A record 550 runners were on hand for a brisk and sunny fall morning to enjoy the "better than ever" 23rd annual Oyster Bay Town Supervisor's Oyster Festival 5 Kilometer Run on Saturday, Oct. 14. The runners, race walkers and wheelchair athletes (110 more than finished last year!) were treated to a gorgeous course up Berry Hill Road, down Sandy Hill Road to the finish in Oyster Bay's Townsend Square. Lots of door prizes courtesy of the Runner's Edge culminated in the giveaway of two pair of Saucony shoes and two pair of New Balance shoes.

Congratulations to overall winner 23-year-old Chris Mammone of Valley Steam, who crossed the finish line in a new course record of 15 minutes, 53 seconds, and Crystal Cammarano of Point Lookout, who scored in 19:11.

Top local finishers were Robis DeGirmenci of Oyster Bay, who finished in 11th place overall in 17:49, Chris Padillo of Oyster Bay (16th overall, 18:19), James Thaler of Oyster Bay (17th overall, 18:21), and Ken Corwen of Oyster (18th OA, 18:28). Top local female finishers were Noni Accetturi of (2nd woman overall, 19:28), 15-year-old Katelyn Collins of Oyster Bay (3rd woman OA, 19:37), and 17-year-old Jacklyn Henderson of Oyster Bay 20:44 (7th woman OA, 20:44).

Special congratulations to the teachers from the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District, who ran to honor the memory of the late Sal Pipitone, an OBEN School District administrator and avid marathoner, and to raise funds for the scholarship fund that has been established in his memory. For the second year in a row, the teachers all ran wearing shirts emblazoned with "Running For Sal" on them for the Fund, e.g. Kevin Cotter's 20:44 time translates into a $20.44 donation.

The run was conducted under the auspices of the Town of Oyster Bay and its Recreation Department. Race management chores were handled by the Greater Long Island Running Club, with GLIRC President Mike Polansky serving as the race director. Thanks to Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, Oyster Bay Town Councilwoman Rose Walker, and New York State Assemblymen Charles Lavine and Rob Walker for lending their presence to help make the run a success. Thanks as well to the Nassau County Police Department and its outstanding Second Precinct, to the Auxiliary Police, to John Snitko of JMS Racing Services, to Commissioner Richie Betz and the outstanding staff of the Town Department of Recreation and Parks, to Alan Sobel and the gang from South Shore Outdoor, to the very generous folks from Whole Foods Market and Organic Juice USA/Elite Naturel and to the scores of enthusiastic volunteers - all of whom are essential to the success of the run.