Chris Thater Memorial Races are Over

33 years of Binghamton bicycling and running tradition is over.

The Broome County Stop DWI Program says last year’s Chris Thater Memorial was the last year.

Stop DWI Coordinator Chris Marion says the huge sporting event just is no longer able to sustain itself.

The memorial is named after Chris Thater, who was killed by a drunk driver while he had been riding his bicycle. It started as a tour around the SUNY Binghamton campus before being held in Downtown Binghamton, being moved to the neighborhood around Recreation Park on the West Side for several years and then returning to Downtown Binghamton, adhering to the bicycling definition of a criterium that is held in traditional business areas.

The bike and foot races drew hundreds of competitors and amateurs, even some from around the world.

Marion said as difficult as it was to stage the Memorial, the decision to end it was even more hard.

Efforts to push the main messages of the event, wise choices and stopping drunk driving will be spread to schools and events around the region.