Three hundred ninety-nine finishers, including veteran speedster Liz Flahavan of Hicksville, recently competed in the 19th Annual Vytra Health Plans Long Island Women's 5 Kilometer Run held on Saturday, July 13 on the track of Farmingdale High School. The main event was preceded by a quarter mile Fun Run for young women 12 and under.

Flahavan was the top Hicksville finisher, crossing the finish line in 21:14 and scoring in 47th place overall and seventh in the 35-39 age group. Flahavan competed against champions from all over the world, as well as virtually every single top woman runner from Long Island and presenting every local club, including 29-year-old Catherine Ndereba of Kenya, two time winner of the Boston Marathon and the women's world marathon record holder. Ndereba won this year's run for the second year in a row. Her time of 15:53 was the fastest five kilometer run by a woman on Long Island since she herself ran a 15:20 in last year's edition of the Vytra Run.

"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 Race Director Ellen 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 from right here on Long Island!"