Dover 5K coming up on the 11th

Published by the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey

On Sunday, July 29, 2018

DOVER 5K COMING UP ON THE 11TH

Summer racing is still going on.  The Dover Renaissance 5K will be held on Saturday, August 11^th at 9:00 a.m.   An application can be downloaded from the CompuScore website and runners can register on-line up to August 9^th. 

Over the years the Dover race has had to make adjustments to their course that starts and ends on Blackwell Street.  This year the course will be the original that was run in 1993 – the first year for the race. 

There were 225 finishers that year and a look back on the archives of the race and it is interesting to note that Keith Couglan won the race that first year, yet his name has not been seen in race results in a long time.  He won the inaugural race in 15:26.

 Jennifer Buccino was the women’s winner in 19:57.  Buccino traded in her racing flats for ridding boots several years back.

Who is still racing might be more interesting.  Still active names that jump out are Gary Rosenberg then a 22-year-old who finished in seventh place in 16:36, followed by Angelo Harasts, 20, in 16:52.  Bruce Langenkamp, who now competes in the M65 division finished that year in tenth place in 17:13.  So many names are familiar but no longer active in the sport.  Twenty-five years is a long time to be active in the sport.  Kudos to that trio for still running, still racing.

MORRIS COUNTRY STRIDERS CROSS COUNTRY IS THIS TUESDAY

The last race of the four race series of cross country summer series races is this Tuesday at Johanson Field in Boonton.  The weather has not been kind to the series with each race questionable until just before the start at 7:00 p.m.  Oppressive heat and the possibility of lightning and summer downpours have kept the participation at under 100 runners.  Those who have attended each race are now in contention for places in the series that counts the best three out of four races.

WESTFIELD HOT

Local runners hit the top three at the Westfield 5K on Wednesday night.  Kyle Brackman of Madison won the race in 15:34. Seamus Higgins of Randolph finished in second place in 16:37.  The women’s side was won by Caryn Gehrke of Maplewood in 19:42.  Julie Beatty of Chatham was third in 20:05, and also topped the women’s masters list.  Gary Rosenberg of Morristown was the second masters runner to finish.  His time was 17:51.

The numbers were down for the race.  With 1,661 finishers compared to the 2,258 in the 2017 race.  Extreme heat and humidity likely played a roll in keeping some runners home in their air conditioning.

GRONER LOWERS TRACK RECORD

Randolph’s Roberta Groner placed second in the Friday Night Lights Distance Festival open 10,000 meters race in Cambridge MA on July 20^th and in the process lowered the W40 to 44 American record to 33:57.08.  The previous record was set by New Jersey runner Madelyn Noe-Schlentz in 2002 of 34:58.54

MOSTLY MASTERS RUNNERS IN THE TOP THEN NBGP

John Hogan, 53, of Washington Township has the lead in the New Balance Grand Prix with Charlie Slaughter, 63, of Parsippany in second.  Most of the top men are over age forty, but Aaron Leskow, 27, of Morristown, but still listed with his previous address in Toms River is now in seventh place.  He is missing two races and once his card is filled he will be in contention for first place in the series.  Trailing Leskow is previous grand prix winner Michael Dixon of Highland Park.

On the women’s side, Stacey Slaughter, 26, of Parsippany is in sixth place.  Aya Leitz of Jersey City leads that division, with Hortencia Aliaga, 46, of Garfield in second.  When Aliaga adds one more race she will move into first.

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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