Sunday, November 30, 2014

Franklin, Eysenback win Morris Township Turkey Trot, Rochdi wins Ashenfelter



Franklin, Eysenbach win Morris Township Turkey Trot


This past Thursday will be the remembered as the year that Thanksgiving featured a scene more akin to Christmas for runners racing in the annual Turkey Trot races.  In Morris Township the Turkey Trot saw a slight reduction of runners from 2,011 in 2013 to 1,737 this year.  One runner who did not stay away was Michael Franklin, listed as from Washington DC, but formerly of Mendham.  This was his fourth win of the race and not his fastest, nor his slowest.  This year he hit the timing mat at 15:54.  In 2013 he was dueling with Colin Frost of Randolph and out ran Frost by three seconds, 15:41 to 15:44.  Franklin’s fastest time was in 2012 when he was pushed to a 15:37 by Peter Ehman, also of Mendham, who was just two seconds back in 15:39.

On the women’s side Lindsay Eysenbach of Belmont MA won in 17:49, and it was not the first time to run for her either.  In 2012 she finished in a near dead heat with Ashley Ulrich of Morristown in 18:53 for fifth and sixth place.  At Thursdays race Elena Rozhko, 41, was second woman overall in 18:20 and the 2011 winner of the women’s race was Mallory Anderson of Madison in 18:29.

Second place in the men’s race was taken by Jeremy Garrell of Morristown in 16:23 and third went to Evan Quinn also of Morristown in 16:41.

Rochdi wins the Ashenfelter 8km


Snow covered streets were less of a problem in Glen Ridge at the Ashenfelter 8 kilometer race that was the open men and masters men USATF NJ championship.  Although large snowflakes were falling when the gun went off at 9:00 a.m. they soon disappeared as the 2,500 runners and walkers began to move. 

Yousef Rochdi of Rockaway, who had been running with Thomas Young of Fort Lee on his shoulder for most of the 4.97 mile race, pulled the trigger in the last half mile and sailed across the finish line in 24:26.  Young finished in 24:35.  Greta Sieve of Trenton won the women’s race in 28:23.

The Adidas Garden State Track Club took the first five spots in the open men’s team division.  In the M40 the North Jersey Masters running on their home turf placed first but the next three spots were taken by Morris based clubs; Garmin Runners, Do Run Runners and the Sneaker Factory.  The Garmin team was lead by Gary Rosenberg of Morristown in 28:33.

Ever heard the phrase, “you could throw a blanket over them” when referring to a close finish?  The Do Run Runners M50 team fit that description.  The first four men are credited with exactly one second difference in crossing the finish line.  Peter Kashulines of Mountain Lakes finished in 29:56, then Robert Skorupski of Rockaway next in 29:57, followed by Terry Lusardi of Madison in 29:58 with Scott Isgett of Rockaway next in 29:59.  The team finished third behind the North Jersey Masters and the Garmin Runners.

Local clubs were missing from the senior age divisions.  Shore Athletic Club was first in M60 and in M70.  Reno Stirrat of Rockaway, running for the Shore club finished in 30:02 and at age 60 that topped the age grading list at 87.75% PLP.  Not to be outdone, Jane Parks, 62, of Morristown topped the women’s list with her 36:12 that hit 88.32% PLP.

Two Thousand four hundred and fifty-five runners finished the race, down about 250 finishers from 2013.  The Flemington Turkey Trot was also down a few hundred runners with 3,646 finishers.  That race was won by Liam Boylan Pett of Clinton in 15:40 with Katrina Spartford of Califon the women’s winner with an impressive 16:52 for fourth overall.
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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.

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