Knipfing Repeats As Champion Of Flying Point 10K For Autism Awareness

By Brett Mauser

Close to 300 runners and walkers registered for the Flying Point 10K in Water Mill, which raised nearly $15,000 to autism services on the East End. Photos by Kelly Carroll

Bryan Knipfing posted a time of 35 minutes, 14 seconds to win the
male division handily.

Water Mill - Kim Covell founded the Flying Point 10K three years ago to help finance the opening of the Cody Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities located at Stony Brook University. Since its unveiling, the center has provided services to those affected by autism on the East End, and as evidenced by Sunday's third edition of the race, the running community is happy to do its part.

Close to 300 runners and walkers climbed out of bed Sunday morning and covered the course that began and ended at Flying Point Beach, and in doing so raised in excess of $10,000 for the Cody Center, bringing the total from three years over $40,000.

Leading the pack across the finish line was Shelter Island's Bryan Knipfing, who controlled the race from its onset and never relinquished his place. The 24-year-old Port Jefferson native who now teaches on Shelter Island hit the tape in 35 minutes, 14 seconds, for a pace of 5:41 per mile over 6.2 miles. It was 28 seconds faster than last year's time, when he eked out a win despite crossing the line nearly stride for stride with Guillermo Fuentes.

Knipfing won Sunday's race by nearly three minutes, well ahead of runner-up Kevin Carroll of Huntington Station (37:56). Hampton Bays' Charlie Rey was third with a time of 38:17, and he was followed by Marcus Sanders (38:53), a force on the always strong Rolling Thunder Road Runners Club, and Long Beach's Johan Ahr (39:09) to round out the top five. Finishing just out of the top 10 was Water Miller's Doroteo Soledad (39:15).

Knipfing is certainly no stranger to backing up his billing as a race favorite. Knipfing ran competitively at Division I Siena College before transferring to St. Joseph's College in Patchogue and rewriting the record books there. More recently, he finished 12th out of more than 1,000 entrants in June's hotly contested Shelter Island 10K, and was second at last month's Sound to Bay Firemen's 10K in South Jamesport, a race in which he and twin brother Andrew routinely run and fare well.

Wheelchair winner Adam Cruz (left) crosses the line in a
mere 29 minutes, 8 seconds. At right, Bea Petersen was the
only runner in the women's division to finish in under
40 minutes.

East Islip's Bea Petersen had finished second among women in the previous two races, yet this time she was first in her division with a time of 39:52. In 2006, Petersen was runner-up to Julia Stamps, and last year it was Tara Farrell of East Quogue who outdid her. This time, Petersen was able to hold off Farrell and was the only woman to crack 40 minutes. After Farrell, who finished in 40:50, Westhampton Beach's Laura Brown, Farrell was next across with a time of 41:25. Rounding out the top five for the women was Christina Schaefer of Southampton (44:38) and New York City's Raquel Miller (44:44). The race holds a special meaning to Petersen, whose sons Jack, 8, and Eric, 6, have autism.

In the wheelchair division, Adam Cruz of Brentwood added another first-place finish to his mantel, clocking a time of 29:08. In August, the 13-year-old Cruz was first at the Bonac Foot Races, and in June, he was third at Shelter Island.

The Flying Point 10K was the East End's lone stop on this year's Grand Prix Series of Road Races, governed by the Long Island division of United States Track & Field. Beginning in March, 19 races Island-wide make up the circuit. The final test takes place on Dec. 7 at the Fly With the Owls 4-Mile Run in Lynbrook. Teams and individuals accumulate points over the course of the season, with prizes going to the top male and female individual, as well as the top five open and master's teams.

In addition to the runners, walkers could take part in the 2K Fun Walk. Children were invited to compete in a 50-Yard Beach Dash on Flying Point Beach.

According to officials at the Cody Center, the funds from Sunday's race, which had a record number of registrants, will be devoted to services specific to the East End.