The 12th Annual Nick Katsounis Memorial Wheelchair Championship 10 Kilometer Race was held on the roads of Farmingdale on the morning of June 29. Athletes from all over the United States and all over the world, including Mexico, South America, Japan, Africa, Europe and Australia, gathered at the starting line on Motor Avenue outside of Ellsworth Allen Town Park and traversed a 6.2 mile course over the scenic, tree-lined Bethpage State Parkway. A record 80 athletes successfully traversed the course this year - 77 in wheelchair race and three more in the Hand Cycle Exhibition that followed.

Mexican champion Saul Mendoza was the overall winner for the fourth time (he won in 1997, 1999 and 2002), outpushing South Africa's Krige Schabort by 2/10 of a second, with three-time Boston Marathon winner Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa in third place another 3/10 of a second behind Schabort. Canadian champion Diane Roy set a new course record in winning the women's division of the race in front of Mexico's Ariadne Hernandez.

Many congratulations went to Race Director Geraldine Walsh of the host Greater Long Island Running Club (GLIRC) on assembling what was arguably the finest field of wheelchair athletes anywhere and anywhen, and for managing what really was a spectacular event. Walsh was ably assisted by Assistant Race Director Joe Mendez, along with a crackerjack Race Committee that included Chris Jeremias, Bob Lasky, Bob Sherman, Jeannie Waters, Diane Blanchard, Chuck Albert, Debbie Konetsky and Joann Palazzolo. Local resident and GLIRC dear friend Nick Katsounis had been the heart and soul of this event for a decade and Walsh and her committee continue to fill an awfully big pair of shoes, but their dedicated efforts assured the continued success and growth of the event, notwithstanding many obstacles this year.

Katsounis continues to be with everyone in spirit and - even though he was the toughest critic around - many agreed that he would have undoubtedly been quite proud of what Walsh and her committee accomplished in his memory this year. Also still very much with many in spirit this year was Kevin Walsh, in whose honor and memory the GLIRC once again saluted the Long Island Wheelchair athletes this year.

Members of the GLIRC wish to send sincere thanks to all who made it financially possible to bring this important event to Long Island once again this year. Joe King and his Antun's Caterers stepped up to the plate and hit a home run for the event in terms of financial support, Karavas Place Greek Restaurant and the New York State Fraternal Order of Police (along with FOP Memorial Lodge #100, FOP Nassau County Lodge #69 and NYS Police Surgeons Lodge #3) very generously increased their support this year and the event also received the continued support of previous sponsors j. bussani, Inc., Pathmark, Dr. Edward Fryman, America's Athletes With Disabilities, Dr. Richard Statler, Dr. Eric A. Piesnikowski, the Katie Kirlin Fund, the Massapequa Park Bike Club, Brand's Cyclerly, Life Star Response Corporation, Nassau County Legislature Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs, US Globe Corporation, Cappelli Construction and Home Improvements, Christi Home Improvement & General Contracting, Rick's Renovations, Southwest Securities, Tru-Value Caterers and Invacare.

Race organizers much appreciated the help and kind support provided by the Town of Oyster Bay and its very supportive Supervisor John Venditto, by Dennis Mulligan, Mike Stella and all others from the NYS Department of Transportation, by Angela Melledy, the gracious publisher of Able Newspaper, by the South Farmingdale Fire Department, for guarding the health and safety of race participants, by the New York State and Nassau County Police Department, for making the course as safe as it could be, by Ed Melnik of The Big Finish, for quick and accurate results and superb finish line management, by Massapequa Park Bike Club and the Massapequa Road Runners Club and their dozens of enthusiastic volunteers, by South Shore Outdoor for great shirts for the competitors and the volunteers, by Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, Suffolk Transportation Service Inc. and MTA Long Island Bus, making it possible to transport the athletes, and by the Huntington Hilton, who made participants feel welcome still one more time.