A total of 634 runners and walkers finished the event, 50 more than in 2011
Seventeen seconds separated winner of 2012 Oyster Bay Supervisor’s 5K run, 24-year old Conor Shelley of Rockville Centre from a pack of six other top competitors to repeat as the top finisher on Oct. 13. The event was the opener for the Oyster Festival. Conor scored in 15:16 as the top seven finishers crossed the finish line in the Townsend Square parking lot within 17 seconds of each other.
Top honors in the women’s division went to 27-year old Jodie Robertson in 17:16, holding off runner-up Karen Roa of Port Jefferson by six seconds. Evidencing the overall strength of the field, the first 16 finishers broke the 18-minute mark on what is not an easy course, and 38 finishers broke the magic 20-minute mark. A total of 634 runners and walkers finished the event, 50 more than in 2011.
Local Runners
Top local finishers were Kevin Giannetti of Oyster Bay, who scored in 25th place Overall and second in the 59-54 age group in 18:36, and Kevin’s daughter Nicole Giannetti, who was the fifth woman overall in 19:10, and took first place honors in the women’s 15-19 age group.
Other local award winners included Bernadette Winnubst of Locust Valley (1st, Athena Weight Division), Tyler McBride of Oyster Bay (2nd 14 and under), Windy Finn of Oyster Bay (3rd 14 and under), Kiera Scognamiglio of East Norwich (4th 14 and under), Lia Stanco of Oyster Bay (5th 14 and under), Carlonie Kelly of Oyster Bay (4th 15-19), Cody Exum of Oyster Bay (4th 15-19), Eamonn Conway of Oyster Bay (5th 15-19), Kate Cifarelli of Oyster Bay (4th 25-29), Kelly Pickard of Oyster Bay (3rd 50-54), Mark Fallon of Bayville (1st 55-59), Bob Bartolotti of Oyster Bay (5th 55-59), and Nina Jennings of Mill Neck (1st woman 75-79).
Thanks go to the Town of Oyster Bay for partnering with the Greater Long Island Running Club (GLIRC) on what could be the most interesting 5K course on Long Island. The club also thanked its sponsors: Pro Sports Physical Therapists of Huntington and Oyster Bay; Allan Sobel and South Shore Outdoor for donating sweatshirts and trophies; Glen Wolther and All Round Foods for donating baked goods. Extra thanks to Bob Cook and The Runner’s Edge helping with the generous prize money stipend that helped to bring a large contingent of Long Island’s fastest runners this year.
Thank You To The Community
Club President Mike Polansky added one final note: “We thank all of our Oyster Bay friends and neighbors for their patience and their understanding as we bring one of Long Island’s most important running events to Oyster Bay each October. I am well aware that there may be some inconvenience to some local residents as the race proceeds, although we do everything we can to minimize that inconvenience. We try to notify everyone who could be affected by the event by mail, but if we missed you this year please call me at 349-7646 and we will be happy to add you to our mailing list. Please also feel free to call me at that number with your thoughts as to how we can minimize any inconvenience to you.”
