For the 53rd time, the TCS New York City Marathon — a major highlight of the fall sports scene — traversed the five boroughs on Sunday, Nov. 3. As always, our diocese was well represented by parishioners throughout Brooklyn and Queens.

This year, several Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) track coaches participated in the race or passionately cheered on the runners along the 26.2-mile course. Here’s a look at a few of the CYO-NYC Marathon connections from diocesan parishes:

Good Shepherd-Resurrection Parish, Gerritsen Beach

James Ditucci-Cappiello ran his 39th overall marathon and 17th NYC Marathon last weekend. A member of the Prospect Park Track Club, Ditucci-Cappiello has coached CYO track at Resurrection, his lifelong parish, since 2008.

He recently retired as an assistant chief in the Fugitive Investigations Division of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and was a professor of sociology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Currently, he is a physical education teacher at Good Shepherd Catholic Academy, Marine Park.

Ditucci-Cappiello ran his first NYC Marathon — which was also his first overall marathon — in 2001, less than two months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He’s kept coming back for more year after year.
“I do like the challenge of it,” he said. “With coaching the team, I like to motivate the kids and give them something to look forward to. We always talk about never quitting and never giving up. Those are the big themes of our team.”

St. Anastasia, Douglaston

All three CYO track coaches — husband and wife Jean and Cherelle Chery and Kelly Horvath — ran the NYC Marathon. Jean was a 12-season runner and track team captain at St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, after having run CYO track at Sacred Heart, Cambria Heights. Sunday was his 52nd overall marathon.

The couple — parishioners at Our Lady of Lourdes, Queens Village — have captured nine overall CYO track championships between their two coaching stops. Cherelle, a graduate of New York University in Manhattan, said there’s plenty of nostalgia surrounding the race for her.

“It’s always a trip down memory lane because… it feels like I’m running through different moments in my life,” she said. “When you watch the marathon, you see every age group, every ability or disability — you see it all.”

Horvath just completed her third NYC Marathon. She has coached at St. Anastasia for the past six years, five of which have been with the Cherys. Her running career started with mostly 5Ks and 10Ks, yet she began increasing her distance after some motivation from her fellow coaches. The retired NYPD detective still runs for the NYPD Running Club and joined the New York Road Runners after the pandemic. “I’m afraid to do another marathon somewhere else because I might be disappointed,” she said.

St. Francis de Sales, Belle Harbor

Stephen Gifford ran his 26th NYC Marathon in a row and 34th overall. Originally from St. Cecilia,
Greenpoint, Gifford moved to the Rockaways 28 years ago and is now the director of CYO cross country at St. Francis de Sales. After running his first marathon, he was extremely sore and considered never doing it again. But, a friend convinced him to run the next year, and he’s continued ever since. He
now receives an automatic bid each year for completing his 15th NYC Marathon. “It’s the best day in the city; everybody’s out,” he said.

St. Francis de Sales cross country coach Kathleen McVeigh Coughlin was a spectator this year, but 30 years ago, she was among the top women runners, finishing 24th overall among women and fourth among American women with a time of 2:55.12. The following year, she set a personal record at 2:54.11 — 25th among women and fourth among American women. In total, she has completed four sub-3-hour marathons. She’s run nine NYC Marathons and is looking forward to her chance at No. 10.

“The crowds are amazing,” she said. “Being in the city you grew up in and seeing people you know is an experience like no other.” Kathleen’s brother Jim McVeigh, who provides the timing for the CYO cross country meets, is a graduate of Nazareth H.S., East Flatbush, and among the all-time CHSAA track greats. He ran his one and only NYC Marathon in 1997 and has enjoyed spectating each year.

“We all support each other, and that has a lot to do with the Catholic Youth Organization and everything that goes with it,” he added. “The CYO has produced some great runners over the years.”