Brock and Pellegrino Win 16th Annual Sheehan Classic

Monday, 15 June 2009 09:16

Newsbrief - Monmouth County

Photo: Keith Quarles, Sheehan Race Committee

RED BANK, NJ - 28-year-old Nick Pellegrino won the 2009 George Sheehan Classic 5-mile run with a time of 24:58. Pellegrino, of Morganville, was followed by second-place finisher Craig Segal, 25, of Holmdel, who finished less than 30 seconds back in 25:27. Segal had won the Spring Lake Five in May.

Photo: Keith Quarles, Sheehan Race Committee

Mike Rolek, 22, Maplewood, 25:26, Robert Cavanaugh, 31, West Long Branch, 25:45, and Shame Kimmons, 24, Shrewsbury, 26:13, rounded out the top five spots in what proved to be a strong field; nearly windless conditions, with warm but not hot temperatures, made for good-racing-weather morning.

Photo: Bob Both, Jersey Shore Running Club

Toms River's Noel Brock, a 31-year-old who teaches third graders in Brick, was the first female finisher with a time of 28:52, repeating her win at Sheehan Classic and resulting in an American woman champion of the Classic for the 4^th year in a row.  Brock, assistant track coach at Toms River HS North, had also won in Spring Lake just three weeks back. Following Brock were Cate Robbie, 28, of Red Bank (second woman, 29:13); Caitlin Dorgan, 20, Red Bank, (third, 31:13); Christine Clifton, 36, Highlands, (fourth, 31:19);  and Amber Hart, 30, Belmar,  (fifth, 32:24).

Pelligrino, Segal, and Rolek earned additional prizes as the top 3 male finishers from New Jersey. Brock, Robbie and Dorgan were also awarded Top 3 NJ Female honors.

Photo: Keith Quarles, Sheehan Race Committee

With strong performances in both the Sheehan Classic and the Spring Lake Five, Brock and Segal are leaders in the 2009 Jersey Shore Golden Grand Prix, a series of races that recognizes overall champions, age group category winners, and participants of all series races. The five events are: Spring Lake 5, George Sheehan Classic, Belmar 5 (to be held July 11), Asbury Park 5K (August 8) & CPC / Pier House 5K (Labor Day Monday). Brock was 2007 and 2009 Female Champion of the series.

Nearly 2,500 athletes participated in the Sheehan Classic, a two-day event held June 12-13 that included a series of kids' races, music, expo village, post-race barbecue, two-mile health walk and the premier event, the five-mile run.

"We moved the race in 2004 from its previous August date, hoping that we would have cooler weather," said race director Philip Hinck.  "The weather was perfect this year, a mild breeze at the race start with hazy skies burning off during the race, provided ideal running conditions. We had a very successful race, thanks to our sponsors and to the hard work of countless volunteers. Thanks also to residents supporting the runners along the course, and to Church of the Nativity in Fair Haven, for ringing the church bells as the runners went past."

The George Sheehan Classic began in 1981 as the Asbury Park 10K Classic and quickly became one of the major road running events on the national calendar. The race moved to Red Bank in 1994 and was renamed to honor the memory of Dr. George Sheehan, the prominent author, philosopher and area physician. "The Doc" has been called the "father of the running boom" in the United States. The Classic was named one of the Top 100 Road Races by Runner's World magazine, and the Best Memorial Race in New Jersey by the New York Times.

Photo: Keith Quarles, Sheehan Race Committee

Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, Horizon BlueCross BlueShield of New Jersey and Chapdelaine & Co. sponsor the Sheehan Classic.  Other sponsors include: CB Richard Ellis, New Jersey Natural Gas Company, Builders General Supply, Merrill Lynch, Straub Motors Lincoln/Mercury, and Robert A. Stanger & Co. The Community YMCA 2-mile Health Walk was sponsored by Courtnie Geissler & Conor Delany, Waddell & Reed Financial Advisors and Prosource.net. Refreshment sponsors were Whole Foods Market, 2 Senza Ristorante and LaYogurt.

Other leading finishers of the George Sheehan Classic 2009, many of whom, along with the aforementioned top finishers, might agree with these quotes attributed to the late beloved Running Doc: "There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year, years in my life.  But mostly I run because I am an animal and a child, an artist and a saint. So, too, are you. Find your own play, your own self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant to be."  -  "Sweat cleanses from the inside; it comes from places a shower will never reach."  -  "Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling and enduring and accomplishing."  -  "When I run, truly run...it is all there. My body does what it does best. The mind like a kaleidoscope constantly rearranges the things it has stored into new and exciting patterns.  And my soul utterly loses itself in the present."

Herald area men:  Nick Iuele 29:03, Port Monmouth;   Greg Mendina 29:55, Navesink;   Michael Caracappa 29:57, Fair Haven;   Brian Hill 30:33, Middletown;   Patrick Hill 30:48, Rumson;   John Gore 32:19, Middletown;   Joe Cauvin 32:26, Atl. Highlands;   Henry Mercer 32:30, Locust;   Christopher Bollinger 32:57,20Little Silver;   Eric Jacobsen 33:01, Red Bank;   Kyle Shenk 33:21, Atl. Highlands;   Howard Nifoussi 33:24, Little Silver;   Steven Fuschetti 33:40, Rumson;   Ryan Corbett 33:50, Fair Haven;   David Wrede 33:56 and Paul Dement 34:01, Red Bank;   Brian Lord 34:34, Middletown;   Robert Steets 34:35, Fair Haven;   Brian Foster 34:39, Rumson;   Michael Metlitz 34:55, Little Silver;   Geoffrey Nbishiura 34:58 and Joel Lizotte 34:59, Red Bank;   Adam Kershner 35:16, Little Silver;   Ronald Kane 35:22, Highlands;   Patrick O'Boyle 35:26, Atl. Highlands;   Bryan Kligman 35:28, Jason Glenn 35:30 and Rich Sciria 35:34, Red Bank;   Artie Buisson 35:35, Navesink;   Tom Gillick 35:37, Belford;   Brian Victh 35:42 and Shaun Grimaldi 35:51, Middletown;   Tom Schaefer 35:59, Keansbu rg;   John O'Hern 36:03, Little Silver;   Wade Davis 36:12, Dan Busch 36:33 and Howard Ross 36:36, Fair Haven;   Sean Dorgan 36:36 and Charles Harrington 36:39, Red Bank;   Mike Grassi 36:46 and Coates Bateman 36:48, Little Silver.

Herald area women:  Sherry Sikora 32:38, Red Bank;   Marissa Alberti 33:02, Monmouth Beach;   Kiernan Delaurier 33:03, Atl. Highlands;   Sara Amitrani 34:00, Red Bank;   Kelly Wojciehowski 34:25, Fair Haven;   Jennifer Beck 34:28, Red Bank;   Dawn Wilcox 34:31, Little Silver;   Caitlin Browne 34:53, Middletown;   Maureen Nocella 35:06, Red Bank;   Bridget Dowd 35:10, Fair Haven;   Lori Scisco 35:57, Atl. Highlands;   Maureen Keogh 36:41, Rumson;   Natalie O'Keefe 36:50, Highlands;   Annie Amitrani 36:54, Red Bank;   Margaret Spencer 36:57, Little Silver;   Nicole Corre 37:39, Highlands;   Lisa Zino 37:42, Middletown;   Quinn McKay 37:54, Rumson;   Dawn Ciccone 38:16, Highlands;   Janet Malik 38:22, Red Bank;   Carolyn Hill 38:34, Rumson;   Heather Scott 38:42, Red Bank;   Hillary Morse 38:46, Fair Haven;   Rickie Lee Demaio 38:53, Red Bank;   Suzie Drummond 38:59, Fair Haven;   Emily Dooley 39:22, Atl. Highlands;   Tara Martinho 39:25, Middletown;   Allison Wrede 39:34, Christine Arsego 39:39 and Jennifer Arsego 39:40, Red Bank;   Anna Walsh 39:43, Rumson;   Stephanie Cady 39:47, Fair Haven;   Annie Castellano 39:49, Red Bank;   Jennifer Guli 39:52, Fair Haven;   Susan Haugeneo 39:54, Little Silver;   Kathleen Fuschetti 40:02, Rumson;   Sarah Chiles 40:04, Atl. Highlands;   Susan McCarthy 40:11, Leonardo;   Katie Potter 40:15 and Sara Buch 40:24, Rumson;   Carol DeFazio 40:35, Little Silver;   Yvonne Ciccone 40:47, Red Bank;   Grace Cashmaan 40:48, Little Silver;   Leigh Scisco 40:49, Monmouth Beach;   Jen Vieth 40:49, Middletown;   Sarah Blozen 40:56, Red Bank.

Photo: Keith Quarles, Sheehan Race Committee

Monmouth County men:  Avila Gerardo 26:25, Fort Monmouth;   Luciano DeOliveira 28:07, Long Branch;   David Demonico 28:33, Ocean;   Sam Murray 28:53, Tinton Falls;   Shane Hart 28:57, Belmar;   Will Melofchik 29:01, Wayside;   Jimmy Leslie 29:48, Shrewsbury;   Farnese DaSilva 29:48, West Long Branch;   Miles Hersey 30:50, Hazlet;   John Reagan 30:51, Eatontown;   Chester DeOliveira 31:24, West Long Branch;   David Wellner 31:34, Oceanport;   Doug Twyman 31:37, Manasquan;   Brian O'Dowd 31:48, Colts Neck;   Matthew Jacobson 32:08, Marlboro;   Sean Rath 32:40, Lincroft;   Edward Alburtus 32:51, Neptune City;   Justin Bennett 32:56, Oceanport;   Dan Hogan 32:59, West Long Branch;   Peter Lloyd 33:17, Matawan;   Jim Redeker 33:21, Wall;   James Mitchell 33:23, Colts Neck;   Kenneth Coles 33:27, Howell;   Brian Prendergast 33:36, Sea Girt;   Richard Brugger Jr. 33:39, Neptune City;   Scott Main 33:39, Aberdeen;   Thomas Long 33:53, Manalapan;   Robert Murphy 33:58, Freehold;   Geoff Schroeder 34:15, Wall;   Stephen Harnett 34:40, Hazlet;   Tom McInerney 34:43, Spring Lake;   Bob Flannery 35:12, Manasquan;   Patrick Cavanaugh 35:21, Sea Girt;   Aguelo Garcia 35:24, Manasquan;   Frank Cannarozzo 35:33, Holmdel;   Christian Hansen 35:37, Howell;   Edward Mahalick 35:40, Freehold;   Mike Washakowski 35:56, Ocean;   Mark Mastroberti 36:09, Lincroft;   Thomas Bozza 36:15, Belmar;   James Belfiore 36:18, Matawan;   Carl Ehnis 36:20, Long Branch;   Bud Lehman 36:27, Manasquan;   Bob Cavallaro 36:31, Cots Neck;   Jack Usurin 36:37, Long Branch;   Justin Cabinian 36:39, Holmdel;   Steve Ludeking 36:42, Spring Lake;   Ryan Doyle 36:45, Shrewsbury.

Monmouth County women:  Gabby Barrett 32:36, Freehold;   Dactilia Booth 32:46, Long Branch;   Ann O'Dowd 33:23, Colts Neck;   Nicole Karatzia 33:54, Fort Hancock;   Kendyl Seawright 34:07, Englishtown;   Kathy Kropke 35:20, Avon;   Jennifer Crombie 35:52, Freehold;   Diane Pettersen 36:07, Howell;   Colleen Prior 36:15, Sea Girt;   Jenna Keale 36:16, Shrewsbury;   Bethann Visceglia 36:17, Long Branch;   Catherine Lynch 36:27, Shrewsbury;   Kristin Enderly 36:47, Ocean;   Kristin Ingegnere 37:02 and Megan Pierce 37:03, Lincroft;   Tracy Ko chian 37:04, Morganville;   Diane Rothman 37:12, Lincroft;   Ashley Hart 37:41, Belmar;   Bettina Shepard 38:06, Aberdeen;   Kristina Roselle 38:14, Tinton Falls;   Julie Lang 38:40, West Long Branch;   Kaci Redding 39;13, Tinton Falls;   Peg Kolbenschlag 39:24, Howell;   Audrey Ging 39:55, Long Branch;   Alicia Dibiase 40:04, Spring Lake Heights;   Meghan Byrnes 40:04, Brielle;   Kelly Newsome 40:13, Long Branch;   Meghan Gibney 40:31, Lincroft;   Lucy Slosek 40:51, Tinton Falls;   Denise Plourde 40:58, Matawan;   Jamie Mastroberti 41:03, Lincroft;   Jennifer Wathington 41:04, Aberdeen;   Jamie Crahan 41:14, Hazlet;   Viely Farrell 41:18, Neptune City;   Morisa Katz 41:18, Morganville;   Mary Glaccum 41:29, Brielle;   Christine Mawn 41:37, Spring Lake.

Additional race results can be found on the web at www.sheehanclassic.org. Further information on the Jersey Shore Golden Grand Prix can be found on the series website, www.JSgrandprix.com.

Road-racing events continue on June 20 in Middletown at 9 a.m. with the Ryan's Run 5K at Mountain Hill School, info at www.ryansrun.org. On June 28 is the Pine Beach 5K at 9 a.m. and one-mile at 8:15 a.m., info call 732-349-6794 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . It's the Firecracker Five Mile Race at the Municipal Complex in Wall Township on Saturday, July 4, at 8:35 a.m., info call 732-280-1281 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Area running clubs present summer evening 5K races and arriving at 6 p.m. would be on the mark. On Mondays, it's the Shore Athletic Club in Long Branch at Lake Takanassee; on Tuesday it's the Ocean Running Club in Toms River at Winding River Park; on Wednesday it's the Freehold Area Running Club in Manalapan at Battlefield Park; on Thursday it's the Jersey Shore Running Club in Wall Township at the Municipal Complex. Contact the clubs' websites to get more information. Down the road is the annual Belmar Five 2009 (Johnny Cobb Memorial Run) on Saturday, July 11 at 8:30 a.m., info call 732-571-2162 or www.belmar5.com.