Although there were lots of other changes associated with this year's Oyster Festival, one constant feature was the annual Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor's Oyster Festival 5 Kilometer Run, as more than 500 runners once again successfully completed the grueling five kilometer run from Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park up the 3/4 mile hill to the Planting Fields Arboretum and back down again to the finish line on West Shore Avenue in the shadow of the Oyster Festival carnival rides.

Top local finishers included Laura Gluf of Bethpage, who won the Women's Division of the run in 19:56. Diane Herbert of Farmingdale, who took fifth place honors in the women's 30-34 age group, Greg Karl of Massapequa Park, who scored fourth in the 55-59 age group and John Niesen of Massapequa Park, who took third place in the 75 and over age group.

The Oyster Bay Run was conducted under the direction of the Greater Long Island Running Club (GLIRC), with GLIRC President Mike Polansky serving as race director once again this year. Technical support was furnished by Finish Line Road Race Technicians under the direction of David Katz. The primary sponsors of the event were once again State Bank of Long Island and the Town of Oyster Bay, with Parks and Recreation Commissioner Edward Kennedy and Diane Blanchard of the Town's Recreation Department taking the lead. Additional support was provided by Whole Foods Market of Manhasset and South Shore Outdoor.

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto was once again the honorary chairman of the race committee. In a very moving moment during the awards ceremony, the supervisor was presented with a special "thank you" photo from the members of the Rolling Thunder Program for "special needs" athletes in recognition of his continuing support for the disabled athletes. In addition to Venditto, other dignitaries on hand to cheer on the runners were Senator Carl Marcellino, Assemblyman David Sidikman, Oyster Bay Town Receiver of Taxes James Stefanich and Town Clerk Martha Offerman.

This year's Oyster Festival 5K Run was once again part of the KeySpan Grand Prix of Long Island road races conducted under the auspices of Long Island Track & Field. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Terry Kelly of KeySpan and LITF President Susan Polansky presented a $1,000 check to the Maurer Foundation for Breast Health Education in honor of the occasion.

"The Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor's Oyster Festival 5 Kilometer Run continues to be a great event and a real challenge for Long Island recreational athletes," said GLIRC Vice President Mindy Davidson, who served as the coordinator of volunteers for the run.