A large contingent of local athletes made the trip down to Plainview on Saturday morning, April 5 to compete in the 31st annual Nationwide Insurance 10 Kilometer Run for ASPIRE, with several of them being rewarded with trophies for their performances -- including both the male and female racewalk champions, Dave McGowan and Loretta Schuellein of Locust Valley.

Top local finishers included 38-year-old Robis Degirmenci of Oyster Bay, who scored in 20th place overall out of 533 finishers in 37 minutes, 44 seconds; Jean Bohan of Oyster Bay, who scored first in the Women's 35-39 Age Group in 41:14; Tracy Kemper of Oyster Bay, 3rd place finisher in the Women's 40-44 Age Group in 42:09; first place overall racewalker Dave McGowan, who finished in 49:13; and Loretta Schuellein of Locust Valley, who earned top honors in the Women's Racewalk Division in 54:47.

The entire net proceeds of the run were once again turned over to the ASPIRE Program for the rehabilitation of young amputees through athletics, and lots of amputee athletes - including several from the A Step Ahead rehab program - were at the Run to try their skills against the able bodied athletes. The top amputee finisher was Tom Koehler of Hampton Bay in 41:03.

Thanks and congratulations go to Bob Windorf of the host Greater Long Island Running Club for serving once again as the Director of the Run. Thanks go to Tony Wiszowaty and his Nationwide Insurance Agency for serving as the title sponsor of the event once again, and to Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto and the outstanding folks from the Town's Recreation Department for their incredible support. As always, the Town's Recreation Department was especially important to the logistical success of the event.

Thanks also to Bob Cook and the gang from the Runner's Edge, to the great folks from Trader Joe's of Plainview, to Glen Wolther and All Round Foods, and to Anthony Narcisco of Mizuno for their support as well.

"We were thrilled at the great turnout at this year's Run," observed Race Director Bob Windorf. "The Long Island running community has been coming to Plainview-Old Bethpage every spring now for more than three decades, and we welcome all of our participants, of every age and level ability, to join us again in April of 2009."