Hicksville runners and walkers of every age and ability are cordially invited to be part of the 15th annual edition of the Oyster Bay Town Supervisor's Oyster Festival 5 Kilometer Run, to be held on Saturday, Oct. 19 as the kickoff event of this year's Oyster Festival. The run will start at Fireman's Field in Oyster Bay at exactly 9 a.m.

This year's run has been carefully planned to make sure that it is a "fun" event for the entire family, and everyone is urged to stick around after the run to enjoy the Oyster Festival.

Distinctive commemorative T-shirts will be given to everyone who registers, and all registrants will be eligible for the massive door prize drawing that will take place at the post-Run Awards Ceremony. Awards will be presented to the top five male and top five female finishers overall, the top five male and female finishers in each of 14 five-year age groups (through age 75 and over), the top three wheelchair finishers and the top Clydesdale runner in two male and two female weight divisions.

The entry fee will be $16 for those who pre-register ($14 for residents of the Town of Oyster Bay) and $20 on the day of the run. Post-registration number and T-shirt pickup will be at the Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School in Oyster Bay from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. the morning of the run, but can also be picked up in advance at The Runner's Edge on Main Street in Farmingdale on Friday, Oct. 18 from noon to 6 p.m.

The primary sponsors of the event will once again be the State Bank of Long Island and the Town of Oyster Bay.

The Oyster Bay Run will be conducted under the direction of the Greater Long Island Running Club, with GLIRC President Mike Polansky serving as the race director once again this year. Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto will once again be the honorary chairman of the race committee. Technical support will be furnished by Finish Line Road Race Technicians, utilizing the new "ChampionChip" race scoring technology.

This year's run is part of the KeySpan Energy Grand Prix Series of Long Island road races conducted under the auspices of Long Island Track & Field (LITF). October is National Breast Cancer Month, and KeySpan and LITF will be presenting a check for $1,000 to the Maurer Foundation for Breast Health Education in honor of the occasion.

Local runners from Hicksville have always played a major role in the Oyster Bay 5 Kilometer Run. Hicksville's Don DiDonato was the second finisher overall in the 2001 edition of the run, Amanda Edele of Hicksville took top honors among the women in the 15-19 age group, Brian Decker of Hicksville scored first in the 20-24 age group, Liz Flahavan of Hicksville was the second female finisher in the 30-34 age group, Charles Tracy of Hicksville took third place honors in the "Clydesdale" 200 pound plus weight division, and Diana Rega and Teresa Passaretti of Hicksville scored first and second, respectively in the women's walk division.

"This is a great Run and a great challenge for Long Island recreational athletes," said Race Director Mike Polansky. "The hills around Oyster Bay are a stunning venue for an early morning run in October, and we are looking for a crisp, clear autumn morning that will make it possible for everyone to have a picture perfect run. We are very much appreciative of the Town of Oyster Bay and its outstanding Department of Recreation and Parks, of the support of Town Supervisor John Venditto, and of Mary Durkin and all the other wonderful folks from State Bank of Long Island for making this event a reality once again this year. We hope that every runner and walker on Long Island will join us here in beautiful Oyster Bay for a great morning run and that they will stick around to enjoy the Oyster Festival afterwards. The Oyster Bay Town Supervisor's Oyster Festival Run is what recreational running and racing on Long Island can-and should-be all about."

For entry forms or more information call the Running Club at 349-7646.