Syosset Hosts Record-Breaking Cross Country Run

The Fifth Annual Edition of Rob's Run, a 5 kilometer cross country race held on the trails adjacent to Stillwell Woods Park in Syosset, proved to be the biggest ever, with a record 423 runners crossing the finish line.

Highlighting the morning from a local standpoint were the first-place and third-place finishes of two Syosset teams in the high school boys' teams division and the third-place finish of the Syosset High School girls in their division.

Led by Jeremy Bellois, who finished in sixth place overall in 17:00, followed by Ernie Chuang (22nd place, 18:24), Richard Goldman (31st place, 18:46) and Danny Abramowitz (35th place, 18:56), the Syosset boys' team captured first place in an extremely close battle with the Patchogue-Medford High School team. The Syosset boys' third-place team consisted of James Duade (14th place, 17:54), Rich Cafiero (20th place, 18:15), Dave Fusco (37th place, 18:59) and Garick Huie (58th place, 20:01).

The Syosset High School girls' team of Eileen Dowling (23:29), Holly Bender (24:40), Randi Rubel (26:09) and Sarah Kasven (27:57), finished a strong third in its division.

The focus of the race was not just high schoolers as runners of all ages and levels of ability joined in the fun, ranging up to 71-year-old Herb Grayson of Syosset who completed the course in 41:58.

Rob's Run was, once again, administered by the Plainview-Old Bethpage Road Runners Club in conjunction with the Town of Oyster Bay. It was conducted under the direction of Ed Melnik and Steve Kelmes of the Road Runners Club with technical assistance provided by David Katz of Finish Line Road Race Technicians.

Rob's Run is staged each year in memory of Rob Lauterborn, a fine young man and outstanding runner whose untimely death at the age of 26 left a real void in the Long Island running community. The entire net proceeds of Rob's Run will, once again, be turned over to ASPIRE, the special program that provides prosthetic devices and intensive physical therapy and rehabilitation through athletics to young amputees, victims of bone cancer and traumatic amputations.

"We are thrilled with the record turnout for the 1997 edition of Rob's Run. It really is great that so many folks took advantage of a chance to run through the beautiful trails and wooded areas in Stillwell Woods," observed co-race director Ed Melnik. "It is especially fitting that we hold this kind of event in Rob Lauterborn's memory. Rob loved to run and would most definitely have wanted to be remembered in connection with an event aimed both at fostering cross country running and at helping young people.

Our congratulations to the outstanding athletes from Syosset High School and to everyone else who was a part of this important event. We hope everyone will join us for the fifth edition of Rob's Run on Nov. 29, 1998!