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ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS HERALD |
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By Jim Robbins Interlaken’s Jim Watt was third-place finisher of the 184 road racers competing in the 5th annual Run Thru Interlaken 5K on a clear but breezy Saturday, October 16 morning, at a racing time of 19:01 (19 minutes and 1 second). Coming in first from the 3.1 mile course, that starts near and finishes at Interlaken Ball Field, the staging area, and takes in the adjacent avenues of Bridlemere, Windermere, Bendermere and Buttermere and also slides by Deal Lake, was Jeffrey Peterson of Middletown at 16:12 followed by Maplewood’s Sherwyn Noel at 17:53. “I take it as kind of a hard workout for the championship cross-country races coming up in two weeks at the University of Maryland,” said Peterson, a UNC – Chapel Hill student and recent graduate of CBA, when asked to comment on his achievement. “Earlier in this season I ran a 15:38 at Wake Forest (NC) 5K,” offered today’s champion when asked his best time for a like distance. “I love this weather - today is the first day I ran with a shirt on - it gets pretty hot down there (NC)” he said in commenting on today’s conditions. “Boy, he (Peterson) is good – I was right behind him for the first thousand meters – after that he picked it up – I’m a half-miler so I couldn’t catch him,” said Noel in describing his runner-up performance. “It’s a good course – there’s no traffic – nice straightaways, not too many turns,” Noel further offered.
Joanne Dreicer of Middletown was the first woman to break the finish-line tape held by hometowner John Abel and Keyport’s Frank Pelcher, both members of the Jersey Shore Running Club (JSRC), at 21:49 (24th place overall) followed by Long Branch’s Eileen Kean at 22:20 (29th place) and third woman finisher was Sutah Robins, also of Long Branch, at 22:25 (30th place). “After eighteen months of battling a hamstring injury, I’m grateful for the time,” said Dreicer in commenting on her accomplishment. “It’s a beautiful course - flat, fast, beautifully scenic, the tree-lined streets, well-manicured lawns, and the weather would be perfect except for a little wind,” today’s women’s champion further offered in general comments. Long Branch’s Nancy Thorne, co-director of the annual Michael Thorne 4-Mile Run presented in May in West Long Branch that honors the memory of her fireman brother who died in line of duty, finished at 22:38 and offered these comments as she was winding down in the finishing area of the Ballpark: “The course is lovely because the homes are beautiful to look at and the wind today was not a problem but it did slow you down a bit.” “This is one of my favorite races – this course is so pretty and flat (the topography of inclines and hills is not a favorite with runners),” said Neptune’s Bill Koch 23:16, who is president of JSRC. “Just great - a little cool at the start but once you get going, it’s perfect running weather,” he further added. Steve Foley, Oceanport, free from his director duties of last Sunday’s Run Thru Deal race (Oct. 10), finished today at 22:04. Ever ready with his good sense of humor, when asked to compare his course of 5 miles with today's 3.1 miles Foley responded, “Well this one’s shorter – you get to the end much quicker.” In a little more serious tone he added, “It’s a nice loop – there’s no highway running, and there’s absolutely no traffic on the course that you have to contend with.” Four-year-old Zachary Hoyle, Interlaken, finished the 3.1 miles in 45:43, good for 174th place, albeit a part of the race was on the shoulders of his dad, John. “Yes,” said Zachary when asked if he were looking forward to doing it again next year. The event includes a 1-Mile Fun Run that got underway at 10 a.m., an hour before the main start. It had 53 competitors and Neptune’s Christian Cleary, a 7th grader at St. Mary’s in Deal, was the overall winner at 5:53 and twelve-year-old Meghan Goldstein of Interlaken was first for the girls at 6:06. Detective Peter Kupper of the Interlaken Police speaking for the first-aid staff informed that there were “no problems, no injuries – all went well.” Phil Hinck, past president of the JSRC and race director of many of the Shore area 5-mile races, was the official race starter and the lead vehicle was driven by Police Chief Robert Dodd. At the start, Hinck introduced Lisa DiGiovanni of Interlaken, a choir member of the Trinity Episcopal Church of Asbury Park, who led the awaiting racers in a fine rendition of “God Bless America.” Scott Lewis, race director, assisted by Republican Assemblyman Sean T. Kean of the 11th District, along with Penny Hinck, active member of JSRC, awarded trophies to the aforementioned winners and age-group leaders on the grounds of the Ballpark as the racers were enjoying hot dogs, hamburgers, ziti, salad, bagels, beer and soda. The beneficiary is the Interlaken Police Association. “I’m thinking about doing it next year – the race will continue – it’s been a total success, the town loves it, the people love it – the party’s wonderful - we give out great shirts (part of the application fee) – most of all I want to thank everybody for coming out and the volunteers for their know-how efforts and for traffic control by our police who received assistance from the Ocean Township Explorer Post 281 and also a special thanks to all our sponsors – and let’s acknowledge the patience of motorists who were inconvenienced for the safety of our racers, ” said director Lewis in summary comments. Other finishers of the Run Thru Interlaken 5K (whose place cards were legible): Interlaken: John Paradise 20:09, Dennis Rogers 21:14, Maria Parkhill 23:43, Robert Becker 24:13, Casey Vornhagen 27:52, Mark Vornhagen 27:54, John Joyce 28:23, Peter Hughes 29:08, Kim Hoyle 29:17, Kasey Hyman 29:53, Andrea Hyman 29:54, Madeline McEvily 30:16, Morgan Duffy 30:17, Nick Sestito 31:49, David Wirin 32:03, Liz Donato 32:51, Renee Menditto 33:23, Lauren Hughes 34:07, Mike Paterno 34:12, Lauren Fazio 34:12, Beth Paterno 34:56, Lynn Parry 35:54, Joann Weeden 36:04, Dan Weeden 36:21, Jack Doran 40:12, Jane Hughes 44:22, Zachary Hoyle 45:43, Pete Falk 49:22. Others: Ed Alburtus 19:01, South Belmar; Phil Benson 19:21, West Allenhurst; Michael McAuliffe 20:34, Ocean; Joseph Renzella 20:42, Neptune City; Dick Adams 20:57, West Allenhurst; Robert Harlow 21:55, Ocean; Jack Bleach 22:10, Belmar; Larry Sinkovich 22:14, Belmar; Eric Arpert 22:55, Ocean Grove; David McLaughlin 23:00, Allenhurst; Andrew Dombrowiecki 23:02, Ocean; Bill Koch 23:16, Neptune; John McLaughlin 23:27, Allenhurst; Leah Wojewoda 23:58, Wanamassa; Dallas Dellinger 24:11, Oahhurst; Jim Benkeil 24:13, Avon; Bob Hayes 25:16, Ocean; Sandi Robertson 25:22, Bradley Beach; Marge Nealon 25:22, Neptune City; Kelli Cumiskey 25:45, Allenhurst; Rick Borelli 26:03, Bradley Beach; Elizabeth Parry 26:33, West Allenhurst; Steve Nudelman 26:39 and Jim Simpson 27:16, Tinton Falls; James Spinola 27:26, Neptune City; Marilyn Cusick 27:46, Neptune; Brigid Buckley 28:34, Ocean Grove; Danielle Caruso 28:37, West Allenhurst; Michelle DeBenedictis 28:40 and Rob Fahy 28:47, Allenhurst; Carole Doyle 29:36, Ocean Grove; Jerry Garifine 29:15, Ocean; Paul Hallman 29:56 and Kathy Tisony 32:08, Allenhurst; Rick Jones 35:08, Ocean; Lori Rawson 35:59, West Allenhurst; Peggy Sue Fenton 38:35, Tinton Falls; Tina Duda 39:58, Ocean Grove; Shauna Lays 42:06, Allenhurst; Vicki O’Neill 46:36 and Ruth Jones 46:33, Ocean; Carmen Nelson 49:14, Allenhurst. Other Monmouth County finishers: Jeff Gero 20:05, Wall; Colin Richmond 20:21, Spring Lake; Sean Kean 20:23, Wall; Jack Cheer 20:50, Manasquan; Tom Mulvaney 21:11, Brick; Fred Esposito 21:19, Long Branch; Don Tracy 21:25, Howell; Mike Glynn 21:46, Middletown; Steve Foley 22:04, Oceanport; Marti Rettino 22:31, Matawan; Patrick Mastrorilli 22:34, Spring Lake; Nancy Thorne 22:38, Long Branch; Marty Dugan 23:05, Middletown; Tom Morrison 23:49, Highlands; Nancy Elliott 23:58, Manasquan; Mary Moriarty 25:06, Highlands; Rich Murray 25:21, Manasquan; Doug Weber 25:29, Freehold; Denise Schulz 25:34, West Long Branch; Jerry Frazee 25:53, Manasquan; Brian Homer 26:04, Brielle; Glenn Spratfora 26:11 and Vinnie Gill 26:15, Spring Lake Heights; John Donelik 27:34, Middletown; Valerie Edinger 27:49, Farmingdale; Harry Hoey 28:06, Manasquan (director of Manasquan Turkey Trot); Claire Bormida 28:21, Spring Lake Heights; Peter Forlenza 28:25, Rumson; Donna Mehler 28:28, Spring Lake Heights; Diane Cheer 28:29, Manasquan; Alyssa Homer 28:35, Brielle; Shana Chrzan 28:37, Brick; Stephanie Patterson 29:34, Sea Girt; JoAnn La Sala 29:35, Howell; Stacie Ferrara 29:37, Point Pleasant; Tom Natoli 29:48, Red Bank; John Peterson 30:12, Sea Girt; Yuliya Priporina 30:15, Manalapan; Joe McLaughlin 31:55, Point Pleasant; Jenny Rigby 33:36, Red Bank; Fred Howlett 34:34, Brick; Paula Sheehy 37:27, Brick; Lizabeth C. Frank 37:57, Point Pleasant. Road racers have the popular Trick or Trot 4 mile race in Long Branch at Seven Presidents Park on October 24 at 11 a.m. The 11th annual event benefits the Dr. Chuck Whelan Medical Fund and the Food Bank and is presented by the JSRC. Registration is at The Windmill across from the Park. |
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