Farmingdale Hosts World Wheelchair Championship Race

The fastest wheelchair athletes in the world visited Long Island the morning of June 27 for the 13th annual Nick Katsounis Memorial Wheelchair Championship 10 Kilometer Race. The top three finishers were from three different continents, as New South Wales speedster Kurt Fearnley outpushed Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa and Mexican champion Saul Mendoza to win the top prize of $3,250. Fearnley crossed the finish line outside of Ellsworth Allen Town Park in Farmingdale in 20 minutes, 37.6 seconds, Van Dyk scored in 20:38.5 and Mendoza was timed in 20:38.6. Top United States finisher was Chris Waddell of Park City, Utah in 11th place overall.

Assistant Race Director Joe Mendez was presented with the Special Nick Katsounis memorial Cup at the Awards Ceremony. Pictured here, Joe (second left) is presented with the Cup by Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, as Town Clerk Steve Labriola (left), Councilwoman Rose Walker second right) and Race Director Geri Walsh look on with approval.

A couple of Canadian women scored 1-2 in the women's division, with Chantal Peticlerc of Montral blazing to the finish line in 24:36.4, less than a second in front of runner-up Diane Roy of Hatley, Quebec, with Mexican Ariadne Hernandez finishing third and Australian Eliza Stankovic fourth. The United States woman to finish was Jessica Galli of Hillsborough, New Jersey.

Town Clerk Steve Labriola and Town Supervisor John Venditto congratulate the athletes.

Top Masters (age 40 plus) finisher was Franz Nietlispach of Zeiningen, Switzerland, and the first Quadraplegic finisher was Thomas Geierspichler of Anif, Austria.

Oyster Bay Town Recreation Department staff were key to the success of this year's Race. Pictured here moments before the start are Diane Blanchard, John Magliano, Bob McGeever, Lauren Webb, Katie Betz, Megan Kennedy and Mike Rauff from the Town Recreation Department.

The Nick Katsounis Memorial Race is the only road race in North America that is reserved for wheelchair athletes only, and the best in the World come to Long Island every June to compete for the more than $30,000 in cash prizes that are up for grabs. The Race is co-sponsored by the Town of Oyster Bay and the Greater Long Island Running Club, under the direction of GLIRC Wheelchair Sports Chair Geri Walsh, and is conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Paralympic Committee. The chief corporate sponsor is Antun's Caterers of Queens Village.