Women and girls of all ages and levels of ability from Syosset, Jericho, Woodbury and nearby communities are urged to be part of the 18th annual Vytra Health Plans Long Island Women's 5 Kilometer Run, to be held on the roads of Farmingdale on Saturday, July 14.

This will be the fifth straight year that the great folks at Vytra Health Plans have been the primary corporate sponsors of this event, which in 2000 saw Kenyan superstar Naomi Wangui overwhelm a strong field that included New York City's top female runner Gladees Prieur, two of Naomi's Kenyan teammates, and virtually every top Long Island woman runner. With early indications that past winners and other top athletes will be at the starting line of the 2001 edition of the run, both Vytra and the Greater Long Island Running Club are looking forward to even bigger and better things for the run this year.

The event is also privileged to have the strong backing of New York state Senator Carl Marcellino, who has reemphasized his support for women's fitness programs here on Long Island by nominating the Women's Run as a candidate for a 2001 Legislative initiative grant from the state. Thanks to Senator Marcellino's efforts, the run was the recipient of Legislative initiative grants in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000.

The run will once again be managed by the Greater Long Island Running Club, with GLIRC's Ellen Weinstein serving as the race director and GLIRC's Doreen Isenberg serving as the coordinator of elite athletes.

This year's run will be held on a new lightning fast course through the roads of Farmingdale, finishing on the track at Farmingdale High School. Every entrant will receive a special commemorative women's shirt, along with two special gift bags courtesy of Estee Lauder and Tweezerman, and every finisher will receive a rose at the finish, courtesy of the Glen Head Flower Shop. Other key sponsors of the 2001 run include Good Samaritan Hospital, John's Farms of Plainview, and OSI Pharmaceuticals.

Six thousand, two hundred dollars in prize money will be up for grabs this year, including $1,000 to be split among the top three Long Island residents to cross the finish line, courtesy of Bob Cook and The Runner's Edge. Also new this year, run organizers will be awarding $200 to the first wheelchair finisher, and a special $50 prize to the first finisher aged 70 or over. There will be plaques for the top finishers in each of 14 age groups, plus racewalkers and Clydesdales. This year's run will be part of the KeySpan Grand Prix of Long Island Road Races, conducted under the auspices of Long Island Track & Field.

"We are thrilled that Vytra Health Plans will be working with us again this year," noted race director Ellen Weinstein. "Vytra is a local Long Island company that takes its role as one of Long Island's most important and public spirited businesses just as seriously as it approaches its responsibilities in the health care business. Similarly, Senator Marcellino has always been a strong friend of the running community and an equally strong proponent of running and fitness for women. With Vytra's support and that of Senator Marcellino, and the extra boost for Long Island runners furnished by The Runner's Edge, we are looking to attract our biggest field ever in 2001, and we urge every woman runner on Long Island to join us on July 14."

The main event will be preceded by a 1/4-mile fun run for future female Olympians age 12 and under. There also will be a pre-race stretching clinic conducted by Kate Quaranto, and special entertainment treats for the youngsters. A portion of the proceeds will go to the new Vytra-GLIRC scholarship for one Nassau and one Suffolk High School girl senior student athlete.

Please come on July 14 for this wonderful annual celebration of women's running and fitness! For entry forms or more information, call race director Ellen Weinstein at 349-7646.