There is a banner hanging in front of Leo’s restaurant in Cornwall Plaza that says “Go Cuffe Go” and, if it was up to Bernard Sussman, all of Main Street would be draped with similar signs. Sussman, a Cornwall resident, thinks that the town should do more to support Cornwall high school junior Aisling Cuffe, who is ranked #1 in the national Footlocker cross country championship race in San Diego to be held on Saturday, December 12.
“We should be sending her off with a bang,” Sussman said on Saturday, shortly after he walked the length of Main Street asking local businesses to hang a sign or a banner to encourage the 16-year-old runner. Last month, Cuffe locked in her record for speed when she won the northeast regional title, finishing the race 47 seconds before the second place winner.
Dan Maniscalchi, one of Leo’s owners, said he hung the banner because he wanted to give Cuffe some inspiration. “I would love for her to break all records and then Cornwall will stand out as the small town home of a great runner,” he said.
You can watch the race this Saturday online at www.footlockercc.com or click below to watch an interview with Cuffe after she won the silver medal in this summer's Pan Am Games in Trinidad.
Comments:
I didn't know about it until now but if someone close to her wants to co-ordinate a banner for when she comes home. Please have them contact me and I will arrange it.
Also I can make up individual tees with her name on them for anyone who would like to purchase one ($8.00 each). But the banner that I mentioned in the previous comment would be at my expense.
A banner is a wonderful idea. Perspective: the last race Aisling ran was at Sunken Meadows State Park, LI. It is reputed to be one of the toughest courses in the nation. It was very windy, 30 - 40 mph winds, on the day of the NE Footlocker Championships there at Sunken Meadows. Aisling broke the course record by 20 seconds. That is astounding. And she is a humble and humourous young woman. What a blessing. Run Aisling Run. Be Happy too.
