Leonora Petrina made it look easy again this year. The internationally ranked Bayport superstar crossed the finish line on the track at Farmingdale High School in 16:39 (one second faster than in 2010), scoring a 52-second victory over Laura Cummings of Bay Shore in the 28th annual Runner’s Edge Long Island Women’s 5 Kilometer Run. Petrina also won the Paula Wunderlich Memorial Award as the first member of the Greater Long Island Running Club (GLIRC) to finish.
Emily Brust of Mastic scored as the top Wheelchair finisher. A total of 394 women of all ages and levels of ability (a nice increase over the 348 total finishers in 2010) successfully completed the event on what was a very hot morning, and a couple of dozen young women age 12 and under completed the 1/4 mile Fun Run (once around the track) that preceded the 5K.
Top finishers from the local area included Shari Klarfeld of Plainview, who finished in 12th place overall and third in the 30-34 age group, Amanda Wolfer of Woodbury, 15th overall and first in the 15-19 age group, Connie Sehlmeyer of Syosset, second in the 65-69 age group, and Lorie Sheinwald of Old Bethpage, second-place Masters Racewalker.
This year’s run was once again conducted by the GLIRC, with a superb new sponsor team led by Bob Cook and the group at the Runner’s Edge, the family law firm of Mejias, Milgrim & Alvarado, P.C. , Dan Kulchinsky and Mayfair Jewelers joining in with a sponsor package that included a $2000 pair of diamond earrings that was the grand prize at the post-race raffle, and the new Little Women’s Fun Run sponsor KidStrong and its CEO Ron Berkowitz.
Race director Debbie Blair can take justifiable pride in having done an excellent job as director of the event once again, as can “Aunt” Amy Goldstein for handling the Women’s Fun Run, Carl Grossbard for coordinating volunteers, Fred von der Heydt for heading up course and finish line logistics (with a big assist from Nick Palazzo and Ryan Fitzpatrick), and Terry Bisogno for doing another incredible job as the finish line and awards announcer.
The 2011 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 2011 Long Island Track & Field Women’s Championship event.
Special thanks go out to all the local officials who were on hand at the run to show their support: New York State Assemblyman Joe Saladino, Nassau County Legislators Judy Jacobs, Joe Belesi and Rose Marie Walker, and Oyster Bay Town Board members Tony Macagnone and Rebecca Alesia. Special credit goes out to Belesi for helping out with setting up the water at the finish line.
Also, a big thank you goes out to the facilities staff at Farmingdale High School for an effort that was above and beyond what the job required!
The 2011 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 The Opening Word, and education program sponsored by the Dominican Sisters aimed at giving poor, uneducated women the tools they need to become productive members of society.
