It must be something in the air in Plainview!

How else can you explain the kind of stellar field that turned out for the 21st annual Nationwide Insurance Run for ASPIRE on April 4? With 954 finishers, including a record 18 runners who finished in less than 34 minutes, the ASPIRE 10K once again maintained its position as one of the most important events on the New York metropolitan area's running calendar.

Tops this year was 23-year-old Matthew Wilkinson, a recent University of Pennsylvania graduate who recently moved to New York City, and scorched the rest of the field with a 31:22 finish. Wilkinson's effort put him ahead of a bevy of local stars that included Alem Kahsay of New York City (second place, 31:37), Kevin Krause of Miller Place (third place, 31:39) and Michael Slinskey of Fishkill (fourth place, 31:46). The top woman finisher was Regina Ronan of Northport in 35:47.

Neither Wilkinson nor Ronan set course records, but the top wheelchair finisher, veteran Pete Hawkins of Malverne, established a new course record in winning the wheelchair division of the race in 29:36.

Top Masters performers were 40-year-old Don Di Donato of Hicksville, a two-time overall winner of the run, who was ninth runner overall this year in 32:57, outkicking 40-year-old Phil Richey of Danbury, CT by nine seconds. Top Masters woman finisher was 41-year-old Karen Proffitt of Staten Island (38:07), who beat 46-year-old Kathy Martin of Northport by only a single second.

The run was conducted by the Plainview-Old Bethpage Road Runners Club in conjunction with the Town of Oyster Bay Department of Recreation and Parks, and Road Runners President Mike Polansky served as the race director. Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto served as the official starter for this year's run. Other dignitaries who were present for the event included Town Councilman Len Symons (a member of the Road Runners Club who successfully completed the course once again this year), New York State Assemblyman David Sidikman and Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs.

The entire net proceeds of the run were once again earmarked for the ASPIRE program for the rehabilitation of young amputees. This year's run was dedicated to the memory of Stanley Kramberg, a devoted runner, active member of the Road Runners Club, and staunch supporter of ASPIRE, whose untimely death from cancer last year saddened the entire Long Island running community. A special Stanley Kramberg Memorial ASPIRE scholarship fund will be established from the proceeds of this year's run to help "graduates" of the ASPIRE program attend college.

The ASPIRE run starts and finishes at the H.B. Mattlin Middle School and takes the runners through a "grand tour" of Plainview and Old Bethpage, including a long stretch up Round Swamp Road past the Old Bethpage Restoration Village.

"Our congratulations to Matt Wilkinson, Regina Ronan, and everyone else who was a part of this year's Run for ASPIRE," said Road Runners Vice President Mindy Davidson, who served as the coordinator of volunteers for the event. "We never lose the excitement generated by staging this important event, and it is especially gratifying that we are able to use the run as the venue for preserving the memory of our friend Stan Kramberg. Thanks to the Town of Oyster Bay, Nationwide Insurance, and everyone else who contributed to the success of this year's run. See you in Plainview on April 10, 1999 for the 22nd running!"