The Town of Oyster Bay's Ellsworth Allen Park in Farmingdale has been chosen as the venue for the start and finish of the 2008 Nick Katsounis Memorial Wheelchair 10 Kilometer Championship Race.

2008 marks the 17th annual edition of the Wheelchair Championship Race, and it will be held on Sunday, June 29, with wheelchair athletes from all over the world converging on Long Island to celebrate the only road race in the United States that is for wheelchair athletes only. The starting horn will go off on Motor Avenue, directly in front of the park, at 7:30 a.m. on the morning of the 29th.

The 2008 Race will once again be conducted by the Greater Long Island Running Club in conjunction with the Town of Oyster Bay, with a key assist from the Massapequa Road Runners.

The 2007 edition of the Race was won by Kurt Fearnley of Australia, with Shelly Woods of Great Britain topping the Women's Division. Both Kurt and Shelly are expected back this year, and will be challenged by such notables as Saul Mendoza of Mexico, Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa and Kriege Schabort of Switzerland, along with top women wheelchair racers Diane Roy of Canada and Christy Dawes of Australia. This year a strong contingent from Japan is also expected to join the field. Top local wheelchair racers such as Peter Hawkins of Malverne and Jesse Walsh of Huntington will also be testing themselves against the world's best.

Key sponsors of this year's event are Molly McGuire's Fine Irish Jewelry & Gifts of Cold Spring Harbor, Antun's Caterers and its CEO Joe King, leading local sports podiatrist Dr. Edward Fryman, J. Bussani, Inc. of Bethpage, and Brand's Cycle & Fitness. Call Linda Ottaviano at 349-7646 for more information.