Many of the fastest women runners from all over the New York Metropolitan area joined with lots of runners from Long Island of all ages and abilities for the 26th annual Arrow Exterminating Company Long Island Women’s 5 Kilometer Run, held on the roads of Farmingdale on Saturday, July 18.
It was especially great that this year’s winner was Long Island’s own Katie DiCamillo, a standout athlete at Holy Trinity High School and Providence College, who absolutely destroyed a stellar field with a great finish of 17:10, a full 45 seconds in front of runner-up Christina De Rosa. Katie’s performance also earned her the Paula Wunderlich Memorial Award as the first member of the Greater Long Island Running Club to cross the finish line.
Award winners from Farmingdale included Margaret Velez (5th 11-14 Age Group, 28:53), Joan Ackerman (5th 65-69 Age Group, 38:27), and Michele Ackerman (5th Masters Racewalker, 34:55). Other top finishers from Farmingdale included Cristina Diaz (24:57), Stacey Vealing (25:36), Colleen Gardner (26:07), Erica Harris (27:03), Clara Sheehan (27:17), Karen Cotten (27:28), Athena Heyenoorr (27:45), Kathy Dubke (28:06), Amy Goldstein (29:12), Kathryn Raab (29:29), Denise Marcel (31:30), Jennifer Dialto (32:59), Jamie Laudage (33:22), Michelle Dipaolo (33:48), Michelle Vega (34:07), Donna Harris (34:13), Donna Belesi (34:29), Shirley Lau (34:45), Deborah Laudage (35:36), Ellen Shapiro (36:37), Marguerite Macagnone (37:55), Claudia Gennaro (38:08), Cindy Miller (42:36), Linda Chibaudi (42:36) and Belinda Barrett (43:25).
Due to construction at the Farmingdale High School track, this year’s Run was held at the nearby Woodward Parkway Elementary School, featuring a long straightaway to the finish down Woodward Parkway.
This year’s Run was once again conducted by the Greater Long Island, in conjunction with the Town of Oyster Bay, with Jackie Grabin, Debby Tappan of Arrow Exterminating returning as the title sponsor. Bob Cook and his staff at The Runner’s Edge sponsored the Race Walk Division of the event again this year, along with the Glen Cove family law firm of Mejias, Milgrim & Alvarado, P.C., and New York Sports Clubs.
Debbie Blair took over the reigns as race director and did an excellent job. Amy Goldstein handled the Women’s Fun Run, Carl Grossbard coordinated volunteers, Fred von der Heydt headed up course and finish line logistics and Terry Bisogno was the finish line and awards announcer.
The 2009 edition of the Run was again part of the Grand Prix of Long Island Road Races, conducted under the auspices of Long Island Track & Field, and was the 2009 Long Island Track & Field Women’s Championship event.
Special thanks are extended The Town of Oyster Bay and Supervisor John Venditto, Senator Carl Marcellino, Legislators Dave Mejias and Judy Jacobs, Town Councilmembers Rose Walker and Tony Macagnone for their continued support.
The main event was preceded by a quarter-mile fun run for future female Olympians age 12 and under, with special Fun Run Medals presented to all Fun Run finishers.
The 2009 Run was once again geared to support the fight against gynecological cancers, with a substantial portion of the proceeds going to Long Island Oceans (Ovarian Cancer Education, Advocacy, Networking and Support) – bringing light to all GYN cancers – and (new this year) Island Harvest (fighting hunger, touching lives).
