Over 700 runners successfully completed the 4th annual Kings Park 15 Kilometer Run on Sunday morning, March 25 including Levittown runners Carlos Castro, Jr. and Shane O'Leary, both of whom scored well up on the list of finishers.

Castro won the event in 2000 and was the defending course record holder, stormed up Old Dock Road to finish at the WT Rogers Middle School in a time of 52 minutes, 18 seconds, which earned him third place overall against what was perhaps the toughest field ever assembled for a Long Island road race. Twelve-year-old O'Leary scored in 1:12:42, which earned him second place honors in the 14 and under age group.

The Kings Park 15 Kilometer Run was deliberately designed to be the toughest of challenges, incorporating as many hills as possible into 9.3 miles, culminating with the final one mile climb up Old Dock Road to the finish at the WT Rogers Middle School. As one competitor put it. "It hurts, it really hurts, but what a sense of accomplishment and pride when you cross the finish line."

The Kings Park 15 Kilometer Run is administered by the Greater Long Island Running Club, with GLIRC's Mary Ellen Stajk serving as the race director. The Run is part of the KeySpan/Long Island Track and Field Grand Prix of Long Island Racing, and serves as Long Island Track and Field's 15 Kilometer Championship Run.

"This is the toughest of tests, and Carlos and Shane have once again proven themselves to be real champions," observed Race Director Mary Ellen Stajk. "Our congratulations to Castro and O'Leary and all our other friends from Levittown who helped make this event a success once again."