On Saturday, July 8, women from all over Long Island - and from places as far away from Long Island as Kenya - converged on the Woodward Parkway Elementary School in Farmingdale to compete in the 17th annual Vytra Health Plans Long Island Women's Run.

Naomi Wangui of Kenya, fresh from her victory in the Shelter Island 10K Run in June, made it two straight Long Island victories by crossing the Vytra finish line in 16 minutes, 5 seconds, comfortably ahead of 2nd place finisher Gladys Prieur (17:21) and fellow Kenyan Anastasia Ndereba in 3rd place (17:41).

The first Long Island finisher was Kathy Martin of Northport in 5th place overall (18:12), followed by 17-year-old Megan Gubbins in 6th place (18:46), and Megan's mother Barbara Gubbins in 7th place (18:51). Top finisher from Levittown was Mary Frances Whalen, who finished in 21st place overall and 4th in the 30-34 age group in 21:03. Also winning an award was 15-year-old Jodie Schoppmann of Levittown, who was 30th overall and 2nd in the 15-19 age group in 22:18.

The 5k main event was preceded by a 1/4 mile fun run for girls 12 and under.

The Vytra Run was administered by the Greater Long Island Running club, with GLIRC's Don Butchin and Curt Robinson serving as the co-directors, GLIRC's Ellen Weinstein serving as coordinator of Elite Athletes, and GLIRC's Mindy Davidson serving as coordinator of volunteers. David Katz of Finish Line Road Race Technicians was the technical director.

In addition to title sponsor Vytra Health Plans, additional support was provided by OSI Pharmaceuticals, Farmingdale-based running store The Runner's Edge, John's Farms of Plainview, Glen Head Florist, and the Town of Oyster Bay. Thanks also go to the Farmingdale School District for making the facilities at the Woodward Parkway School and the school's outstanding custodial staff available for the event, to the South Farmingdale Volunteer Fire Department for supplying the emergency medical people who assured the health of the participants on the course and at the finish line, and to the residents of Farmingdale for their cooperation in allowing their streets to be used for this important event once again this year.

A portion of the proceeds of the event were turned over to the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence to help in its efforts to fight domestic violence and support battered women.