Remembering Reese: A void at Vanny

Note: This is the next in a series of posts in remembrance of Greg Salamone (Class of 2001), who passed away in October at the age of 35 after battling melanoma for eight months.  

I knew it would happen. Friday was the first time we returned to Van Cortlandt Park since the passing of Marist Running Alum Greg Salamone, and it was odd and sad not to have him there with us. Vanny was the site of some of Greg’s greatest successes in the red and white from 1997 through 2000 (see photo with this post, with Greg grinding it out in front of the competition at Vanny). His final XC race, the 2000 IC4A Championships, ended in triumph as he was part of the team that won the University Division title. The 14^th anniversary of that race is coming up.

As stated in previous remembrances, Greg almost never missed a Vanny meet, even if it was on a Friday when he was supposed to be working. He always seemed to be able to play hooky for a few hours to come and watch his old team. He lived in Marble Hill, very close to Vanny. He loved XC and he loved the Marist Red Foxes. We miss him every day, but especially on the days we are at Van Cortlandt Park.