During a picture-perfect day, 399 finishers, including champions from all over the nation and the world as well as virtually every single top female runner from all over Long Island and representing every local club, enjoyed amazing giveaways, perfect weather and an outstanding finish on the track at Farmingdale High School during the 19th Annual Vytra Health Plans Long Island Women's 5 Kilometer Run held on the morning of July 13.

The winner of this year's run for the second consecutive year was 29-year-old Catherine Nderba of Kenya, two-time winner of the Boston Marathon and the women's world marathon record holder. Nderba's winning time of 15:53 was the fastest five kilometers run by a woman on Long Island since she herself ran a 15:20 in last year's edition of the run.

Local runners from Farmingdale and the Massapequas came home with their fair share of awards, led by 32-year-old Massapequa Park speedster Regina Ronan, who was the second Long Island finisher, 12th overall in 18:20 and 32-year-old Donna McMahon of Farmingdale, who scored as the third Long Island finisher, 14th overall, in 18:33. Other local award winners included Sharon Kulesa of Farmingdale, who was the second finisher in the Clydesdale Weight Division and Christine Stankard of Massapequa, who scored third in that same division.

Congratulations and a very big "thank you" to Race Director Ellen Weinstein of the host Greater Long Island Running Club, coordinator of Elite Athletes Dorreen Isenberg and to Vytra Health Plans who was once again the title sponsor of the event. Additional thanks go to the Runner's Edge of Farmingdale, who funded the Long Island prize money division, OSI Pharmaceuticals, Caroline's Flower Shoppe, John's Farms and thanks to the raffle and "goody bag" sponsors Tweezerman, Estee Lauder, Sports Illustrated for Women and Fitness Incentive.

The Running Club also thanks their friends from the Town of Oyster Bay, especially Supervisor John Venditto and Councilwoman Mary McCaffery for attending and supporting the event; to Senator Carl Marcellino for his continuing support for the run and women's sports and to the Farmingdale School District and its outstanding custodial staff at the high school for making the logistics of the event that much easier.

"This was another remarkable day for local running and racing and a terrific example of the strides that women, both locally and worldwide, have made in athletic endeavors," said Weinstein. "We are thrilled at the performances of our 'sisters' from the nation and the world and take special pride in the great performances of local runners like Kathy, Regina and Donna."