Sunday, May 26, 2013

Masters Man Wins Pfizer Race, Women in the Top Ten at Rachel and Pfizer



Published by the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey
On Sunday, May 26, 2013
Copyright, Madeline Bost, 2013



MASTERS MAN WINS PFIZER RACE, WOMEN IN THE TOP TEN AT RACHEL AND PFIZER

A sure sign that there is an abundance of races in New Jersey occurred within the past week.  With 606 finishers the top runner was a 48 year old masters runner and the fourth and fifth finishers were women at the Pfizer Run with Pride 5K this past Wednesday.  Last Sunday, the third finisher at the Run for Rachel was also a woman.

The Run for Rachel in Livingston was the USATF masters women’s championship so it is no surprise that it attracted a large field of over age forty women.  Elena Rozkho of Morristown turned forty in 2012 but that hasn’t slowed her down.  She finished in 17:47 and was the lead off runner on her Garmin Runners team that won the W40 division.

The North Jersey Masters team was second and the Do Run Runners were third.  Eleven teams finished in that division.   The North Jersey Masters took the top spot in the W50 division thanks to Erica Campbell of Ridgewood who at age 63 scored 90.88% with her 21:58 finishing time.  The Do Run Runners were second and the Clifton running team was third.  The Rose City Runners placed fourth.

The Rose City team claimed first in the W60 division and the always dependable Morris County Strider senior women won the W70 and W80 division.

Billy Foster of South River, age 16 won the race in 17:07 with Gary Rosenberg of Morristown age 42 right behind him in 17:09.  In the top ten only Foster and a 31 year old from Metuchen were under age 40.

PFIZER RACE WON BY A MASTERS MAN

At the Run for Rachel an 18:09 got Antonio Massa of Budd Lake seventh place.  At the Pfizer Run with Pride in Madison on Wednesday evening an 18:29 got the forty-eight year old the first place prize.  Massa was followed by Scott Isgett, 44, of Rockaway in 18:40 and Bill Morrison, 38 of Madison was third in 19:33.

One tick away was Jenna Pisani, 28, of Morristown in fourth place in 19:34.  Timienne Fauci, (or Fanci, which may be a misspelling in the results) 27, also of Morristown was next in 19:38.

Pisani was the fastest person on the Prudential Real Estate Investors coed team that took first place in that division.  Maersk was second and Novartis was third.  The coed division had 18 teams.  Pfizer won the Men’s team division, with Novartis second and ADP third.   ADP was also third in the Women’s team division, while Novartis and Pfizer traded places.  The numbers were up for the race – 606 finishers as compared to 526 in 2012.

SUPERHERO HALF MARATHON

So where were the open runners?   Ah, they were at the Super Hero Half Marathon in Morristown on Sunday.   In first was Stephen Mennett of Edison in 1:15.04, then Kenneth Goglas of Port Reading in 1:15.05 and in third, Bryan McDonnell of Oakland in 1:15.21.  Erika Meling of Califon was the women’s winner in 1:27.52.  The half marathon had 1,132 finishers and 141 two-person relay teams.

RIDGEWOOD MILE
Runners in the 5K and 10K need to stick around for some exciting mile races at the Ridgewood Run on Monday.  The elite women will race first at 11:15 a.m.

At one time the Ridgewood Mile attracted large fields of elite and masters runners.  The fields have been larger recently.  In 2012 the mile was won in 4:15 by Aidan Walsh of Ridgefield.  Five men competed and as of Friday there were six men on this year’s roster.  Melissa Salerno of Rocky Point NY was the first to finish in the elite female mile race.  She finished in a smoking 4:45.  Eight women are listed for the 2013 race.

Scott Weeks of Courtland NY headed a field of fourteen masters men in 2012 and his time of 4:23 would have put him in the mix with the open elite men.  Jen Found of Hopewell NJ was the masters women’s race winner in a time of 5:18.  That would have put her in fourth place in the open elite women’s race, right behind Catherine Smith of Wayne.

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Race Results can often be found at www.compuscore.com or at  www.bestrace.com 
A calendar of USATF sanctioned events can be found at www.usatfnj.org or at www.raceforum.com for running and tri and biathlon events.
Contact Madeline Bost at madelinebost@verizon.net.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Newport 10,000 had record numbers





Published by the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey
On Sunday, May 19, 2013
Copyright, Madeline Bost, 2013



NEWPORT 10,000 HAD RECORD NUMBERS

If increasing your numbers makes for success, then last Saturday’s Newport 10,000 in Jersey City was very successful.  In 2012 the race had 1,187 finishers; in 2013 the numbers hit 1,355.

As the race invites elite runners, many who are foreign nationals the names of the top finishers are seldom familiar and that is true for this editon of the race.  Alene Reta, living in Sand Francisco won the race in 29:00 and the female winner, Askale Merachi who lives in Queens won in 33:07.

The American elite runners did have a familiar name.  Amy Van Alstine, now living in Flagstaff topped that chart in 33:15.  The American elite man was Tyler McCandless of Boulder.  His time was 30:57.

Spectators had a treat in watching the top New Jersey men finish.  Rob Nihen of Glen Rock finished in 31:31 to beat Sean Swift of Hoboken in 31:34.  Even closer was the New Jersey women’s race.

Cheyenne Ogletree of Garfield took nearly two full minutes off her 2012 time to win that division in 36:47.13.   Right on her heels was Kathleen Jobes of Bethlehem PA, who often races in New Jersey.  She finished in 36:48.11 and recording the same time within fractions of a second was Elena Rozhko of Morristown in 36:48.49.  That had to have been quite a duel.

Ogletree was the top woman for the winning women’s team, the Garden State Track Club.  The club’s B team was second and the Garmin running club was third.  The men’s teams finished in the same order.  Seventeen women’s teams competed and sixteen men’s teams.

RUN FOR RACHEL IS TODAY, RIDGEWOOD RUN NEXT WEEKEND

The run for Rachel 5K, the USATF masters women’s championship, is taking place this morning in Livingston.  Next Monday, May 27th is the masters men championship 10K, hosted by the Ridgewood Run. 

The Ridgewood Run includes the 10K, a 5K, and mile races.  Prize money is offered in all races and the swiftest can earn a bonus for breaking existing course records.   Fifty dollars for breaking an age division course record and five hundred for breaking the overall record in the 5K and 10K.  Even better is the one thousand dollars for breaking four minutes in the elite mile and five hundred for breaking division times; Open women, 4:40, Masters men, 4:19, Masters women, 5:00.  I have been unable to find the course records in the 5K and 10K age divisions.  Any runner that feels they might have a shot at a course record should contact the race organizers listed on the website, www.ridgewoodrun.com

RUN WITH PRIDE 5K IN MADISON THIS WEDNESDAY

The first of the local weeknight races will take place this Wednesday at the Giralda Farms corporate complex in Madison.  As might be expected, the Pfizer Run with Pride 5K attracts corporate team runners who make up a large segment of the over five hundred runners that run around and through the complex.

In 2012 Ben Clarke of Morristown won the race in 16:28, and Clarke’s friend Allison Dublinski of Atlanta Georgia was the women’s winner with her time of 18:26.

Timing is important for the runners.  The race starts at 6:30 p.m.  Traffic getting into the complex gets pretty jammed so extra time is needed just for getting to the race.

BELATED RESULTS FROM OUR HOUSE FIVE
The unique masters age graded all star team contest at the Our House Five miler on May 5th had an interesting outcome.  On the men’s side the Do Run Runners took first, Morris County Striders second and the Central Jersey Road Runners third.  The North Jersey Masters won the women’s prize money, the Garmin runners were second and the Do Run Runners were third.
 
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Race Results can often be found at www.compuscore.com or at  www.bestrace.com 
A calendar of USATF sanctioned events can be found at www.usatfnj.org or at www.raceforum.com for running and tri and biathlon events.
Contact Madeline Bost at madelinebost@verizon.net.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

The Super Hero Half Marathon is becoming a fixture



Published by the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey
On Sunday, May 12, 2013
Copyright, Madeline Bost, 2013


THE SUPER HERO HALF MARATHON IS BECOMING A FIXTURE

When does a race become a fixture on the calendar?  Maybe a dozen years or so, but a race that attracts over a thousand runners in its first year doesn’t have to wait that long.

In its inaugural year, the Super Hero Half Marathon saw 1,018 runners cross the finish line in 2010, lead in by Karl O’Reilly of Morristown in 1:15:17.  That time remains the time to beat to establish a new course record for the double loop course that utilizes the Ginty Field location for its start and finish and Loantaka Park and country roads into Harding for its course.

In that same year, the women’s record was set by Jeanne Pare of Chester, who was 49 years old at the time.  She finished in 1:24:42 and achieved an age graded 86% score.  Although Pare has the record, Misa Tamura of Ridgewood can claim her own distinction.  She won the race in 2011 in 1:25:24 and again in 2012 in 1:27:40.  Tamura at age 47 in 2013 appears to back in form after a down season in 2012 thanks to injures.  The cliff hanger here is whether open women will come to set the beat the fast times set by these two masters women.

While fast times are interesting for the statisticians, the race is really more about participating and having fun after a seemingly endless winter.  Costumes are encouraged and prizes awarded for the best costumed runners.  A relay last year brought in 123 two person teams, bringing in about 1,500 runners in total to the race.

The race website is projecting over 2,000 runners this year and with the growth that has been seen in the three previous years it is entirely possible.  More information is at CompuScore website with a link to the race website, or runners can stop in at the Morristown Running Company store to register and to pick up their race packet.



RUN FOR RACHEL 5K NEXT SUNDAY

This year masters women might be skipping the half marathon for the Run for Rachel 5K in Livingston.  Long an open women’s USATF-NJ championship, this year it is a championship for masters women.  The course is a series of long grades with one short challenging hill. 

If you are looking for a wrinkle in the course, it is at the end.  The runners emerge from the neighborhood and begin a long, maybe 600 meter, half circle to the finish.  Because it can be seen on the other side of the park, runners tend to begin their drive well before they might in another race. 

That is not a bad thing.  Coaches will tell you to begin your drive to the finish before you think you should, and this race does what the coach can’t do.  It fools you into going into top gear, and then forces you to hang on longer than you think is possible.

Other races are coming up in Morris County and beyond of course.  A new race last year in Basking Ridge, the St James Men of Charity 5K has changed from a weekend date to this Thursday, May 16th with a 6:45 p.m. start.

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Race Results can often be found at www.compuscore.com or at  www.bestrace.com 
A calendar of USATF sanctioned events can be found at www.usatfnj.org or at www.raceforum.com for running and tri and biathlon events.
Contact Madeline Bost at madelinebost@verizon.net.






Sunday, May 5, 2013

Riker Danzig Newport 10,000 This Saturday in Jersey City



Published by the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey

On Sunday, May 5, 2013

Copyright, Madeline Bost, 2013


RIKER  DANZIG NEWPORT 10,000 THIS SATURDAY IN JERSEY CITY

Runners do not have to travel out of state to warm-up with and start with elite runners this Saturday, May 11th, at the Newport 10,000.  Blending both an elite field and a New Jersey championship into the same race has been successful for the race that takes place from Newport Town Square Plaza in Jersey City. 

New Jersey open category runners run for a separate purse than the American Elite and the International Elite.  Runners in those two divisions must register in those divisions to be eligible.  New Jersey runners who register as American Elite can claim prize money in both divisions.  Last year Jeff Perrella of Westfield and Elena Rozhko of Morristown both placed third in the American Elite division.  Both were able to claim $600.00 for first New Jersey athlete and $250.00 for third American Elite.  Not a bad pay check for 31:13 and 37:03 respectively.

Not all races offer team prize money but the Newport will have New Jersey teams competing for cash also; $200.00 for first, $100.00 for second and $50.00 for third.   In 2012 fourteen men’s teams and twelve women’s teams competed with the Garden State Track Club claiming both purses.  Sneaker Factory was second on the men’s side, with Raritan Valley taking third.  Raritan Valley’s women were second and the Garmin women were third.

The course is described as flat and fast.  It has been changed slightly due to Hurricane Sandy damage but retains the flatness that is described.  Registration opens at 7:00 a.m. with the 10K going off at 8:30 a.m.   The post race awards and party begins at 10:00 a.m.


CLINTON COUNTRY RUN 15K BLESSED WITH GREAT RUNNING WEATHER   

Can it get any better than a sunny day in late April with temperatures in the mid fifties for a 15K race?  That’s what greeted the runners at the Clinton Country Run this past Saturday.  Two open runners finished in first and second, Tim Morgan of South Plainfield who is 29, and Ben Clarke of Morristown also 29.  Their times were 52:10 and 52:37 respectively.  But in third overall and leading in all of the masters runners in their championship race was Brian Crowley, 48, of Hillsborough in 53:16.  Other masters men in the top tier include Doug Clark, 44, of Mendham, seventh in 54:31 and Gary Rosenberg, 42, of Morristown in tenth with 55:16.

Sixteen year old Eve Glasergreen of Clinton was the first female to finish.  Her time was a scorching 55:35; fast enough to put her in eleventh place overall.  Allison Dublinski, 29, of Morristown was second in 58:30.  In third place, making a comeback after an injury during the 2012 season was Misa Tamura, 47, of Ridgewood in 1:00:52.   The only Morris area woman in the top ten was Polly Harrison, 41, of Basking Ridge who was fourth with a time of 1:03:06.

Clark lead his Sneaker Factory M40 team to victory in their division, with Raritan Valley second and the Do Run Run club in third.  The Do Run Run team also took third in the M50 division.  Raritan Valley was first and the Shore AC was second.  Finishing in fifth was the Morris County Striders.  The Striders M60 team finished one place higher in their division while the Shore team and Raritan Valley traded places.


On the women’s side the Sneaker Factory W40 team took the top spot, Raritan Valley in second, Clifton Running Club in third.  The Garmin women took fourth and the Do Run women were fifth.  In the W50 division the Clifton team was first with the Rose City Runners second and the North Jersey Masters third.  The Do Run team took fourth.
 
The Central Jersey Road Runners W60 team topped that age division with the Morris County Striders taking second.  Thanks to being able to double dip the same three women were able to score first in the W70 division.
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Race Results can often be found at www.compuscore.com or at  www.bestrace.com 
A calendar of USATF sanctioned events can be found at www.usatfnj.org or at www.raceforum.com for running and tri and biathlon events.
Contact Madeline Bost at madelinebost@verizon.net.