MANHASSET, N.Y. — In the course of your average half marathon, a runner will take approximately 20,000 steps to get to the finish line. For Manhasset High School junior Keira Trieste, while it was certainly about hitting that number as she participated in the New York City Half Marathon in late March, it was also about honoring another number even higher than that—the tens of thousands who perished in and survived the 9/11 attacks on America, as well as other traumatic events.

Like so many of our community’s families, the Triestes had ties to both those who were killed that fateful day in 2001, as well as to those who lived through it. But the main motivation for Keira choosing to participate in the NYC Half Marathon as part of the team raising money for Manhasset-based nonprofit Tuesday’s Children—which supports families and survivors of terrorist and mass-violence events—was a deeply personal one. “My family was blessed to have my grandmother escape the 26th floor of [NYC’s] North Tower and survive the attack,” she relates. “Tuesday’s Children is a great organization that helps other families that were not as fortunate as mine.”

It’s clear the organization feels equal admiration for Keira, as well. “Having Keira pioneer our Team Tuesday’s Half-Marathon team was inspiring,” smiles Keri Emmanuelidis, TC’s Endurance Fundraising Coordinator. “Keira may not have been alive during 9/11, but Tuesday’s Children is truly grateful to have her continue to share our mission by showing support for families impacted by terrorism, military conflict or mass violence. Team Tuesday’s is a relatively new program … our Half Marathon team consisted of six runners. With the help of runners like Keira, we are able to grow awareness and support for Team Tuesday’s in the running community. I am excited to share we just signed 25 runners for the TCS NYC Marathon 2022! Keira’s passion for running and her support from family and friends for Tuesday’s Children was immeasurable.”

According to Keira, that support was a huge galvanizing factor as she took to the Half Marathon start line on that beautiful spring day. “At first, I was nervous,” she admits. “But the positive vibe and surrounding runners’ excitement eased my nerves. I felt great from the start. I loved seeing the cheering fans and their truly funny motivational posters. Both my family and my TC family were there in multiple locations to cheer me on. My parents [Stephanie and Bob] were at the 13-mile mark, which gave me the adrenaline to finish strong.”

Which is an understatement considering that in a total field of over 22,000 runners, Keira placed 10th in her age group, and in the top 13th percent of women overall, with an official time of 1:50:11. “I didn’t go out there trying to break a time,” she says. “I just gave it my best effort and enjoyed the experience.” Keira credits her stamina to both participating in Track throughout the school year, as well as guidance from her Varsity Coach, Jaime Julia. “Freshman year Winter Track made me realize the interest I had in running and made me want to pursue it as my main sport,” she notes. “I run full-year for MHS, but I did have to train [for the Half Marathon] alone because it was a longer distance than what we practice. Along with my coach, we prepared a running schedule that was six days a week for the month before the race. It has always been a goal of mine to run the NYC Marathon, so I thought the Half Marathon was a good place to start.”

In reality, Keira’s participation in runs benefitting local non-profits goes back many years to her early childhood. She regularly ran in the Munsey Park Women’s Club’s then-annual Fun Run, which benefited the SCA’s Project Share, and she has also been a longtime supporter of the annual Manhasset Women’s Coalition Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk/Run each October. “A favorite running event of mine is the MWCABC 5K,” offers Keira, who has been an active Junior Coalition member for the past three years, as well. “In 2019, at the age of 14, I came in first place for my age group of 14-16.”

As for her future plans, Keira remains undecided about whether or not she would like to pursue Track on a collegiate level, but notes that she, “definitely plans on someday running the full NYC Marathon.” For now, Keira intends to keep focusing on running mid and long-distance events for MHS, where she will no doubt continue to inspire others to follow in her philanthropic footsteps. “Manhasset is a wonderful community,” states Emmanuelidis. “Tuesday’s Children appreciates the immense support and love it is passing down to the younger generation.”

A Little Pep In Her Step

Ahead of the NYC Half Marathon, Keira and her family received a sweet surprise visit at their Manhasset home. “Tuesday’s Children arranged a pep rally at my house before the event to encourage me,” smiles Keira. Shares TC’s Keri Emmanuelidis, “The energy at Keira’s house was incredible when our Tuesday’s Children colleagues and Junior Board members arrived! You could immediately feel the adoration and love from her family and friends. The Manhasset HS Track coach and team were cheering, taking pictures and sending her strong race-day vibes in anticipation of race day!”

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