Bayport Runner Trains for Olympics, Defends 2010 Title

Bayport resident Leonora Petrina will defend her 2010 Runner’s Edge Long Island Women’s Run title on July 16, a race which will prove important for the olympic hopeful.

Petrina moved to Bayport two years ago with her husband, a lifelong Long Island resident who works for Sayville Running Company. The hamlet is a long way from home for Petrina, a native New Zealander who attended Stony Brook University and graduated in 2006.

Petrina participated in athletics throughout her school years, and always excelled in cross country, as well as field hockey. Towards the end of her high school career, she was contacted by colleges in New Zealand and the US, but eventually settled for SBU.

This local athlete is looking to participate in runs around the country, but is limiting her racing this year, as Petrina;s training is focused on making the 2012 New Zealand Olympic Team as a steeplechaser.

Petrina runs nearly every day, averaging 60 to 70 miles each week.

"I'm just road racing trying to get some strength," she said. "I have to hit the times they want (for the olympics)."

In addition to winning the Women's Run in 2010, Petrina has been the first woman to cross the finish line in such 2011 Long Island races as the Sayville Running Company 10-Mile Run to the Blue Point Brewery and, most recently, the Schwachmann Diamond 5 K Dash for a Cure.

Residents may be disappointed to discover that the talented runner will be representing New Zealand, not the US, if she qualifies to join an olympic team.

Since Petrina is not yet a US citizen, she has to represent her native country. Eventually, she said, she will apply for citizenship, and a part of her is upset she can't be both teams.

"It's one of those torn things now, do I represent my home country or this country?" Petrina said. "Both have been so awesome, it'll be a hard one when I have to make the final decision."

Petrina joins a stellar field of runners from all over the area which, with the addition of her name to the list, now includes virtually every top female runner on Long Island.

"We are thrilled that Leo Petrina will be joining us to defend her title this year," noted Women's Run Director Debbie Blair of the host Greater Long Island Running Club. "Her 2010  winning time of 16 minutes, 40 seconds for the 5 Kilometer course was the fastest 5K run by a woman on Long Island last year, and will give the rest of the field something to focus on, as we anticipate a very competitive race."