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ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS HERALD
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By Jim Robbins SANDY HOOK, NJ — Six hundred and thirty-six road racers competed in the 31st running of the Jersey Shore Half Marathon presented by the Shore Athletic Club (SAC) with the cooperation of the Freehold Area Running Club (FARC) and the Jersey Shore Running Club (JSRC) on a sunny, breezy Sunday morning, October 5, with temperatures in the mid 60 degrees at Gateway National Recreation Area - Sandy Hook. Dave DeMonico of South River was the first to cross the finish line located on the main road outside Parking Lot E, which was also the starting area, at a racing time of 1:16:03 (I hour, 16 minutes and 3 seconds). "There's a lot of military history out there" said Demonico in his initial comments when asked his thoughts on today's event. Fort Hancock was the name of the area prior to it being taken over by our national park system and renamed, about which DeMonico was referring. "I want to compliment the people who manned the water spots, they were encouraging and efficient," he added. Four water spots were strategically placed and serviced by cross country teams of Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School and Monmouth University, supervised by their respective coaches, Renee Talon and Joseph Compagni along with students from Marine Academy of Science and Technology (M.A.S.T.), and employees of New Jersey Natural Gas.
Coming in a distant second, on this double-loop course, which goes to the lighthouse area at the end of Sandy Hook to complete the 13.1 mile total distance, was Frank Pucher of Morristown at 1:17:52. "No, I knew he (DeMonico) was too far out in front so we, the third and fourth runner and me, teamed up and finished together," said Pucher when asked if he tried to catch today's champion. Third was Joe Donahue of Point Pleasant 1:17:57 and fourth was Guy Norton at 1:17:59 of Newton. Spring Lake's Rian Landers was first finisher for the women, 7th place overall, at 1:21:48 followed by Dorian Meyer of Locust at 1:23:17, 8th overall, and third place woman was Laurie (Parton) Gordon of Newton at 1:29:01, 27th overall. "This is it, because it's the first time I've ever raced a half marathon," said Landers when asked what her best time was for this distance. Landers is used to races of lesser distance in her cross-country experience at Lafayette College in Easton, PA, from which she recently graduated, she further informed. At the midway turnaround, Meyer was in front and at that point Landers began to close the gap and by the 11-mile mark she took the lead and eventually became today's woman's champion. John Soucheck of Little Silver is the Half Marathon's champion racewalker at 1:52:20. "I'm satisfied - I consider it a good workout session," he offered in commenting on his performance. "It's pretty straight and easy and good and flat, but it was a bit windy out there," he said in further comments on the course and weather conditions. Wheelchair victory went to David Lowell of Somerville at 1:03:20. "Because of the double-loop course, I had some trouble on my second return to the finish area with having to avoid people," he noted when asked to comment. His overall response, however, was positive for the course and event and he was satisfied with his performance. Lowell is the wheelchair champion of the August running of the Belmar Five Mile Run where he posted a 25:56. Dawn Ciccone of Highlands, active member of the JSRC, finished at 1:38:22, good for 2nd place in her 45-49 age group and 80th place overall. "I like the pretty, picturesque, panoramic views it offers," said Ciccone, an 8th grade English teacher at Monmouth Beach school, whose alliterative course description seems appropriate for her profession. JSRC president Adele McDonough had a PR (Personal Record) with her time of 1:33:16, good for 41st overall and earned her a 2nd place award of the 20-29 age group. "It was fun - especially the people servicing the water spots who were cheering us on - that was the best part," said McDonough. At the starting line, Walter MacGowan, president of SAC, informed the racers of the four water stops and encouraged them to make use of them. He then introduced Elizabeth Flannelly of Monmouth Beach and a member of Red Bank's Monmouth Conservatory of Music who gave a fine rendition of our Star-Spangled Banner. Phil Hinck, past president of JSRC, and director of the summer 5-mile races in Spring Lake, Belmar and Red Bank directed the assembled racers to the starting line and Hoyle Mozee, veteran member of SAC, did a five-second countdown to the start and the racers were on their way. The event this year introduced a 5K as an added feature which had 42 finishers who raced on the same, but abbreviated to its 3.1 mile length, half-marathon course. Kent and Sue Lucas of Norman, Oklahoma were the male-female winners of this inaugural Lighthouse 5K, which had its start 5 minutes after the half-marathoners were underway: Kent at 18:15, Sue at 21:54. Isabelle Keeley, race director, assisted by Lauren Hyer, daughter of Bob and Linda Hyer past presidents, both, of FARC, presented awards of lighthouse replicas to the aforementioned winners and age-group leaders at the Parking Lot E's concession and rest room section, which served as the staging area. Special Charlie Rooney sailboat replicas went to the top three winners, racewalkers as well as runners. Rooney, late mayor of Sea Bright, was a long-time member of the SAC and a veteran long-distance runner on the Shore area scene. Random prizes were offered and the main prize of a television set was won by Kristina Cossaboom of Trenton who finished the 13.1 miles at 2:05:03. "I'm taking it with me to college," she said when asked her plans for her new possession. Kristina attends the College of New Jersey. "It was the largest number we've had here at the Hook. I'm so excited about the excellent turnout and want to thank all the runners for their support. I want to acknowledge the know-how cooperation we get from the volunteers of the area clubs (SAC, FARC, JSRC). Compliments, too, to the chairpeople of the organizing committee who did an outstanding job of food preparation and distribution for the athletes. I want to recognize Gene Geer who helped get the new 5K part of this year's event underway. Thanks to Tom Wendell, Marcia and Avril Shapiro, Phil and Penny Hinck. Manny and Roberta Eisner, John Eddy and Jennifer Thien and all that helped," said the obviously proud and satisfied director, Isabelle Keeley, when asked for her summary observations.
Other finishers of the 13.1 miles challenge: Highlands: Al Smuda 1:41:19, Andrew Bryceland 1:47:11, Kim Myers 1:47:26, Sharon Dunn 1:48:56, Dale Barth 1:50:12 (award), John Molta 1:54:21, Megan Boord 2:16:34. Middletown: Alex Fowlie 1:18:14 (award winner), Nicole Karatzia 1:34:22, Vincent DeLucia !;38:32, John Elliott 1:39:24, Michael Keogh 1:40:49, Robert Gruhler 1:41:47, James Mason 1:43:23, John Pape 1:43:37 (award), Thomas Delahanty 1:43:57, Peter Rowe 1:49:26, Marybeth McDonnell 1:50:11, David Burke 1:51:36 (award), Martin Dugan !:51:52, Suzanne Carroll 1:58:04, Kathy Porzio 1:59:53, Maureen Paone 2:03:20, Howard Geiler 2:08:42, Stephen P. Kelleher 2:09:21, Grace Rowe 2:14:06 (award), Diana Burton 2:16:54, Janet Fowler 2:17:34, Mary Jane Tortorella 2:23:44, Lynne Glass 2:25:19, Patrick Loughney 2:31:56. Red Bank: Joel Lizotte 1:33:41, Maureen Massell 1:38:03, Mary Beth Glaccum 1:43:12, Drew Scott 1:47:30, Heather Fallon 1:47:37, Kathryn Bryan 1:52:07, John Keavey 2:03:41, Meghan Daly 2:13:33, Rachelle Mikita 2:15:22. Rumson: Charlie Komar 1:28:29 (award), Maximilian Sparshaft 1:33:16, Bob Kelleher 1:33:40, Gaye Nicholson 1:45:07, Susan Drastal 1:46:05, Robert Walsh 1:47:22, Wilson Beebe 1:47:31, Amanda Cashmore 1:47:38, Jayne Chandler 1:47:44, Richard Sussman 1:50:05, Stephen Szakats 1:50:10, Christine Foggia 1:51:28, Patricia Szakats 1:54:45, Nathan Kemler 1:58:35, Bill O'Brien 1:58:37, Norm Dannen 2:02:52, Elizabeth Young 2:06:19, Suzanne Parton 2:07:26, Trudy Parton 2:23:58 (award), Charlie Parton 2:23:58. Others in area: Tom Schaefer 1:31:40, Keansburg; John Jankowski 1:36:24, Little Silver; Craig Kinnison 1:42:43, Monmouth Beach; Craig Stamer 1:44:16, Little Silver; Natalie Mages 1:46:14, Sea Bright; David Stammer 1:47:15, Little Silver; Timothy Skinner 1:47:22, Monmouth Beach; Bill Burke 1:47:54, Atl. Highlands; Linda Puzzo 1:48:06, West Keansburg; Michael Dunigan 1:49:05, Little Silver; Steve Collins 1:49:06, Oceanport; Marty Frumkin 1:49:41, Atl. Highlands; Peter McNamara 1:49:49, Little Silver; Michael Campbell 1:52:21, Monmouth Beach; Charlie Rooney 1:53:43, Sea Bright; Sarah Black 1:55:04, Atl. Highlands (award); Misty Matuskiewicz 1:55:46, Sea Bright; Gregory Matuskiewicz 1:57:59, Atl. Highlands; Robin Ginsberg 2:00:24 and ken White 2:00:37, Oceanport; Elise Primavera 2:00:51, Monmouth Beach; Carol Defazio 2:01:11, Little Silver (award); Christine Sansone 2:01:21, Monmouth Beach; Gayle Stamer 2:01:22, Little Silver; Tonya Miller 2:04:15, Sea Bright; Paula Giblin 2:04:28, Monmouth Beach; Jean Masella 2:06:12 and Janice Rudow 2:10:47, Little Silver; Walter Walling 2:11:49, Atl.Highlands; Kathleen Donato 2:17:00, Oceanport; Sally Bruno 2:17:01, Little Silver; Christine Donohue 2:19:07, Atl. Highlands. Road racers have the popular Run Thru Deal 5 Mile event on Sunday, Oct. 12th at 11a.m., with a 1 mile fun run at 10 a.m., info call 732- 531-1994. On Oct.18th is the Run Thru Interlaken, a 5K run at 11a.m., info call 732-531-4014. Down the road is the JSRC's 10th annual Trick or Trot 4 mile run on the boardwalk in Long Branch on Oct.26th at 10:30 a.m., info call 732-542-6090.
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