The second annual Winter Trail Relay hosted by the Greater Long Island Running Club at Bethpage State Park on March 6 couldn't have been more successful, as 60 teams representing virtually every running clubs on Long Island came to compete.

Greater Long Island Running Club's men's team of Robis Digermenci, Paul Englehart and Ron Malone took first place overall in the three runner by two-mile event, edging out the second place Bellmore Striders "A" team, and the fast closing third place Syosset High School team. The team of Peter Breen, Craig Gluf and Ed Reagan, representing The Runner's Edge of Farmingdale, took top honors in the Master's Division (over age 40). Kim Pepe, Laura Gluf and Denise Palmeri took top honors for The Runner's Edge in the Women's Open Division, and the Northport Running Club team of Jane McGraw, Marion Stanjones and Mona Rechner scored first in the Women's Masters Division.

Sincere thanks to GLIRC Relay Director Steve Rand for all his effort in making the Trail Relay a reality again this year, to Ed Melnik for an outstanding job managing the finish line, and to all the volunteers who made it happen.

A very special "thank you" to Bill Whitcomb for once again opening up the "GLIRC Men's Racing Team Field Kitchen" for everyone's enjoyment, and to Bill Meisner who served as "assistant chef" for the morning! (And how about those cookies?!)

Thanks certainly go to our very generous award sponsors: Southdown Laundromat, Celebrity Diner, Cardinali Bakery, Julang Restaurant, and La Piazza Restaurant, and to our equally generous raffle sponsors: Main Street Vegetable, Bon Bons, Di Raimo Pizzeria, Libutti Jewelers, Spoto's Pasta Cafe, II Pescatore, Community Supermarket, All Weather Tire, The Runner's Edge, La Cucina, Golden Dolphin, Rosa'a Pizza, and Clever Cookie, all of whom added immeasurably to everyone's enjoyment of the day.

This newest Long Island running tradition will continue once again on Saturday, March 8 in the year 2000!