HS principal finishes 24-hour, 100-mile run, gets huge surprise

NEW YORK -- A Catholic high school principal in the Bronx is finally getting some rest -- but not before getting a last-minute donation.

Dan O'Keefe ran 100 miles in 24 hours and crossed the finish line about just before 6 a.m. Saturday on the track at Cardinal Spellman High School.

He started running at 6 a.m. Friday and didn't finish until he hit the 100-mile mark -- despite the drop in temperature.

He was surrounded by supporters for much of the trek, which he took on to raise money for Spellman's sports and activities program. It required about 400 laps to achieve the goal.

And it paid off: Within minutes of finishing the 100-mile run, an anonymous donor gave $100,000 to Cardinal Spellman High School.

O'Keefe is no stranger to such an effort. He participates in ultra-marathons in Vermont and Virginia at least twice a year.

"You get to a point in ultra-marathoning when you're ready for it, no matter what," O'Keefe said. "I've done it enough times to know what I'm capable of."

Each of Spellman's 1,400 students were asked to acquire a pledge of $100. Besides raising funds for this worthy cause, O'Keefe hopes his students learn a personal lesson.

"It's about inspiring our students that you can do things people say are impossible," O'Keefe said.