East Hampton - On Monday, November 30, the Old Montauk Athletic Club (OMAC) wined and dined with the best of them at its seventh annual awards dinner, while also recognizing some of the East End's finest athletes and community members. This year, OMAC presented awards to Cliff Clark and Laura Brown, while the East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue Squad also acknowledged Robin Streck and Jim Arnold. It all unfolded while the 100 or so attendees enjoyed such fine selections as seared Scottish salmon with roasted cauliflower puree, grilled mushroom and Bridgehampton apple salad and flourless dark chocolate cake at Della Femina in East Hampton.

OMAC President John Conner addresses the crowd at Della Femina in East Hampton.

Kevin Barry introduced Clark as the Community Service Award winner, saying that "OMAC stands for family, community and athletics, and this guy has it all." In addition to his own athletic prowess, among Clark's crowning achievements is the establishment of the world-renowned Shelter Island 10K, in which thousands of runners have participated since its inception in 1980. It, along with the SI 5K, have raised more than a half million dollars for local charities, including the Special Olympics, East End Hospice and Timothy Hill Children's Ranch.

"What's special about OMAC is that the people in this room are people just like us," Clark said. "They're athletes who love what they're doing and give back to the community through charitable events."

Clark averaged 20-plus points per game on the Shelter Island boys basketball team and hoped to continue his career at Harding College in Arkansas. He was left off the team. However, the cross country coach noticed his speed and endurance when the hoops hopefuls were instructed to run three miles before tryouts each day. He proceeded to run four seasons apiece for the XC and track teams at Harding, winning the steeplechase national collegiate championship in 1966 as a junior. More importantly, the aforementioned coach, Dr. R.T. Clark (no relation), passed down words that he's lived by.

"I thanked him and he said 'it's not about thanks,' " Clark recalls. "'It's like a relay. You have to carry the baton and pass it on.' He made you believe that you could do anything."

At the 1972 Olympic Trials, Clark placed fifth in the steeplechase and ninth in the 5,000 to just missing participating in the Munich Games. Following his own career, Clark became the cross country coach at his alma mater for 18 seasons. During his tenure at SI, Janelle Kraus brought the first state championship home to Shelter Island, winning the Class C/D title. She went on to earn All-American honors in all four seasons at Wake Forest and qualified for the Olympic Trials in the marathon in 2008. He is a fifth generation owner and operator of the South Ferry.

Community Service Award winner Cliff Clark and Athlete of the Year Award winner Laura Brown

Brown, a tennis instructor with Gubbins Racing Ahead, made her first foray into the local race circuit about a decade ago, but even then, "she didn't know what she was doing," according to Barbara Gubbins, who presented her with this year's Athlete of the Year Award. Five years later, she teamed up with seasoned runners Tara Farrell and Karen Crotty and watched her times tumble. Brown has regularly finished tops in her age group in local road races, everything from this year's Main Street Mile, Run For Ron 5K, Flying Point 10K and Hamptons Half Marathon. The blazing times all came in a year in which she became a grandmother for the first time.

Even at age 42, Brown said that there are still landmark times to be conquered, such as breaking 19 minutes in a 5K and 40 minutes in a 10K. She has hit those times on the nose in past races - 19:00 at the Hurricane 5K and 40:00 in the Act For Darfur 10K - but will take aim at lowering her personal bests in 2010.

"I'm tremendously honored," Brown said. "It's wonderful because I do work really hard, and to get to be recognized is fantastic. It adds a little spring to your step."

Past honoree Barbara Gubbins tells the night's attendees about how Laura Brown came to become an elite runner on the East End.

The East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue Squad was once again invited to the festivities, and captain Steve Brierley and assistant captain Rich Kalbacher honored Streck with the Appreciation Award for the second time in three years. The squad meets once a week, and Brierley credited Streck, secretary and five-year contributor, with being a major reason why the operation runs fluidly.

"I've never been part of an organization that looks out for each other so much," Streck said. "It's an amazing group of people that all do so much, so for them to single me out is touching. They take such good care of me."

Arnold was a surprise double winner on the night. The squad's Open Water Swim Committee Chair and six-year volunteer was first named the Member of the Year. In addition to his service as a rescue volunteer, he's visited local schools to teach kids about water safety, whether it be in the ocean or a swimming pool. He's also spearheaded open water swim races in Amagansett and Montauk, and a third race will be held at Main Beach in East Hampton beginning in 2010.

"It's important because the Ocean Rescue Squad is a great community service that keeps young people informed on how to be safe in the water," Arnold said. "We keep working with the lifeguards and the community at large. It's a huge honor. I feel as though I'm doing something to further the cause."

Shortly after the Ocean Rescue presentation, Sinead FitzGibbon, founder of the biking advocacy group Spokespeople, recognized Arnold with the Civic Champion award for being "a symbol of what this community is all about."

The Old Montauk Athletic Club was founded in 1997 and has aided the athletic community on the East End since its inception. This year, the club helped fund the East Hampton YMCA's new timing system, facilitated trips for East Hampton High School teams, co-sponsored the Bonac On Board to Wellness 5K, and supported the installation of trail signs for the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society. Funds were raised in part by the annual dinner as well as the Great Bonac Foot Races in Springs and the Miss Amelia's Cottage 2-Miler in Amagansett. The organization is run by John and Henrika Conner, and Barry and Dianne O'Donnell.

Della Femina Restaurant in East Hampton hosted the Old Montauk Athletic Club for its seventh annual awards dinner.