23rd Running of Saturday in the Park Women’s 5K

A sisterhood of 250 would-be-road racers started their Labor Day weekend as cross-country competitors and challenged New Jersey’s Holmdel Park's 3.1 mile championship course by responding to the invitation of the 23rd Annual Saturday in the Park Women's 5K, on the perfect-racing-weather morning of September 3. The event’s purpose is for “Women Taking Steps to Help Women” and is organized by the Jersey Shore Running Club (JSRC). Tropical storm predictions for the Labor Day Weekend thankfully held off for the race.

After a fine rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner, by Maya Jacoby of Long Branch, race-starter Phil Hinck, husband of Penny, the race director, gave a loud, "Ready, set, go” and the racers were underway on "one of the toughest cross-country courses in Monmouth County, maybe in all of New Jersey," offered the race starter: The first 1/3 of a mile is an uphill climb that eventually leads to a large recession, commonly referred to as the "bowl,” then continues onto the last leg of the course that winds downhill through woods to the straightaway finish contiguous to the main road.

Jenna Dubrow, 22, of Jackson was first into the finish-line chute and broke the finish-line tape held by director Hinck of Monmouth Beach and Jennifer Bauer, of race beneficiary Providence House, in a racing time of 20:37 (twenty minutes and 37 seconds). Brick’s Dianne DeOliveira, 45, was today’s runner-up at 21:12 and third place went to Catherine DeSousa, 11, of Oceanport at 21:13, just one second back. All racers received a totebag as they finished.

“At the start of the race I felt good and ran up the starting hill feeling strong. I was able to maintain the lead throughout”, the champion said, when asked her how the race went. Dubrow, second place in 2015, had previously run the event as a high school student. “I look forward to running Saturday in the Park every year. It is a great race that supports a great cause and always has a sense of community. I have been running this race since I was in high school (Jackson Memorial). I now coach there and love seeing the girls look forward to racing just as I do,” she added via e-mail.

As first Jersey Shore Running Club member to cross the line, second finisher DeOliveira was awarded the Mary Conry Memorial Award, and is also a frequent runner at the event. “I'm not sure how many years I've been doing the race...several now, but I like the cause and the fact that it's just for women!” she shared in post-race comments. “I love the course and maybe among the few who love hills and don't mind the bowl! Some of the Bellas (her running team) who ran the race for the first time today already said they are definitely doing it next year and the ones who did it last year for the first time did it again this year! Also kudos to the race director and the volunteers!”

The "bowl" is the popular area of this annual event and that's where all 250 competitors heard running-champion, Ocean Township's, formerly South River, David Demonico, alumnus of Rutgers, serenading his running/racewalking friends with inspirational music from his trumpet, accompanied by faithful beagle Ralph.

"The park rangers did a fabulous job of getting the park ready for us," said Marilyn Ryder, 75, of Eatontown, mother of the race's director who finished first in her age gro

up running 32:49.

Lauren Rhatigan of Shipbottom, finished in 22nd place at 23:07 a 7:26 per mile pace and she won her age group, no doubt about it. Her nearest age-group competitor was slower by 3 minutes and 32 seconds. "The most difficult part of this race is trying to keep up with the youngsters," said Rhatigan.

Nancy Thorne, 57, of Long Branch who is the director of the annual Michael Thorne 4-Mile Scholarship Run presented the third Sunday in May in West Long Branch to honor her fireman brother who was killed while on duty, finished at 30:47, a respectable racing time on this course. “I love this women’s race – I'm always thrilled to be here, it's for a great cause - we have a women’s team Wine, Women and Running,” Thorne said when asked to comment. Those words are printed on the purple singlet that she and twenty nine other team members were wearing today. The team repeated as the largest participating open team at the event.

Prior to the start of the race at 9 a.m., Phil Hinck, race committee member and past president of the JSRC, welcomed and thanked all for coming to this worthwhile event. A moment of silence was offered for Mary Conry, past JSRC member and for Chuck Whelan, a former race director of the event and past JSRC president, who lost his life six years ago after a long, heartbreaking illness, in recognition of their dedication to the JSRC and to Saturday in the Park.

Hinck then introduced Dawn Ciccone, race committee member and past president of the JSRC, who offered appropriate remarks that fit in with the main reason for this event: Women Taking Steps to Help Women.

“This morning we gather not only as runners, but as a collective community of women supporting one another! Let’s remember that the woman who runs beside us, walks behind us or darts ahead of us, is our sister. Send her off with encouragement and love. Good luck ladies.”

Twelve-year old Maya Jacoby, seventh grade student at Ranney School, then gave an excellent rendition of our National Anthem, and then the racers were off on their Saturday in the Park morning adventure.

Old Bridge’s Jim Buckler, past JSRC President, acted as emcee for the awards ceremony. Penny Hinck and

JSRC member Lorraine Buckler awarded certificates, custom charm necklaces, hats and commemorative mugs to the aforementioned winners as well as age-group leaders and other special achievers near the tree-lined race finishing area. The Middletown South Girls Cross Country Team was recognized as the best represented High School Team.

Unique to this event is a team competition for Mother/Daughter and Sister/Sister pairings, with 19 such teams entered. Catherine and Cynthia DeSousa of Oceanport won the Mother/Daughter division, followed by Lincroft’s Catherine and Elisabeth Kratka, in second place and Isabella and Jessica Stover, Plainsboro, in third. The top three Sister/Sister teams were Englishtown’s Hayley and Sydney Flanagan, Christie and Sue Patla, of Aberdeen and Matawan, and Pamela Murtha and Alison Carton, of Fair Haven and Red Bank.

Gifts were offered at a random drawing, due to the generosity of the business community. The main gift was a cruiser bike, courtesy of JSRC Members Jack and Diane Cheer of Wall.

"It was another great day organized by the Saturday in the Park Race Committee and the Jersey Shore Running Club. I am extremely pleased with this year's turnout for our 23rd running of the event, and look forward to next year's 24th annual. I want to thank our sponsors, the race committee and the tremendous efforts of our volunteers; all components of the event merge together to produce a truly enjoyable day for the women runners and walkers, as well as raise awareness for the organizations which need our support. Special thanks also to Holmdel park rangers for providing the beautiful setting year after year,” said director Hinck.

The Saturday in the Park event began in 1994 as part of the Women's Distance Festival of the Road Runners' Club of America which was an effort to encourage women's running at all levels. JSRC continued for many years with the tradition of offering Rundamentals, a program to train women to run the Saturday in the Park race as their first 5K.

Since its inception, the Saturday in the Park 5K has raised over $220,000 and has created public awareness of options and services available to women. Beneficiary organizations for the 2016 include Providence House of Catholic Charities in Ocean County, and Linkages, Tinton Falls.

Over 110 dedicated volunteers were available for the myriad activities of putting on an event such as this and among them, serving at the water stop, was a large contingent from New Jersey Natural Gas Company, an annual supporter of the race. John Kuhi provided timing on the course and finish line. Elite Racing Systems organized the computer results. This event also includes kids’ races for 2 to 12-year-olds and about 25 participated.

Complete list of event finishers can be found at www.saturdayinthepark5k.org. Photos for the event can be found on the website, courtesy of Michael Berry.

Leading Holmdel finishers of their championship course of Holmdel Park with their racing time: Ellen Flaherty 24:37 (24 minutes and 37 seconds), Gabrielle Cipriano 25:40, Catherine McCarthy 27:37, Tricia Hall 28:21, Candace Wolkovitz 29:52, Erin Erakin 31:49, Isabel Russo 31:50, Mikaela Lee 31:52, Christine Heyt 31:53, Theresa Veilleux 32:18, Felicia Arena 32:56, Janice Petretti 32:57, Kathryn Rebele 34:11, Chrissy Bodsford 35:37, Deepti Varma 36:03, Kaitlyn Heyt 37:01, Jade Brand 37:35, Francesca Peloro 37:36, Gabriella Porchetta 37:38, and Catherine Cino 37:39.

Road-racing events continue and schedules can be found on these websites: www.jsrc.org and www.farcnj.com.

Friends and relatives of runners and racewalkers, as well as the general public, should be aware that at the Belmar boardwalk, across from Dunkin Donuts on Sunday, September 11, at 6 p.m., is the annual Jersey Shore Memorial Run (not a race) which will memorialize all from the Jersey Shore who tragically died on that infamous day. There is no fee. Show up and jog quietly to Spring Lake with other fellow mourners and enjoy a special, solemn occasion. You won't regret having given of your time.