By Louisa Bonnanzio
Waking up early on a warm, summer Sunday to run may not be for everyone, but for 392 Long Islanders, the 9 a.m. starting horn was the perfect way to greet the morning on July 11, at the 7th Annual Heart & Sole 5K Run.
Runners coursed through flat neighborhood streets as enthusiastic supporters cheered them on. Notwithstanding the rapidly rising temperature, Dan McGrath, 27, of Lynbrook blazed a trail as the overall 5K winner, breaking the tape at 16:10 . First-place in the women’s division went to Long Island Marathon champion Tracy Kemper, 46, of Oyster Bay, who clocked in at 19:45.
Running close behind Dan McGrath in the men’s division were Shaun McGrath, 31, of Lynbrook (17:03); Brendan Donoghue, 34, of Lynbrook (17:09); Mario Ferone, 18, of Plainview (17:43); and Kevin Carroll, 57, of Huntington Station (18:40).
Top runners in the women’s division include Jessica Petrina, 28, of Plainview (20:19); Shari Klarfield, 29, of Plainview (20:24 seconds); Jill Skelly, 46, of Baldwin (20:53); and Carmen Anderson, 45, of Great Neck (21:17.)
Special congratulations to Jeffrey Sider (25:36) of Woodbury, who once again scored as the first Plainview/Syosset Hospital voluntary physician to cross the finish line. Special congratulations as well to March Schechter of Plainview, who scored as the third-place finisher among the voluntary physicians, and Jeffrey Kaufman of Woodbury, who was the second-place hospital employee to cross the finish line.
Other local award winners included first place age group award winners Barbara Moskowitz of Plainview, Bert Jablon of Syosset, and Arthur Koppelman of Syosset, second-place age group award-winners Ethan Wolk of Plainview, Thomas Weitzel of Plainview, and third-place age group award-winners Blair Ruhling of Plainview, Michael Korn of Plainview, Daniella Cucci of Syosset, Sara Rubin of Woodbury, Constance Sehlmeyer of Syosset, and Thomas Laine of Syosset.
After crossing the finish line, participants gathered with their friends and family to cool off in the shade where friendly volunteers offered water, bagels, bananas, and post-race door prizes.
Organized by the Greater Long Island Running Club (GLIRC), this year’s event 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.
Race organizers and the Plainview-Old Bethpage community would like to give their thanks to the following major sponsors: Syosset dentist Dr. Howard Matt, Axis Construction Corporation, Alure Home Improvements, Medical Arts Radiology Group, Sitron- Hammel Radiology Group, the Medical Staffs of Plainview and Syosset Hospitals, Huntington Hills Center for Health & Rehabilitation, Cold Spring Hills Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, and Central Island Healthcare. Race organizers also very much appreciated the appearance of public officials New York State Senator Kemp Hannon, Nassau County Legislators Judy Jacobs, Joe Belesi and Rose Marie Walker, and Oyster Bay Town Councilman Tony Macagnone.
A big thank you goes out to GLIRC coordinators Ric and Kathy DiVeglio and to the race committee from Plainview and Syosset Hospitals that made it all possible: Dr. Alan Mensch, Dr. Charles Farber, Jo Ellen Cole, Nicole D’Addario, and Jeani Beard.
For information about upcoming races on Long Island, call the GLIRC office at 349-7646, or go to www.glirc.org.
