me to run it again so she can cheer me on, and so here I am.”
Mayling Blanco ’00
College of Arts and Sciences
New York, NY
“I’m thrilled to be running this year. While not my first time, it comes with special significance as I’m returning after extended pause for personal challenges. There is no feeling like the crowds in NYC and seeing Cornellians at the last water station on the course is exactly the boost I need to remind me I can finish!!! Go BIG RED!!!”
Patrick Boor ’14
College of Arts and Sciences
Boston, MA
“I am honored to be running the 2025 New York City Marathon in support of Team Volo Kids, an organization dedicated to providing children with access to free, high-quality sports programs. As a lifelong educator and coach, I have witnessed the incredible impact that sports can have on a child’s development, from building confidence and resilience to fostering teamwork and leadership. As a proud member of the Class of 2014, having the unwavering support of the Cornell community would mean the world to me. Learn more about my marathon journey.”
Michael Cabana ’89
College of Arts and Sciences
New York, NY
“I’m serving as Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY.
Every year, about 25 volunteers run the NYC Marathon to raise funds for our CHAM pediatric palliative care team. The funds are used to pay for additional counseling, social work support, sibling programs and pastoral care that is not usually paid by third-party payers. It is an honor to be part of the team this year.
This is my second NYC Marathon and I remember seeing the Cornell alumni at a water station near mile 25. Thank you to all the volunteers. It was really inspiring and energizing at a difficult point towards the end of the course.”
“The NYC Marathon will be the fifth race of my World Marathon Majors Six Star quest. It started at the Boston Marathon (2019), continued post-Covid with Berlin (2023), Tokyo (2024), Chicago (2024), NYC (2025), and hopefully to be accomplished in London (2026). Since graduation from Cornell, I have returned to Taiwan working in the semiconductor industry for the last 23 years. As of today, there are fewer than 300 Six Star finishers in Taiwan, and I am proud to be one from the Cornell community to strive for it. The four Majors I have run were all unique and enjoyable, but NYC—running into Manhattan and finishing at Central Park—will be the epic moment I am really looking forward to. Can’t wait!”
Dave Cowing ’90
College of Arts and Sciences
New York, NY
“A few years ago, I was close to a heart attack. In cardiac rehab, I saw individuals that had serious cardiac conditions struggling with the exercises and I decided I wanted to take control of my health and turned to running. Have been running for three years and while not fast have completed over 30 races, including five half marathons. My cardiologist (a classmate of mine from Cornell) likes to share my story with his other patients. As a next step in the journey and also due to the amazing experience working the mile 25 fluid station for six years with other Cornell alumni, I’m now in training for NYC Marathon in November.”
Joe Dashevsky ’19
College of Arts and Sciences
New York, NY
“I am running to support NYC parks, fundraising on behalf of a charity that donates and maintains some of these great community centerpieces (Cityparks). Participating means early mornings, strict schedules, fundraising, and training alongside friends. I love the Big Red community and have been fundraising on behalf of class campaigns. I am always looking for news way to give back to this community.”
Susan Dauber ’06
Cornell Human Ecology
New York, NY
“I have been on my six star journey since 2021, but NYC will always be my favorite marathon. The crowd support is unlike any other and there’s no energy like the energy of the city. NYC has been home since 2006 and it makes me so proud to be out there running the streets!”
Mandy Dugan ’98
Cornell Engineering
Wilton, CT
“One of the first people I met when I arrived in my dorm at Cornell my freshman year was Liz Healy. We have been friends ever since, sorority sisters, roommates as upper classmen, and roommates when we graduated and lived in NYC. Fast forward to present day, and Liz is fighting stage four colon cancer. This is the second year I will be completing the NYC marathon for Liz and to raise money for Fred’s Team. I will be joined by Laura Hoeft (Wheaton) ‘98 and Karen Appell ‘98, also Cornell roommates. We are fighting for Liz, for awareness of colon cancer prevention, and for everyone fighting against this deadly disease.”
Robin Dulman ’97
Cornell Human Ecology
Oakton, VA
“I am a pediatric oncologist and I will be running the NYCM in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (now called Blood Cancer United) to raise funds to support research for children with leukemias and lymphomas and support their families throughout the cancer journey.”
Emily Graffius ’20
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
New York, NY
“Running a marathon is important to me because it marks a personal milestone. I’ve always been a recreational runner, but I wanted to channel that into something more intentional. The NYC Marathon has this incredible energy and vibrancy that I’ve always admired, and being part of that experience feels really meaningful. I also see this as a chance to push myself outside my comfort zone, try something new, and connect with others who share the same passion. Building community within the running space is something that has excited me while training and having the Cornell community alongside me for the marathon would only add to that excitement!”
Elizabeth Healy ’98
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
New York, NY
“Movement is my medicine. I have been doing the NYC Marathon for past three years and will be doing this year to raise money for Fred’s Team, as part of a team I started—Team Check Your Colon—to raise money for colon cancer research. I’m fighting stage four colon cancer and MSK has been crucial to my journey.
Cornell has been an amazing part of my journey. I’m on the Cornell Rowing Board and just got back from Royal Henley Regatta in the UK with the team. There is also a boat named after me—The Irish Liz Healy
The team and coach Coppola inspires me everyday to fight cancer! I am also in touch with a former professor Brian Earle who sends me the best notes every few months!
The NYC Marathon is the best day of day of the year in NYC! And to do it for a great cause is the best way to do it!!”
Keith Herrador ’00
School of Industrial and Labor Relations
Lindenhurst, NY
“I am running the NYC Marathon for two reasons. The first reason is because I have been actively running for the last seven years and I have finally gotten myself to the point to where I feel like I am capable of attempting my first marathon. This will be a great physical and mental challenge for me to under take.
The second reason is because I have voluntarily joined Fred’s Team to raise money for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in honor of my wife, who has stage four metastatic breast cancer. I have currently raised over $10,000 and the Cornell community is part of this. My sister and her husband are alumni and have contributed. My Cornell friend network has contributed. I am an alumnus of Cornell’s Last Call, the all male a cappella group. The alumni network has contributed significantly to this fundraiser so I know Cornell will be behind me as I undertake this challenge.”
Angela Horstmann (DiFabio) ’08
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
Ashton, PA
“Running was not something you did as a sport or hobby growing-up. Living in the row homes of Northeast Philly, running was reserved for something within sports like soccer or softball. There just wasn’t time for running on its own. How could there be? I got my first job at 13 in a Convent—too young to work anywhere else—and that began to take up a lot of my time as I needed the money to save for dresses for the seventh grade dances. This “work for what you want” ethic was instilled in me as the daughter of a plumber Dad and part-time bank teller Mom.
Eventually this work ethic paid off in getting a scholarship to go to college—I would be the first in my family. I kept working hard and eventually graduated with a computer science degree and started my career in consulting. One of my colleagues was running a 5k and I joined in—for fun. I have no idea how I did in that first race, but I knew I liked it. There was something about the feeling of running and sense of achievement in crossing a finish line that was like a finite moment of success. So, I started to put my work ethic to my new found hobby of running and that changed everything for me.
Running has become something I turn to when I need to feel revitalized or when I need to process a hard topic, or when I just want to feel strong. It’s now kept me going though many milestones in my life: getting married, attending business school at Cornell, and starting a family. Running as a hobby has been one of life’s little luxuries for me. Now as my daughters are getting older, I decided to set a new goal: run the World Major Marathons. When I told my husband that this would be a goal for me I almost whispered it because if felt too big. He replied to my whisper, “you will do it—that’s what you do when you set a goal.” So here I am, about to run the New York City Marathon in 2025. This will be my second of the Six World Majors. I couldn’t be more excited!”
School of Medicine Photo Day, Day 2, in Scaife Hall’s West Wing on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. (Photo by Rayni Shiring)
Jessica Jiang ’22
College of Arts and Sciences
Pittsburgh, PA
“I’m so excited to be running my third consecutive New York City Marathon! I first started running as a way to explore the campus and surrounding Ithaca area—places I had missed out on during the early pandemic. While writing my honors thesis, I set myself a wild goal: to run the NYC Marathon. That dream became a reality in 2023 and 2024, and now I’m thrilled to return for 2025. I’m currently a medical student in the Physician Scientist Training Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and running continues to be a grounding and energizing part of my life alongside my academic journey. Go Big Red!”
Cynthia Kuo ’24
College of Architecture, Art, and Planning
New York, NY
“Achieving another life goal after receiving my master degree at Cornell.”
Lauren Latella ’12
Cornell Human Ecology
New York, NY
“I am running the NYC Marathon for the second year in a row! The first time I ran the NYC Marathon in honor of all the people who could not run it as having a healthy body and mind and being able to run this race is a privilege! As a child and adolescent psychologist working with many vulnerable populations as well as various medical settings with individuals with chronic illnesses, I dedicated my training and race to honor those who couldn’t. This year, with those still in mind, I’m choosing to run for myself in honor of the things I have overcome!”
Paul Lee ’98
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Albertson, NY
“As a 10-time official pacer for the NYC Marathon, I love to help fellow runners achieve their goals. This year will be my 15th NYC Marathon and my 96th marathon overall. My wife and I both loved our time at Cornell and still try to be get involved whenever we can. Our son is currently a sophomore at Cornell and all three of my children enjoy distance running and have run the marathon distance.”
Felix Lung ’96
Cornell Bowers Computing and Information Sciences
Los Angeles, CA
“I ran my first marathon in 2014 which also happened to be the NYC marathon. This was supposed to be a one and done thing but 11+ years later, I’m still going (relatively) strong. The 2025 NYC Marathon will be my 31st marathon overall and my 11th NYC Marathon. I’ll keep doing this as long as I can keep training and do the necessary time commitment that goes with all of this!”
Dan Maas ’87
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Ithaca, NY
“I’m back again spending the week with New York Road Runners setting up the marathon Race Communications Center (RCC) and serving as Communications Branch Director on race day. It’s always great to see Cornellians, including alumni and current students, out there during the days before and at the finish (if I’m able to escape for a little to watch them finish). Best wishes for everyone running this year! Feel free to stop by the RCC tent to say hi on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. We’re at the top of the Sheep Meadow and just ask for me at the entrance.”
Kim McErlean ’12
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Italy
“I apply to the marathon lottery regularly and I was so excited to get in this year (despite the fact that I currently live abroad, in Italy). I am running for three key reasons:
For my mental health, which has been a really big struggle over the past few years; even though it’s been extremely tough, having training to get me out of bed and moving in the mornings has really helped;
For my dad, who passed away in 2017 but was an avid marathon runner and biker; I know he’d be so excited to see me run; and
For NYC, which isn’t my home at the moment but will always feel like home to me. It truly is the greatest city in the world and I can’t wait to run 26.2 miles through it.
I have volunteered with Cornell to give out water a handful of times when I lived in NYC—and being at the 25 mile marker was such a thrill because you know you’re seeing the runners in the home stretch who are SO CLOSE to finishing. Can’t wait to see Cornell there in a month as I cross off this bucket list item for myself.”
Shaun McGrath ’05
Cornell Engineering
Saratoga Springs, NY
“I qualified for the Age Group World Championships at the marathon distance, which is part of this year’s NYC Marathon race. In 2024, I ran the Boston Marathon in April & California International Marathon in December, and my combined times placed me in the top 1% in the world for my age group at eligible races. As a NYC native, I look forward to running the five boroughs on the first Sunday in November!”
Catherine Peng ’23
Cornell Graduate School
New York
“Share the red sprites!”
Anaïs Rameau ’04
College of Arts and Sciences
New York
“Cornell is such a great representation of NY State, and the marathon is an emblematic event for the state. Running the marathon representing Cornell is the epitome of being a New Yorker.”
Jonathan Rebold
Cornell Law School
Brooklyn, NY
“I’m not running but would love to join the Cornell Marathon Team in the future especially if it creates an opportunity to run in the NYC Marathon while representing Cornell.”
Caitlin Stanton ’20, MEng ’21
Cornell Engineering
New York, NY
“I’m running to celebrate the city I grew up in and push my endurance!”
Anne Treadwell ’89
College of Arts and Sciences
Montpelier, VT
“I’m so excited to be running the NYC Marathon for the fourth time, this year as part of the Age Group World Championships. I first ran it in 2004, at the beginning of my journey that’s now taken me to all seven of the World Marathon Majors and to five continents (No. 6, Africa, is next: the Marrakech Marathon in January will be my 60th marathon). Being from a small town in Vermont (I grew up in Montpelier and have recently moved back), running NYC that first time reminded me of arriving on campus at Cornell in August 1985. So many people, from all backgrounds and cultures, and so much enthusiasm!
One of the things I love about marathoning is that all of us—from the elites at the front to the first-timers, senior citizens, amazing athletes overcoming physical challenges and more—have the same goal to cross the finish line, and the crowds in NYC will roar us over the line. Cheers to all the Cornellians who are running this year!”
Arianna Kohilakis ’22
Brad Ginesin ’92
Jessi Kruse ’18
Jacob Wynkoop ’23
Patrick Boor ’14
Michael Cabana ’89
Horace (Yu-Jen) Chen ’02
Dave Cowing ’90
Susan Dauber ’06
Angela Horstmann (DiFabio) ’08
Lauren Latella ’12
Paul Lee ’98
Dan Maas ’87
Anne Treadwell ’89
