published Atlantic Highlands Herald 24 August 2006

By Jim Robbins

BRADLEY BEACH, NJ — The ninth annual Bradley Beach 5K Run was the host event for 668 (record number) road racers on a calm, clear, warm Saturday morning, August 19, and Robert Dennis, 20, of Little Silver was the way-out-in-front leader to break the finish-line tape set up at the Gazebo area on Ocean Avenue at a racing time of 15:37 (15 minutes and 37 seconds), just 5 seconds slower than the record set last year. Coming in a distant second from the 3.1 mile course that also started at the Gazebo area at 8:30 with racers following the lead police vehicle driven by Special Police Officer Anthony Hughes, and includes the streets adjacent to both Fletcher and Sylvan Lakes, was Michael Don, 23, of Saint Louis at 16:13 and third place went to Manasquan’s Owen Boyle, 18, at 16:19.

Robert Dennis
photo Bob Both, Jersey Shore Runners Club

“The course is fine, nice and flat and scenic – the weather was a little bit hotter than I had expected,” said today’s champion in initial remarks. Dennis informed that at no time was anyone ever in front of him, he had the lead from the start and never let it go. He further informed that his best time for this distance is 15:10 on a track.

Michelle Lilienthal
photo Bob Both, Jersey Shore Runners Club

Michelle Lilienthal, 24, of Philadelphia was the women’s winner at 17:07 (7th place overall), a record, beating Briana Jackucewicz’ record time of 17:39 set in 2003. Amber Hart, 27, Colts Neck was second for the women at 19:17 (20th overall) and Brick’s Amy Dannwolf, 21, was third at 19:37 (26th overall).

“I’m excited to win,” said Lilienthal, as she was cooling down and drinking water in the finish-line area and added “the course is pretty and the race is well organized.” Of the weather, she said “It’s perfect, but maybe a little too hot.” Lilienthal’s best time for a 5K is 16:42.

Amber Hart, today’s women’s runner-up and winner of the Sgt. Pat’s 5K staged in Long Branch in early spring complimented Lilienthal: “The girl that won the race went out real fast and stayed out in front – I had her in sight for maybe the first mile but after that she really took the race over.”

Bradley Beach winners, both male and female, respectively, went to Robert Price 19:43 (29th overall) and Annette Young 20:36 (44th overall).

photo Bob Both, Jersey Shore Runners Club

Donna Mehler of Spring Lake Heights shares some immediate comments as she winds down after just finishing at 32:02, good for 3rd place trophy in the 60-69 age group: “I love this course – I grew up in Bradley Beach - my family, my son, from Maryland, and my niece, from Monmouth Beach come to run it – it takes in the picturesque view of the ocean and two lakes.” Mehler, active in the Jersey Shore Running Club (JSRC) directs a group of lady friends from the club on Wednesday nights in Brielle to do hills or speed work on the Ocean Township High School track, informs that her best time for a 5K was “22:40 when I was age fifty at Lake Tak,” referring to the Lake Takanassee summer evening races in Long Branch, organized by the Shore Athletic Club (SAC).

Belmar’s Lieutenant Tim Mahoney, of the New Jersey State Police, finished at 22:39, a respectable 7:19 per mile pace but, “I was a little slow today,” was Mahoney’s initial remark when asked his thoughts on today’s event. “The community output here is wonderful and like so many other races this one is necessary to put on the calendar – a little warm, Jim, but after all it is August - I think we did well,” he added. “As you know, our run was announced in Runner’s World magazine and I emphasize that it’s a ‘run’ and not a race,” Mahoney said when asked about the upcoming 9/11 Memorial Run staged in Belmar on that date at the boardwalk at 6 P.M.of which he is the director.

“I was sitting at the Gazebo when the gun (starting gun) went off so I got a late start and didn’t have any incentive to push and in a way that was good because it was hot today and I removed the possibility of being ‘overexerted’ – plus the good feeling that no one passed me,” said Phil Tell of Bradley Beach who finished at 28:36 for a comfortable and respectable 9:13 per mile pace.

Eight runners competed in the male 70-79 age bracket and Ralph Garfield, of Englishtown, was the top septuagenarian at 23:10, a 7:28 per-mile pace with the closest competitor being Joseph Bruno of Bayonne at 26:50 and third place went to Farmingdale’s Ollie Nelson at 29:07. All three received trophies. “It’s a lovely course, very pretty, very scenic and it’s flat,” said Garfield when asked to share his thoughts on today’s event. “I’m comfortable with my time today,” he added and of the weather: “It was warm today, even hot.”

The Clarence Lurch Award, a trophy mounted on a plaque, was, of course, won by its namesake who informs that he’ll be 86 years old in October. Lurch,WW II Seabee and founder of Lertch (sic) Wrecking Company, asked his grandson six years ago to phone the event and ask if there were awards for eighty-year-old participants. Lacking any, it was decided that Lurch should come and that an award would be presented to him. Thus the award was created and Lurch has been present the last six years. His time this year was 54:30.

Jeff Coburn, First Lieutenant of the Bradley Beach First Aid, was glad to report, “No major troubles today.” He informed that two Bradley Beach medical vehicles were available for emergencies along with two from Avon as well as the Neptune OEM.

This annual event actually began at 6:30 p.m. the night before with the Kids’ Races held on Bradley Boulevard adjacent to Sylvan Lake and was organized by hometowners Gail and Dennis Mayer, wife and husband, along with Todd Migdon. Distances of 25 yards to a half mile were raced by nearly 100 children ages under 4 years-old to 12, who were accompanied by parents, grandparents, probably great-grandparents, siblings and friends who were very busy taking lots and lots of pictures. “I love it,” said Jennifer Young of Bradley Beach who had just accompanied Morgan, her two-year old daughter, in her 25-yard racing challenge, when asked her thoughts on the kids’ races. “It’s great for the children, exercise is so important, and it’s well organized,” she further added.

Richard Held, race director, awarded gift certificates and trophies to the aforementioned 5K winners and age-group leaders at the area next to the gazebo with its many benches where the wilted racers were relaxing and enjoying refreshments of bagels, bananas, oranges, apples, power bars and bottled water provided by members of the race committee headed by Amanda Wheeler. Many random prizes were offered due to the generosity of the Bradley Beach business community. Fred and Anna Torres of the Elite Racing Systems, Clifton, did the computer results and finish-line activities (eliteracingsystems.com).

“I want to thank the Police Department, the First Aid Squad, Public Works Department and our sponsors for their financial aid. We had over 60 volunteers whose assistance made things run smoothly and a special thanks to Phil Hinck and other members of the JSRC. I also want to acknowledge the patience of motorists who had to be detoured for the safety of our racers,” said Richard Held, race director, in summing-up comments. Held also informed at the award ceremony that next year being the tenth anniversary of the event the committee would be getting up some specialties.

Other leading finishers of the Bradley Beach 5K Run:

Bradley Beach: Paul Lauer 20:28 (41st overall of 668), Maggie Gousman 20:40 (age-group award winner), Frank Gousman Jr. 20:55, Sean Kennedy 22:04, Christine Suarez 22:07, Mave Jenkins 22:22, Kenneth Thompson 22:25, Catherine Hosley 23:22, Joel Decker 23:40, Jill Meyer 24:35, Michael Rosenberg 24:42, Vito Delforno 24:43, Dean Shonts 24:54, Ronald Young 25:16, Robert Sangiamo 25:19, Michael Indelicato Jr. 25:20, Joseph Toryk 25:21, Shannon Cipout 25:22, Abby Cahn 25:53, Michele Bariletti 26:03, Shannon Weldy 26:47, Randy Bonnell 27:16, Anthony Caruso 27:20, Maggie Decker 27:23, Rafael G Albanir 27:50, Francis Peropat 27:51, Ron Minsky 28:19 (354th overall of 668).

Other race-area leaders: Jeremy Pilkington 16:53, West Allenhurst (award, 6th overall of 668); John Quinn 17:38, Neptune; Michael Badger 19:32, Ocean Grove; Ed Alburtus 19:51, Lake Como; Jason Watt 20:00, Neptune; Kathy Kropke 20:44, Avon (award); Kristin Enderley 20:50 (award) and Christie Gallant 21:54, Ocean; Joseph Pawlak 21:59, Oakhurst; Gerard Ferrara 22:20, Tim Mahoney 22:39, Greg Gargiulo 22:45 and Michael O’Connell 23:19, Belmar; Ruhi Guven 23:25, Neptune; Ted Duda 23:33, Ocean Grove; John McWeeney 23:33, Belmar; Douglas Donaldson 23:35, Ocean Grove; Jim Benkeil 23:50, Avon; Joseph Renzella 24:00, Neptune City (highly decorated Vietnam veteran); Paul Weinstein 24:05, Ocean Grove; Joseph McEvoy 24:13, Belmar; James Moynihan 24:55, Asbury Park; Gregory Gregg 25:35, Neptune; Francis Burke 25:43, Avon (222nd overall of 668).

Other Monmouth County leaders: Brian Hill 18:03 (award, 12th overall of 668) and Jay McDevitt18:21, Middletown; Dylan Barlett 18:26, Little Silver; David Mason 18:36, Wall; Paul Dement 19:13, Red Bank; James Munday 19:35, Holmdel (award); Scott linnell 19:41, Colts Neck (award); Doug Twyman 19:47, Manasquan; Rob Jaeger 20:17, Marlboro; Scott Bender 20:26, Holmdel (award); Bud lehman 20:44, Manasquan; David Dlugosz 21:02, Eatontown; Janine Louie21:06 (award) and Stephen Louie21:14, Middletown; Kiernan Delaurier 21:36, Atl. Highlands; Dan Demaio 21:47 and Andrew Demaio 22:03, Holmdel; Joshua Damore 22:04, West Keansburg; Howard Miller 22:05, Freehold; Tobias Ruckes 22:06, Long Branch; Walter MacGowan 22:09, Spring Lake (president SAC); Meghan Pelligrino 22:11, Manasquan; Steven Horn 22:12, Lincroft; Amanda Mahler 22:15, Hazlet; Jennifer Mason 22:26, Wall; Ryan Corbett 22:51, Fair Haven (award); Robert Davidson 23:05, Wall; Ralph Garfield 23:10, Englishtown (award); Erica Linnell 23:14, Colts Neck; Paul Heins 23:16, Eatontown; Joseph Baylor 23:26, Joe Boyle 23:31 and Ryan Hart 23:52, Colts Neck; James Robinson 24:02, Wall; Chris Fotache 24:03, Middletown; Michelle Capadona 24:04, Atl. Highlands; Nicholas Carter 24:06 and Stephen Carter 24:07, Manasquan; Richard Polumas 24:08, Wall; Donald Gazzillo 24:10, Brick; Douglas Blauley 24:21, Brielle; Michelle Rawls @4:32, Long Branch; Jaime Gallagher 24:33, Spring Lake Heights; Martin Dugan 24:35, Middletown; George Mazzeo 24:38, Fair Haven; Sharyn Lynch 24:41, Little Silver; Katie Tice 24:43, Aberdeen; Dughan Ahimovic 24:44, Fair Haven; Stephen Collins 24:44, Oceanport; Rob Moir 24:45, Fair Haven; Anne Kelly 24:48, Freehold; Tina Agnello 24:55, Long Branch; Jim Lenaghan 25:08, Spring Lake; Jamine Cappadona 25:17, Atl. Highlands; Stephen Kelleher 25:30, Middletown; Richard Tovar 25:32, Lincroft; Steve Noren 25:40, Brick; Kenneth Papson 25:46, Freehold (223rd overall of 668).

Road racing continues with the 13th annual Saturday in the Park on September 2 at 9 a.m. at Holmdel Park, info call 732-542-6090 or www.saturdayinthepark5k.org. On Labor Day, September 4, is the Pier Village 5K at the Long Branch beachfront at 8:30 a.m., info call 732-571-2162. Also in Long Branch on September 9 is the annual Broadway Classic 5K at 8:30 a.m., info call 732-923-2043. That date, September 9, also has the Brielle Day Hill and Dale 10K at 9 a.m., info call 732-528-6600 x 100. The Colts Neck 10K is the following day, September 10, at 10:30 a.m., info call 732-780-6666.

Don’t forget the Jersey Shore 9/11 Memorial Run on Monday, Sept. 11, at the Belmar boardwalk, across from Dunkin Donuts, at 6:00 p.m. This is not a race; it’s a casual jog to Spring Lake with a stop on the way to read names from a list of those who perished from the Jersey Shore on that fateful day. All, non-regular racers also, are welcome.