GE Runners have a winning time in Chicago!
160 GE runners and walkers took to the streets of Chicago Thursday night as part of the 2003 JPMorganChase Corporate Challenge. The Challenge is a 3.5 mile road-race that is open to employees of participating corporations. This was the 22nd running of the annual series in Chicago!
Joe Herington (GEMS) receives his award from Grete Waitz.
GE-Elfun brought together participants from GE businesses throughtout the Chicagoland area and beyond into a single GE mega-team. People traveled from Milwaukee, Schenectady, and even Philadelphia to experience the race, the camaraderie of teammates, and the fantastic post-race spread put together by the organizing committee!

There was clearly strength in numbers, as GE turned in a dominating performance on the roads of Chicago's lakefront. Joe Herington of GEMS - Milwaukee was the overall winner of the race, leading home the field of 12,500 in 17:58. He was closely followed across the line by GE teammates Tim Donahugh (3rd place) and Mark Rutledge (6th), powering GE to a victory in the men's division of the race. Pending the official results, GE's men's team will be representing Chicago at the finals of the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge series, which is held in New York in October.

GE's smiling captains greeted team members to Grant Park!
Not only was the GE team holding it's own against the 400+ other companies, in the challenge, we were also supporting an excellent cause. The beneficiary of the event is the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, with donations being distributed throughout 31 suburban centers and more than 100 YMCA extension sites. The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago anchors every neighborhood from the heart of the central city to the farthest reaches of the suburbs. As a result, families come closer together, children learn and grow, young people lead, individuals become self-sufficient, and all people are healthier in spirit, mind and body.

Special thanks to Sandra Vazquez, Tamara Miner-Corso, Mark Patton, Nancy Null, Maria Dobanovacki, Christophe Day, Angela Harris, Hillary Sutton, Suzanne Thomas, and everybody else who worked so hard to make this a truly special event for GE.

For more information on the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge event in Chicago, click here.