Another record-breaking field of 392 runners and walkers crossed the finish line at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School at the 7th Annual Heart & Sole 5 Kilometer Run on Sunday morning, July 11. It was the second year in a row that the number of finishers for this event broke the race record!
Award winners from Farmingdale included Randal Bliex, who scored as the third place finisher in the NS-LIJ Health System Employee Division, with a time of 25:27, and Joan Ackerman, who took home the first place plaque in the women’s 70-74 age group. Also competing in the run was SUNY Farmingdale President Dr. Hubert Keen.
Dan McGrath, a 27-year-old from Lynbrook, and 46-year-old Tracy Kemper of Oyster Bay led the parade through the streets of Plainview to the finish line, scoring as the male and female finishers overall. McGrath scored in 16 minutes, 10 seconds, comfortably in front of his brother Shaun McGrath, also of Lynbrook. Kemper finished in a winning time of 19:45.
The run was held to benefit the Plainview/Syosset Hospital Scholarship Fund for local students considering a career in a medically related field, and to support community services at Plainview and Syosset Hospitals to better serve patients. This year’s run was in honor of Dr. Dorit Ben-Moha of Plainview and her “Regain My Life” Program to help folks with weight issues on the journey to their new life of better health and fitness.
New this year was a 1/4-mile fun run for the youngsters on the track at the middle school, with about 30 young athletes participating, as this event kicks off the Greater Long Island Running Club’s local campaign to fight childhood obesity.
A big thank you goes to Greater Long Island Running Club Race Coordinators Ric & Kathy DiVeglio and to the race committee from Plainview and Syosset Hospitals that made it all possible, including Dr. Alan Mensch, Dr. Charles Farber, Jo Ellen Cole, Nicole D’Addario, and Jeani Beard.
Thanks as well to the major sponsors of the run; the medical staffs at Plainview and Syosset Hospitals, Central Island Healthcare, Dr. Howard Matt, Alure Home Products, Axis Construction Corporation, Medical Arts Radiology Group, Sitron-Hammel Radiology Group, Axis Construction Corporation, Huntington Hills Center for Health & Rehabilitation, and Cold Spring Hills Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation.
Race organizers very much appreciated the public officials who took the time and effort to show up to support for this important event on July 11 and wish to thank Senator Kemp Hannon, Nassau County Legislators Judy Jacobs, Joe Belesi and Rose Marie Walker, and Oyster Bay Town Councilman Tony Macagnone.
