Earlier this month runner, wheelchair athletes and race walkers from all over the New York Metropolitan area flocked to the local area to participate in the 23rd annual running of the prestigious Nationwide Insurance 10 Kilometer Run for ASPIRE, which is the first major race of the year in Nassau County.

The first runner across the finish line was Garden City's own Brian Quinn, who crossed the finish line in 32 minutes, 49 seconds, nearly a full minute ahead of his nearest competitor, Don DiDonato of Hicksville. Brian had started for the Garden City High School track team and then for the St. John's University track team. At age 25, he seems to have hit his peak and overcame some pretty strong winds on April 10, as well as a bad back, to achieve his impressive victory.

The run was conducted under the auspices of the Greater Long Island Running Club, with Craig Courounis and Bob Windorf serving as the co-directors of the run.

The primary sponsor of the ASPIRE Run was once again Nationwide Insurance, and Tony Wiszowaty of Nationwide was on hand to sheer the athletes on. Other key sponsors included Trader Joe's, with Sal Cipolla, the assistant manager of Trader Joe's Plainview store on hand with his staff, The Runner's Edge of Farmingdale, Balance Bar and Vytra Health Plans. Donna Howard, the Community Relations director of Vytra Health Plans supervised the team that staffed the water station at the 1.5 mile mark on Haypath Road.

As always, the entire net proceeds of the run were turned over to the APSIRE Program for the rehabilitation of young amputees, victims of bone cancer, birth defects and traumatic amputations. David Balsley, the chief executive officer of ASPIRE, was an enthusiastic participant in the run. The run was once again dedicated to the memory of Stanley Kramberg, the Nationwide Insurance Agent who was an enthusiastic runner, an active member of the Greater Long Island Running Club and a string supporter of the ASPIRE Program. Stan lost his battle to brain cancer several years ago, but his name lives on through this run and its support of the ASPIRE Program. A special scholarship has been set up in Stan's name to help young amputees from the ASPIRE Program continue their education.

This year's Nationwide Insurance Run for ASPIRE served as the 10 kilometer championship race for Long Island Track & Field, and was part of the 2000 Long Island Grand Prix of road races co-sponsored by KeySpan Energy and Long Island Track & Field.

"Our sincere congratulations to Brian for his very impressive performance at this year's ASPIRE Run," observed Co-Race Director Craig Courounis. "We are proud and pleased to have him join the distinguished group of athletes who have won this run over the years."