Cross Country running is clearly alive and very well indeed on Long Island, as the 15th annual edition of Long Island Blood Services' (LIBS) Rob's Run at Syosset's Stillwell Woods Park on Nov. 25 brought out a record turnout for the third consecutive year.

A total of 593 runners and walkers crossed the finish line, led by 22-year-old Connor Lanz of the Bellmore Striders who inaugurated the new and improved Rob's Run course with a 15:38 finish that got him to the line 11 seconds in front of 21-year-old Maximo Duro of Amityville. Brian Memmker of the Sayville Running Company team came in third with a time of 16:12.

Farmingdale's Jen Campbell, 25, was the first woman to finish, scoring in 18:38 with Marilyn Caulfield of the Northport Running Club second with a time of 18:56. Lanz and Bellmore Striders teammates Matt Uzenski, Sal Nastasi and Robert Hofmann scored first place in the Team competition, followed by the Saville Running Company. The Top Female Team honors went to the Northport Running Club led by Caulfield, Christie Menna, Kather Guilfoyle and Kathy Martin.

Special congratulations to the four young ladies from Hicksville -Amy Perfetti, Ashley Longo, Erin Reilly and Alexa Regina - who won the third place team award in the Middle School Girls Competition.

The finishing times were incredibly competitive in this year's Run, with the first 23 runners all finishing in under 18 minutes, and the top 41 finishers scoring under 19 minutes.

It was especially refreshing to see so many younger runners participating as part of a Long Island running community that has become increasingly "grayer" in recent years. The first 15 runners were all under the age of 30, as were thirty of the first 40 runners to cross the finish line, all a tribute to the good health of the sport on Long Island. "If you put on a quality event that promises to be competitive, the 'young guns' will respond, and they did so in force at Rob's Run," observed Race Director James Murray of the host Greater Long Island Running Club. "We are thrilled to have so many younger superstars join in with a strong Masters contingent to make this year's edition of Rob's Run a smashing success."

Thanks go to LIBS and its Marketing Director Harvey Schaffler for their sponsorship of the run once again. Thanks also go to the Syosset School District for lending the use of the facilities at Syosset High School for packet pickup and the awards ceremony, to Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto and the staff of the town's Department of Parks and Recreation for their support, and for all the enthusiastic volunteers from the GLIRC for ensuring the success of the event. The club thanks New York State Assemblyman Rob Walker and Oyster Bay Town Councilwoman Rose Marie Walker for being on hand to congratulate the runners.

The GLIRC is pleased to welcome Eddie Lauterborn to the Run once again this year. The run is conducted in the memory of Eddie's brother Rob, an outstanding runner and wonderful human being, who left us far too soon 15 years ago.

The 16th annual Rob's Run will take place Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008.