Local Athletes Invited to Run

It's that time again - time for runners from Plainview-Old Bethpage, Woodbury, Syosset, and Jericho to test their training and endurance levels by being a part of the 7th annual Lazer, Aptheker, Rosella and Yedid Kings Park 15 Kilometer Run.

Kings Park is a perfect tough training run for those who are setting their sights on a Spring Marathon or Half Marathon. It features some of the most beautiful vistas - and most challenging hills - on Long Island's North Shore. Kings Park is very much not your usual fast, flat course - but for those who want to test themselves, the place to do it is Kings Park on March 21st. (For the youngsters - and anyone else who isn't up to the 15 Kilometer distance - there will also be a one mile Fun Run/Fun Walk).

The Run will take place on Sunday, March 21, 2004, starting at 9:15 a.m. at the W.T. Rogers Middle School on Old Dock Road in Kings Park. The primary beneficiary of the proceeds of the Run will be the American Brain Tumor Foundation.

Every entrant in the 15K Run will receive one of the distinctive high quality long sleeve shirts specially designed for the Kings Park Run, and every entrant in the Fun Run will be presented with a special commemorative medal when he or she crosses the finish line.

The 2003 edition of the Kings Park 15 was a race where the stars truly shone with a new men's course record of 49:42 being set by Michael Nehr and a new women's course record of 57:17 being set by Yolanda Flamino.

Local athletes were quite prominent in the 2003 edition of the Run, led by John Del Maestro of Woodbury, who took top honors in the Men's 45-49 age group in 57:07, and Lori Harfenes of Plainview, who scored first among the women in the 45-49 age group in 1:08:05.

Awards in the 2004 Run will be given to the top male and female finisher, to the top three male and female finishers in each of 14 five year age groups, up through age 75 and older, and the top three male and female finishers in each of two "Clydesdale" weight divisions, and the top three male and female wheelchair racers.

There will once again be $100 cash prizes for the first place Male and Female runners, $50 for the first place Male and Female Masters runners, $50 for the first Male and Female Senior Masters (age 50 plus), and $100 for the first place Male and Female Wheelchair finishers.

New Race Director Steven Toto is already hard at work on his job as the director of the 2004 Lazer, Aptheker, Rosella & Yedid, LLC Kings Park 15K, and he has already assembled an even more incredible than usual roster of sponsors whose support will once again assure that the Run is a success.

The prestigious Melville law firm of Lazer, Aptheker, Rosella & Yedid, P.C. has stepped forward to be the title sponsor of this 7th edition of the Run, and we are thrilled to have them return - especially since several of the partners in the firm will themselves once again be taking the challenge of the hills of Kings Park.

The entry fee for the 2004 15K Run has been set at $18 ($16 for Club members) if you sign up by March 14, $20 between March 15 and March 20, and $25 for those who wait until the day of the Run to register. The entry fee for the Fun Run has been reduced to $4 for preregistrants and $5 for latecomers.

Call the Greater Long Island Running Club at 349-7646 for entry forms or more information, or visit the Club's website at