RunAPalooza Relay and Half-Marathon held in Asbury Park

Monday, 20 April 2009 08:49

Newsbrief - Monmouth County

ASBURY PARK, NJ - Nearly 2000 road racers comprised of 394 teams made up mainly of five members each, some had fewer, and the twelve single competitors of the Ironman/Ironwoman Category, that had just one racer, competed in the 13th annual Jersey Shore Relay from Seaside Heights to Asbury Park. The event, now entitled RunAPalooza which includes the Asbury Park Half Marathon, is organized by the Jersey Shore Running Club (JSRC) to benefit Special Olympics and was held on the sunny, breezy, good-racing-weather of Saturday morning April 18.

photos by Bob Both, JSRC

With six staggered starting times, organized by JSRC members Sabrina Scrivanich, Joan Scrivanich and Eric MacKellar, and Jeri Hickey of Special Olympics, beginning at 7:45 a.m., for the slower teams, thru 9:45 a.m., the Relay's 26.2 mile (marathon distance), ocean-hugging, northbound course begins at the Aztec Hotel in Seaside Heights, has five legs ranging from 6 plus to 3 plus miles each, goes through 16 Shore area towns, of which the racers pass off their colored (determined by starting times) batons at Brick Beach, Point Pleasant Beach, Gee Gee's in Manasquan, the fishing pier in Belmar, and finishes on the Asbury Park boardwalk next to Convention Hall which also serves as the award-presentation area and refreshment location.

Jersey Shore Triathlon Club I at 2:22:53 (2 hours, 22 minutes and 53 seconds) was the Overall Category winner with Chris Wilcox of Brielle as the team captain. Club members running were Joe Donahue, Pt. Pleasant, Dave Slavinksi, Pt. Pleasant, Brian Shea, Tinton Falls and Joe Rooney, Howell.

Other Category winners: team name, captain, town and racing time:  Family: Pearsall Pacers, Vincent Wolleon, South Amboy 2:30:45;   School: TCNJ Alumni, Joseph P.Ward, Asbury Park 2:30:50;   Government: Coyote Red, Michael Tully, Belmar 2:40:26 (a team member said Belmar lifeguards should Observe and Report);   Open (mixed): Jersey Shore Triathlon Club II, Chris Wilcox, Brielle 2:42:15;   Open (men):  Mookie Wilson, Daniel Campbell, Middletown 2:45:43;   Club: Team Osac/Platinum Car Care, Daniel Lenc, Oakland 2:48:33;   Masters (mixed): Baloon Knot Team #1, Seth Grumet, Marlboro 2:57:38;   Corporate: Wakefern/Shoprite A, Jim Schulz,  Keasbey 3:00:32;   Masters (men): Bob's 50-50, Bob Tona, Monmouth Junction 3:03:21;   Open (women): Irish Whiskey Runners III, Kevin McCarthy, Freehold 3:18:12;   Police: FOP #191, Aaron Harty, Medford Lakes 3:21:52;   Masters (women): ORC Skirts, Greg Cox, Princeton 3:24:38;   Ironman: Across the River, Paul Halayko, NY, NY 3:26:06;   Fire: FDNY, Fred Capetta, Staten Island 3:30:05;   Ironwoman: Megan Baglivio, Point Pleasant 5:33:19.

Bradley Beach's D'Arcy's Tavern (vociferous at the finish-line area) teams 1&2 finished respectively and respectfully at 3:21:27 and 3:22:32 and their captain Belmar's Tim Mahoney, retired NJ State Police officer, was on hand to welcome them. "This is Jersey Shore Running Club's proudest moment and the weather did cooperate this year," he said in a general comment. Mahoney is past president of the JSRC and also serves as the club's director of the highly-dignified 9/11 Memorial Run presented annually in Belmar on that infamous date.

The new Asbury Park Half Marathon started on the boardwalk about ¼ mile south of Convention Hall at 8:30 a.m. Prior to the start, Phil Hinck reminded the racers of the unique course: All runners would proceed south on the boardwalk to Avon  and there just before the Shark River bridge runners would have a choice of turning back for a three-loop course or continuing into Belmar, Spring Lake and Sea Girt to a turnaround, knowing that they could be delayed if the bridge were open to waterway travel. Some did get caught.

Four hundred and fifty-eight finished the 13.1 miles ocean-viewing challenge and Richard Angelillo, 30, of Philadelphia, PA, was first finisher at 1:19:03 followed by Graham Merfield, 46, of Titusville at 1:20:23 and third was Galloway's Eric Schrading, 42, at 1:20:32.

Eissa Christian Shively, 28, of New York City was today's women's champion of the Half Marathon at 1:19:03 (1 9th place overall). Coming in second and third, respectively for the women were Giovana Castillo, 38, at 1:33:32 (27th overall), of Highlands and Robin Campbell, 29, of South Amboy at 1:36:07 (36th overall).

"I would have liked to run a minute faster," said Liz Ireland, 61, Red Bank, but was satisfied with her racing time of 2:10:56 which brought her 2nd award in her 60-69 age group. Ireland was president of the JSRC 1999-2000 and she said of today's weather, "It was great, lots of sun, light breeze and a pretty good temperature the light 50's." She also added that she liked the 3-loop course because it reminded her of Lake Takanassee. Ireland is recalling the popular Monday night summer 5K races in Long Branch staged at the Lake that has an oval course that racers traverse four times.

The event included a 3-mile out-and-back Walk for Special Olympics that began at the boardwalk outside of Convention Hall and included 5th, Grand and Cookman Avenues also Bond and Lake Streets, a footbridge over Wesley Lake and an Ocean Grove walk back to the boardwalk.

Phil Hinck, along with associate and friend Fred Torres of Eliteracingsystems.com were busy with the sundry activities (including constantly asking spectators to clear the center of the boardwalk for the racers' last 1/3 mile dash) at the finish-line clock located immediately south of Convention Hall. Also assisting in that area were JSRC members: Marilyn Ryder, Long Branch and her sister Bonnie Santomenna, Shrewsbury, along with other JSRC volunteers.

The aforementioned leading teams of the Relay were presented with a framed certificate for the team captain and commemorative gold batons for each member and the Half Marathon aforementioned leaders were awarded embroidered hats by race director, Bob Both and Diane Cheer of Wall Township, both active members of the JSRC on the stage of Convention Hall, while the approximately 3500 wilted racers (including the walkers and volunteers) were enjoying refreshments at the hall of the Convention Center, compliments of food chairman Bob Gileski, South River. Diane DeOliviera, JSRC Member and Morning Radio Show Host on 107.1 The Breeze acted as emcee. Nestle was a big contributor with water donations from their Poland Spring Division, Power Bars and food from their Stouffer's Division.

"I am very pleased with the outcome and am confident that when all the pledges are collected we will raise more than $60,000 and that will be added to the other years we collected, for a total of about $500,000 to benefit Special Olympics and the Children's Tumor Foundation.  I want to thank the Relay Committee, the New Jersey Southeast Elks Special Children's Committee, all the bands who played along the course and at Convention Hall to include Big Train, the Fin-Dicators and the Suns of the Beach. Also I appreciate the enthusiastic supporters in the towns along the course who welcomed and cheered the runners. It was terrific making this a true community event along the Jersey Shore of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. I want, also, to recognize the many volunteers who assisted in the myriad activities necessary for conducting a racing event. The JSRC is proud to continue its support for Special Olympics and new this year the Children's Tumor Foundation," said race-director Both, in an E-mail summary. Bob Both also serves as the Webmaster of the award-winning website (www.jsrc.org) of the club.

The Special Olympics brochure informs: "For more than 36 years, Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ) has been part of a worldwide program of sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Recognized by the International Olympic Committee, SONJ promotes global athletic leadership and is dedicated to the movement of empowerment and dignity.  Its goal is to change attitudes within communities about intellectual disabilities of some and to emphasize potential ability and acceptance."

Other leading Monmouth County Relay team names, racing times and captains and their hometowns:  Fighting Irish at 2:48:01, John Coughlin, Union Beach;   All Beasts - No Beauty at 2:57:41, Daniel Stroka, Wayside;   Trail Dogs at 3:00:50, Wayne Foster, Manasquan;   Road To Nowhere at 3:02:42, Steve Apostolacus, Wanamassa;   Wheels + An Anchor at 3:06:49, Holly St. Clair, Sea Girt;   Just Two It Plus One at 3:09:56, Jonathan Brodsky, Brielle;   Fair Haven Rockets at 3:10:07, Ed Reid, Fair Haven;   Shore Chasers at 3:14:39, Kelly Wimmer, Little Silver;  Jordan & Co. at 3:15:55, Jenny Marie Filler, Belmar;   Jersey Shore Tri Club IV Snake Shark at 3:18:12, Ian King, Brielle;   Exit 109 at 3:18:21, P.J. Maloney, Fair Haven;   Fourtwenty at 3:18:21, William Liuzza, Asbury Park;   Hughes at 3:19:23, Jeffrey Tod Hughes, Neptune;   The Runners of Oz at 3:19:42, Martha Dement, Red Bank;   Bar A Buds at 3:19:51, Larry Sinkowich, Belmar;   Team La Boxing at 3:20:13, William Connelly, Tinton Falls.

Other leading Monmouth County Asbury Park Half Marathoners:  Chester A. DeOliveira 1:22:22 and Farnese B.DaSilva 1:25:38, West Long Branch;   Brian O'Dowd 1:28:18 and Chris Dondonaghy 1:32:46, Colts Neck;   Patrick Applegate 1:33:24, Matawan;   Giovana Castillo 1:33:32, Highlands;   Jarrett Lynn 1:36:04, Farmingdale;   Ann O'Dowd 1:36:10, Colts Neck;   Bob Szymanski 1:36:37, Bradley Beach;   Jaclyn S. Muller 1:36:54, Port Monmouth;   Marissa Alberti 1:38:37, Monmouth Beach;   Ronald Kane 1:39:29, Highlands;   Sheila O'Grady 1:40:14, Wall;   Patrick O'Boyle 1:40:58, Atl. Highlands;   Christopher Tho 1:41:13, Middletown;   James Hubert 1:41:18, Allenhurst;   Sean McKeon 1:41:40, Deal;   Evan Freely 1:42:12, Belmar;   James Belfiore 1:42:29, Matawan;   Carl Ehnis 1:42:38, Long Branch;   Frank Cannarozzo 1:42:41, Holmdel;   Craig Kolb 1:43:29, Fair Haven;   Gavin Docherty 1:43:55, Middletown;   Michael Marra 1:45:15, Asbury Park;   Debra Keating 1:45:44, Spring Lake;   Martin Fitzpatrick 1:45:52, Bradley Beach;   Art Veilleux 1:45:55, Belmar;   Joseph Don Cieri 1:46:25, Matawan;   Robert Erdelyi 1:46:38, Howell;   Bettina Shepard 1:47:31, Aberdeen;   Scott Walsack 1:47:37, Little Silver;   Therese Allen 1:47:59 and Curt Allen 1:48:00, Farmingdale;   Bethann Visceglia 1:48:19, Long Branch;   Joel Rooy 1:48:20, Little Silver.

Complete results for runAPalooza events can be found at the Jersey Shore Running Club website www.jsrc.org.

Road racing events continue in Lake Como on April 25 with the Lake Como 5K at 10 a.m., info call 732-223-5307 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  On April 26 are two events in Lincroft: the Colt 5K Trail Run at 10 a.m., info call 732-747-1959 X 214 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . and the Donna Lane 5K Memorial Run at 9 a.m., info call 732-975-9735 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Three events are scheduled for Sunday, May 3: Island Heights River to Bay 5K at 10 a.m., info call 732-286-3112 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ;  Rumson-Fair Haven 5 Mile Run at 9:30 a.m. at the high school, info call 732-741-2140 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  On May 9 are two events: 15th Annual Monmouth Beach PTA 3 Mile Run at 9 a.m., info call 732-859-3371 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and Fear the Pier 5K in Leonardo at 10 a.m., info call 732-866-2119 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  It's the Michael W. Thorne 4 Mile Run/Walk on May 17 in West Long Branch at 9 a.m., info call 732-222-0725 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .