The Kings Park 15 Kilometer Run has been dubbed "mile for mile, the toughest running race on Long Island," but a field of 639 finishers, including many local runners, had the grit and determination to make it to the finish line at the W. T. Rogers Middle School in Kings Park on Sunday morning, March 21.

Among the top finishers from the local area were 43-year-old John Del Maestro of Woodbury, 2nd overall and 1st Masters runner, in 52:10; Joe Basso of Hicksville, who scored first in the 20-24 age group in 59:26, and Donna McMahon of Farmingdale, who set a new course record in winning the Women's Division in 59:53, and Patty Zebersky of Farmingdale, second woman overall and 1st Masters woman, in 1:04:12.

Other award winners from our local area were Michelle Haller of Plainview, fourth woman overall and second in the 40-44 age group (1:07:50), Christopher DeStefano of Hicksville, third place winner in the 15-19 age group in 1:02:34, Jennifer Aull of Hicksville, third place female finisher in the 15-19 age group in 1:17:43, Mary Anne Goldman of Farmingdale, who took top honors in the women's 50-54 age group in 1:12:23, and George Dennis of Syosset, at age 75 the oldest finisher in the run.

The entire net proceeds of the run were turned over to the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation. The run was managed by the Greater Long Island Running Club, with GLIRC's Don Butchin and Mary Ellen Stajk serving as co-directors of the run. David Katz of Finish Line Road Race Technicians was the technical director.

Major sponsors of the run included the Huntington law firm of Lazer, Aptheker, Feldman, Rosella & Yedid, LLP, Barter Network, Inc., the Law Offices of Michael T. Sullivan, Bagels in the Park, Park Bake Shop, and Kids Helping Kids. The water at the finish line and along the course was donated by Chester Mountain 100 percent Natural Spring Water.

"This is very much not an easy course or a fast course," commented Co-Race Director Mary Ellen Stajk. "It was specifically designed as a challenge, incorporating severe long uphill sections and bone-jarring downhills. Every one of the 639 finishers can take justifiable pride in having met the challenge and having conquered the hills of Kings Park!"

In 1998 "the Challenge began." In 1999, "the Challenge continued." On Saturday morning, March 18, 2000, the Challenge of the Kings Park 15 Kilometer enters a new Millennium.