published Atlantic Highlands Herald 1 December 2005

by Jim Robbins

photos by Bob Both, Jersey Shore Running Club

FREEHOLD, NJ – Four hundred and seventy-six road racers in need of calorie reducing caused by ingesting traditional, sumptuous Thanksgiving goodies the day before, competed in the 21st annual Born to Run Five Miler organized by the Freehold Area Running Club (FARC) on a clear but cold and windy Black Friday morning of November 25. According to Rule 684 of Tom Parker’s book, Rules of Thumb, each finisher would burn 500 calories.

Rob DeFilippis

Rob DeFilippis, 34, of Tinton Falls, last spring’s champion of the Rumson Run, also a five-miler, was the first calorie loser to cross the finish line at Court Street, Freehold, at a racing time of 26:01 (26 minutes and 1 second), a 5:12-a-minute-mile pace. “Real windy and real cold,” said DeFilippis, head coach of Red Bank Catholic High School track team, in initial comments and informed that “surprisingly” he went out in front right from the start. “It’s a nice way to spend the day after Thanksgiving,” he added and “the usual turkey, ham and a lot of desserts” were some of his treats on Thanksgiving he said as he was cooling down on the grounds of the Hall of Records on Main Street, which served as the refreshment area organized by Councilwoman Sharon Shutzer and her friend Peggy DiBenedetto.

Silver Spring, Maryland’s Eric Egenolf, 27, home for the holidays, was second finisher from the course which also starts at Court Street and meanders out to, through and back from Topanemus Park , taking in a view of the lake, at a time of 26:27. “Not close enough to Rob (the winner) to make a move,” said Egenolf when asked if he were ever near DeFillipis in describing his runner-up performance. “I like it a lot – I grew up in Freehold and am familiar with the roads and the lake is a great break-up from the many roads we have to run on,” said Egenolf in regard to the course. Last year’s champion, Dave Demonico, 38, of South River had to settle for third place this year at 27:07.

Madelyn Schlentz

Freehold’s own Madelyn Schlentz, 44, was the women’s winner at 30:12 and that was good for 12th place overall. She was followed by Red Bank’s Ali Belicose, 23, at 31:31, 23rd overall and third women’s finisher was Ann O’Dowd, 43, of Colts Neck at 33:27, 43rd overall.

“I was hoping the hills would be kind to me today,” said Schlentz in reference to her thoughts on the course, “and they were” she added. “I worked them and made use of them,” she further informed as part of her overall strategy. “It was pretty windy but we were somewhat protected by going through the streets and the park,” she said of the weather and informed that about a mile and a half into the race she was confident that she would have no competition and would be the winner. Schlentz earlier in the year had won the women’s division of the Newark Distance Classic 20K (12.4 miles).

Art Glass, Red Bank, was first in for the racewalkers at 54:26 and Monroe’s Cori Sanchez was first women’s racewalker at 1:02:02. “It’s cold but we’ve had it a lot worse for this race – and I just love this course, it’s one big loop out and back and takes in the park and lake, it’s really great – and the event is for a worthy charity,” offered Glass in general comments.

The two-hundred pounds or over Clydesdale winner went to Josh Van Kirk of Brooklyn who clocked 34:33.

“It was a very brisk day, everyone started at a good pace – but once everyone got warmed up the pace got even quicker,”said Elliott Denman, West Long Branch, who finished his racewalking at 1:04:25. “It’s a wonderful event, organized superbly by the FARC and always held the day after Thanksgiving,” the award-winning sports writer added and was aware that he was burning calories gained yesterday when this Asbury Park Press retiree enjoyed all the turkey, mashed potatoes, and especially a lot of chocolate cream pie.

“Fall foliage,” emphasized Walter MacGowan, Spring Lake, president of the Shore Athletic Club (SAC), as he pondered his complimentary thoughts on the course after finishing at 35:29, that would be good for 1st place in the 55-59 age group, of which 32 others competed. “Chilly but beautiful,” he said of the weather.

Septuagenarian competitors beware because Ralph Garfield, Englishtown, turned 70 in September and his way-below-an-eight-minute-mile regular pace will be hard for any one in his age group to beat. Garfield’s 38:12 racing time,7:38 pace, was top in his 70-99 age group, today, with his closest competitor finishing over seven minutes later. “It’s a terrific course – it has everything – it has a mixture of uphills, downhills, a little bit of cross-country through the park where it’s very scenic with the lake, but the last mile and a half is very difficult because of the three long, grinding hills” said Garfield, a veteran member of FARC and retired college professor, when asked to share his thoughts. “It was windy in parts and it was cold but overall for running it wasn’t too bad,” he said of the weather.

“I like this course a lot,” said Tom Morrison, Highlands, president of the Jersey Shore Running Club (JSRC) who finished at 42:00,“especially the part where you go through the park, beside the lake – that breaks it up nice.”

Bill Winterbottom, Jackson, president of the Ocean Running Club (ORC), finished in 22nd place overall at a very respectable racing time of 31:25, a fast 6:17 per mile pace, but not good enough for a top three award in his 45-49 speedy age group of which he was 6th out of a total of 60. “I like the course a lot – I like the hills – I like the downhills and tolerate the uphills,” said Winterbottom and “great for running once you got started.” he said of the weather.

At the starting line at 11 a.m., thereabouts, one could hear “energy music” provided by Tony Russo, Woodbridge, proprietor of “Mister Tunes” and on hand was Phil Hinck, race director of many area races, two of which are nationally recognized, to help organize the racers to the starting line, where Captain J.M. Diaiso of the Freehold Police Department was ready to lead them in his police vehicle.

Handing out awards of trophies and medals to the winners and age-group leaders were Hank Bailey, Manalapan, race director, adjusting to a stroke suffered awhile back, assisted by past presidents of the FARC, Bob and Linda Hyer, along with Isabelle Keeley, club president, Victor Vientos and other club members at the Freehold Fire House on Main Street which served as the staging area. Thirty members of the Cpl. Reynolds Detachment of the Marine Corps League assisted with traffic control. Computer results were compiled by L & M Sports (www.imsports.com). The Monmouth County Child Abuse Task Force is the beneficiary which has received over $117,000 over the years from this event.

Other area finishers of the calorie-reducing race:

Freehold leaders: Michael O’Flaherty 27:31 (award winner), Chris Davis 29:50 (award), Cody O’Flaherty 30:13, Mirza Salihagic 33:04, Michael O’Flaherty Sr. 33:11, John Wilder 33:15, Anskar Fosse 33:19, Paul Greitz 33:28, Brian Burlew 33:29, Jim Schlentz 33:49 (award), Adam Simon 34:14, Jimmy Wilder 34:57, Liann Price 36:17 (award), Stefano Baccinelli 36:26, Dominic Ceppaluni 37:35, Nancy Tom 37:38, Greg Berkowitz 37:43, Ken Lemunyon 37:54, Michelle Miller 38:07, Andrew Berkowitz 38:37, Matt Sodano 38:40, Rick Bessette 39:17, Evan Dziobak 39:20, Emily Cohen 39:59 (award), Paul Fitch 40:00, Frank Baker 40:23, Chris Boss 40:43, Mark Calnan 41:01, Brian Poucher 41:39, Pat Coyne 41:48, Chris Claps 42:00, Alyssa Berkowitz 42:03, Richard Simmons 42:04, Laura Elslager 42:12, Thomas Mallon 42:48, Brandon Elimanco 43:07, Ronny Apostle 43:25, Roy Apostle 43:26, Debbie Esola 43:42, Gary Evans 43:48, Cindy Monica 45:07 (award), Pamela Flynn 55:33 (award).

Others: Nick Bond 32:27, Middletown; Matthew Kootman 32:50 (award), Red Bank; Tracy Scaggs 35:35, Middletown; Laura Deykerhoff 36:12 (award), Little Silver; Michael Pereless 36:40 and Chuck Fallon 37:24, Middletown; Kristina Pachman 38:52, Red Bank; Arlene Jensen 40:12, Rumson; Steve Kelleher 41:52, Middletown; Thomas Morrison 42:00, Highlands, Kristin Olsen 42:34, Martin Dugan 42:35 and Javiar Damien 43:24, Middletown; Sara Jensen 43:36, Rumson; Shannon Gillespie 43:43, Middletown; Mary Moriarty 43:51, Highlands; Bruce Hanson 46:25, Little Silver; Tom Natoli 46:57, Red Bank; Jessica Morreale 47:01, Middletown; Charlie Parton 47:06, Rumson; Robert Herring 47:45, Joseph Blaine 47:54 and Helen Salese 48:05, Red Bank; David Menist 49:46, Little Silver; Trudy Parton 52:15, Rumson; Alysan Blaine 53:07, Red Bank; Alison McKenna 55:45 and Kathy Kornafel 1:02:28, Monmouth Beach.

Other Monmouth County award winners: Scott Cohen 29:12, Marlboro; Jim Curran 29:43, Hazlet; Robert McKinley 30:06, Manalapan; Tom Zarra 30:49, Point Pleasant; John J. Reagan Jr. 31:08, Colts Neck; John Behrens 31:21, Howell; Kevin Brennan 32:24, Manasquan; Ann O’Dowd 33:27, Colts Neck; Maggie Freeman 34:11, Sea Girt; Ellie Siev 34:38, Manalapan; Pam Spadola 34:45, Howell; Jennifer Gunn 35:19, Aberdeen ; Walter MacGowan 35:29, Spring Lake; Erica Weitz 36:16, Morganville; Laura Saffer 37:06, Manalapan; Jessica Coleman 37:08, Oceanport; Liz Spector 37:10, Manalapan; Shelley Ludwig 37:46, Marlboro; Ralph Garfield 38:12, Englishtown; John Donoghue 38:41, Howell; Cindy Gorski 38;44, Manalapan; Wendy Mcknight 39:07, Wall; Lawrence Corley 45:33, Aberdeen; Marilyn Ryder 47:08, Long Branch; Gerry Campbell 47:54, Lincroft.

Racing continues with the Reindeer Romp on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 11 a.m. in Point Pleasant Beach, info call 732-370-2948 or bw4racing@aol.com. It’s the Jingle Bell Run 5K in Lake Como at 10 a.m. on Dec.10, info call 732-288-4300 or kdrzik@arthritis.org. On Sunday, Dec. 11, is the Autumn’s End Trail Run in Middletown at 11 a.m., info call 732-578-1771 or evart2@comcast.net. Down the road is the 41st annual Polar Bear races on Dec. 31: at 10.am is the 10-mile racewalk and 1 p.m. is the 5-mile run staged at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, info call 732-222- 9080 or elliottden@aol.com. Check out the websites of the three area running clubs: SAC, ORC, FARC they all have winter series races coming up.