published Atlantic Highlands Herald 7 July 2005

By Jim Robbins 

photos by Bob Both

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A patriotic field of 391 road racers, many garbed in red, white and blue as well as stars and stripes, began celebrating our nation’s 229th birthday on the sunny, windless, good-racing weather Fourth of July morning, by competing in the Wall Township Recreation’s sixteenth annual Firecracker Five race.

After a recorded rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner by Cher, organized by Spin Doctor, Fred Rummel, race director, asked the racers “to remain silent for a moment in honor of our military who are fighting for us to have the freedom to participate in a race such as this.” He then gave a three-command start and the racers were off, following the lead motorcycle driven by patrolman Michael Textor of the Wall Township police and jockeying for positions on the 5-mile course that starts and finishes in front of the 200-acre plus Wall Township Municipal Center on Allaire Avenue and includes Campbell Avenue, 18th Avenue and Baileys Corner Road.

Jeff Propert crosses the finish line

Jeff Propert of Wall Township was the first to finish at a racing time of 29:03 (29 minutes and 3 seconds). Brick Township’s Tim Horn was second at 29:50 and James Nolan of Collegeville, PA, came in third place at 29:51. “I have raced at a 5:10 pace, “ said today’s champion when asked to compare his 5:49 pace today with his best overall effort.

“We stayed together about halfway through the race, then there was a little hill and then he (Propert) took the lead,” said Horn in describing his runner-up performance. “No, he kept on increasing the lead,” Horn informed when asked if he tried to catch the leader.

Cheri Kenah crosses the finish line

Cheri Kenah, also of Wall, was today’s women’s champion, 11th place overall, at 31:28 and coming in second and third place for the women were Rachel Provost of Englishtown at 31:54 and Wall’s Sheila O’Grady at 33:18. “I did a 26 flat (26:00) in 1997 probably at the George Sheehan or it might have been in Gettysburg – I’m not quite sure,” said Kenah when asked what and where was her best five-mile effort. “I like the new one a lot and I’m glad that they got rid of that last hill,” Kenah said in describing the course. The hill she referred to was the last 1/3 mile homestretch incline when the racers turned from New Bedford Road to Allaire.

Neptune’s Joe Renzella, a decorated Vietnam veteran and a veteran Shore area road-racing stalwart, earned 1st place award in his 60-64 age group at 36:15. “The course is the same as last year, it’s nice - all right turns except one left turn coming in.” he offered and on the weather: “Beautiful – picturesque day, no humidity, couldn’t even break a sweat!”

Questioned about his thoughts on the Iraq conflict, the recipient of a Purple Heart and four Bronze Stars, two being identified with a V, which means resulting from an act of combat heroism said: “We’re in now and the only thing we can do is to stay and finish the job - I would welcome back the draft and go there full force, train the army with special units, finish the job and get out.”

“A great race as usual – they changed the course to take the hills out, and it was perfect weather,” said Spring Lake’s Walter MacGowan, president of the Shore Athletic Club (SAC) whose racing time of 36:35 was good for 5th place in his 55-59 age group.

Seventy-four-year old Harry Papirman, formerly from Staten Island now a resident of Whiting, won his age-group award at a highly respectable time of 42:39, an 8:32 per-mile pace. His wife, Dolores, finished second in her 65-69 age group at 54:03. “The weather was the nicest we had in the past six years, every body was happy with it, every body was running well,” were Harry’s initial comments and when asked his thoughts on his racing time, he said, “I’m very happy about it and I’m looking forward to racing it again next year.”

Leonardo’s Thomas Morrison finished under an 8-minte mile pace at 39:44 and the president of the Jersey Shore Running Club (JSRC) commented: “Fred (Fred Rummel, director) finally got the weather right – the new course is good because it deleted the big hill at the finish.”

“Since they took that horrible hill out, the course is much better – today was the best weather I’ve ever run this race.” offered Long Branch’s Marilyn Ryder, active member of JSRC, and mother-in-law of Phil Hinck, race director extraordinaire of Shore area racing events, who won her 60-64 age group at 47:16. Ryder’s running partner former JSRC president Elizabeth Ireland, Red Bank 47:15, added, “Ditto!”

Donna Cetrulo, Long Branch educator and officer of the SAC, who racewalked today in 54:27 also agreed positively with the new course’s elimination of the hill and offered that, “There was great support from the water-stop and clock people.”

“The Firecracker Five is always the highlight of my racing year,” said Fran Emanuel, Brick, a racewalker also, at 58:59. “Because there’s always great competition, great community participation and it’s just a beautiful place to be on the Fourth of July,” she explained.

Digital clocks were placed at each mile mark, courtesy of the Freehold Area Running Club (F.A.R.C.) and Elite Racing Systems so racers could check their racing time and water stations were available at these spots also. Other water spots were available randomly set up by residents.

“A beautiful day and no major problems,” said Matty Martin spokeswoman for the Wall Township First Aid and Rescue Squad when asked to comment on the day’s activities.

At the finish line lending their expertise to the necessary activities were Bob Hyer and Tom Wendell, past-presidents of F.A.R.C., along with Phil Hinck, past-president of the Jersey Shore Running Club and director of the upcoming Belmar Five Johnny Cobb Memorial Run. All male finishers received an American flag and the female finishers were given a rose by volunteers Debbie Adamchak, English teacher at Raritan High School in Hazlet, and Kayla Mileufnich, Lakewood, who is administrative assistant at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Old Bridge. Anna Torres and Kristin Rodriguez of eliteracingsystems.com did the computerized results.

The event includes a 3.5 mile leisure walk and a 1-mile Fun Run that gets underway prior to the 8:35 a.m. start of the Firecracker Five and a series of kids’ races held regularly the evening before. Rummel was assisted by Mayor Edward H. Thomson III and committee persons Mary Burne and Robert D. Peters in getting the races for ages 4 thru 12 with nearly 100 running in eight different races from 50 yards for the youngest to 440 yards for the 10-12 year olds, on the soccer fields of the Complex.

Fred Rummel, race director of the Firecracker Five for all its sixteen years, assisted by committeewoman Mary Burne and Mayor Thomson awarded sweatshirts and trophies to the aforementioned winners and age-group leaders at Bar Anticipation in Belmar where a buffet was offered to the hungry racers.

“The race was very successful with the help of fire, police and first-aid squads and with all the sponsors that help with the financial support. I want to acknowledge the patience of local motorists who had to be detoured for the safety of the racers. Thanks to the many volunteers in moment to moment work and to the runners/walkers without whom there is no Firecracker Five,” said the obviously pleased, popular director, when asked his final thoughts.

Other Neptune finishers: Patrick Ford 30:56, Richard Brugger Jr. 31:26, Scott Parker 35:17, Patrick McLaughlin 36:58, Jeffrey Kaesshaefer 38:15, Iradell Abney Jr. 38:44, Richard Logan 39:48, Thomas Bauer 39:58, Marilyn Cusick 42:19, Kevin Cusick 42:20, John Mcloughlin 42:36, Ronald Chevestick 45:22, David Brown 46:18, James Spinola 54:52.

Other shore area finishers: Lou Gelmer 34:41, Oakhurst; Kathy Kropke 35:28, Avon; Tim Mahoney 37:34, (NJ State Police officer in charge of the 9/11 Memorial Run in Belmar) and Vincent Balistrieri 38:03, Belmar; Dorothy Lurch 38:44, Avon; Edward Zupkus 39:23 and Tim Keane 40:08, Ocean; Michelle Ranis 40:23, Elberon; Alison Soto 40:53 and William Connelly 41:53, Ocean; Michael Gross 42:04, Asbury Park; Daniel Lee 42:54, Oakhurst; Veronica Scanlon 43:21 and Jim Scanlon 43:23, Elberon; Louis Rosen 44:30, Ocean Grove; Steven Surman 44:51, Tinton Falls; Aricar Korff 45:40, Elberon; John Sammon 45:47, Bradley Beach; Craig Seba 47:18, Tinton Falls; Lauren Havenmann 47:23, Bradley Beach; Kelly Cygan 47:57, Tinton Falls; Ken Sorensen 48:41, Ocean Grove; Tina Agnello 51:13, Elberon; Melanie Tsilivitis 51:21, Asbury Park; Grace Baratta Perez 51:58, Wanamassa; Steve Nudleman 58:39, Tinton Falls; Raymond Riddick 1:03:43, Belmar; Michael Walter 1:05:32, Tinton Falls Chelsea Hayes 1:11:23, Ocean; Tina Duda 1:12:15, Ocean Grove; Renee Mazza 1:13:57, Elberon.

Other Wall leading Male finishers: Brandon Piersen 30:36, Eric DeSallo 31:13, Edward Alburtus 32:51, Anthony Tracy 33:15, Don Jessop 34:49, Bob Radtke 34:50, Robert Kosinski 36:27, Richard Brown 37:15, Brett Gibson 37:24, Robert Davidson 38:42, Peter Heim 41:09, Patrick McMenamin 41:59, Richard Polung 42:28, Brian Donahue 42:45, John Pardenek 42:55.

Other Wall Female finishers: Sheila Ogrady 33:19, Janice Kosinski 40:30, Clare Forlenza 41:03, Wendy Mcknight 41:08, Linda Carbin 41:53, Holly Tracy 47:36, Meryl Clement 47:36, Kristin Hill 48:30, Kristine Kayser 50:47, Mary Buchbinder 51:38, Megan Kerr 51:42, Kelly Van 56:46, Candace Brandmayer 57:06, Peg Hall 57:24, Patty McMenamin 57:25.

Other area finishers: Vincent Ferrer 31:21, Belford; Isa Picascia 34:56, Holmdel; Paul Weber 35:49, Locust; Jon Kopko 36:25 and Brian Klatsky 36:29, Colts Neck; Avid Picascia 37:36 and Frank Cannarozzo 38:12, Holmdel; Linda Puzzo 38:12, Leonardo; Pam Allen 38:40, Fair Haven; Kristina Pachman 38:48, Red Bank; Carol Irwin 38:49, Rumson; Mike Wilbert 38:51, Colts Neck; Patrick Gongora 39:26, Red Bank; Thomas Morrison 39:44, Leonardo (president of Jersey Shore Running Club); Kristin Olsen 39:55, Middletown; George Mazzeo 39:57, Fair Haven; Allison Linell 39:58, Colts Neck; Andrew Lovett 40:16, Keansburg; Arlene Jensen 41:06, Locust; Chris French 41:15, Keansburg; Mary Moriarty 43:17, Leonardo; Paul Conwell 43:42, Port Monmouth; Chuck Fallon 43:57, Middletown; Antoinette Picascia 44:21, Holmdel; Micaela Campbell 45:20, Monmouth Beach; Iris Nieves 45:30, Holmdel; David Menist 45:39, Little Silver; Elizabeth Ireland 47:15, Red Bank; Janet McGuire 49:18, Locust; Diana Burton 51:19, Middletown; Tom Natoli 54:39, Red Bank; Christopher French, Jr. 56:01, Keansburg.

Road racers have a series of summer evening events for their running/racewalking activity: Mondays in Long Branch at Lake Takanassee, Tuesdays in Toms River at Winding River Park, Wednesdays in Manalapan at Battlefield Park and Thursdays in Wall Township at the Municipal Complex and arriving at all between 6:00 and 6:15 p.m. would be on the mark.

The Belmar Five Johnny Cobb Memorial Run is on Saturday, July 9, at 8:30 a.m. with registration at the Taylor Pavilion, 5th and Ocean Avenues, info call 732-571-2162. On Sunday, July 16, is the JCC 5K Summer Classic on Grant Avenue in Deal at 9 a.m. info call 732-531-9100 ext 122. It’s the Neptune City Day 5K on August 6 at 8:00 a.m., info call 732-776-7224. On August 7 is the Sea Girt 5K at 8:00 a.m., info call 800-435-0066. On September 11 is the Memorial Run in Belmar at 6 p.m., info contact www.jsrc.org.