2016 Asbury Park Sheehan Classic is Hottest Yet!

With cooperation from the Jersey Shore Running Club (JSRC), the Shore Athletic Club (SAC) and the Freehold Area Running Club (FARC), the Asbury Sheehan Classic Committee presented its Twelfth Annual Asbury Park Sheehan Classic 5K on a very warm and humid Saturday morning of August 13, and 1,590 racers competed . They raced the 3.1 miles on a two-loop rectangular course that started on the road next to Atlantic Square Park, that is next to the staging area of Bradley Park (across from Convention Hall), went south then north on adjacent streets and finished the last ¼ mile on the boardwalk near Convention Hall where Elite Racing Systems of Clifton had set up a finish-line chute. The event benefits local organizations, including Mary’s Place by the Sea, Asbury Park Music Foundation and the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of Monmouth County.

Coming through the chute first was Elliot Gindi, 17, of Long Branch at 15:22 (15 minutes and 22 seconds [7 seconds faster than last year’s winning time]) followed by Andrew Brodeur, 26, Bethesda, MD at 15:23. Third place went to Toms River’s Aaron Leskow, 24, at 15:27 who was followed by Stephen Mennitt, 27, at 15:56 of North Brunswick and Brian Quilty, 26, of Brick at 15:56.2. Special awards are granted to the top-five male/female finishers of this event.

Clara Peterson, 32, of Corte Madera, CA was first in for the females at 17:47 (23rd place overall) followed by Amanda Marino, 26, of Bradley Beach at 17:54 (25th overall, last year’s female champion). Rounding out the top-five females: Marisa Cummings, 24, New York, NY at 18:55 (33 overall); Christy Peterson, 39, North Wales, PA at 19:01 (36 overall); Karen Auteri, 34, Belvidere at 19:05 (40 overall).

Gindi, the male champion, is a senior at Ocean Township High School, competing as a stand-out on their cross country team. Brodeur, at second place today, is a familiar face to the Jersey Shore Grand Prix; he has won this event, and also the Grand Prix series in the past; originally from Brick, he has a fastest time for this distance of 14:01 on a school track while in college.

Clara (Horowitz) Peterson lead the women’s field from the start. “My plan was to take out fast but not too fast due to the heat. I came through in about 5:30 which felt smooth,” she shared in post-race comments, adding “the Asbury Park Sheehan 5k Classic was such a blast! Asbury Park is becoming such a cool spot on the shore and running through the streets had the greatest energy. Finishing on the boardwalk (despite the heat!) was also so much fun. Being from Berkeley, California I really appreciated the tie die shirts as well."

The Sheehan Classic and Asbury Park 5K race committees announced earlier in the year the merging of two great events, the Red Bank George Sheehan Classic and the Asbury Park 5K, now known as the Asbury Park Sheehan Classic. Both races have great traditions in the running community; combining the twenty two year history of the Red Bank race with the twelve years of knowledge and constant growth of the Asbury Park 5K have produced one great race. Back to its roots, The George Sheehan Classic actually began in 1981 as the Asbury Park 10K Classic and quickly became one of the major road running events on the national calendar. The race moved to Red Bank in 1994 and was renamed to honor the memory of Dr. George Sheehan, the prominent author, philosopher and area physician.

Superlatives galore and many, many typed pages would have to be used to describe Navesink’s Harold (Harry) Nolan’s running accomplishments. So suffice it to say that not many 69-year-old racers could come close to finishing a 3.1 mile distance at 23 minutes and 21 seconds. He likes the course a lot especially because it’s flat and has two loops. Nolan was featured recently in Long Branch at the Lake Takanassee races where he has competitively run the four loops around the lake, at its summer Monday Night 5K Race for over fifty years.

Marilyn Ryder, 75, Eatontown, mother-in-law and mother of Phil (race director) and Penny Hinck does a weekly 5K at Lake Takanassee (mentioned above) and her usual racing time this season is about 32 to 33 minutes. But today, despite the warm temperatures, she did the distance in 31:34 net time, and attributes it to all the “hype” at this event, meaning the vast number of competitors and all the loud “cheering” that accompanies it.

If it’s only the word “Youth” that “defines” the act or exercise of “running” than these three Senior Citizens who are Octogenarians: Ralph Garfield, 80, Manalapan, at 28:02, Ollie Nelson, 80, of Farmingdale at 33:17 and Joseph La Bruno, 84, of Bayonne at 47:26 are “undefined” but probably do “define” the famous quote of Major League Baseball Hall of Fame: Jackie Robinson, “Life Is Not a Spectator Sport.”

More than $2,000 in prize money was awarded at the event in open and age-group categories, presented by emcee JSRC President Mike Procopio and JSRC Vice President Robert Galizio, along with signature tie-dye themed and Olympics-inspired awards, and raffle prizes courtesy of health and vendor fair participants.

The Asbury Park Sheehan Classic is the third event of the four race Jersey Shore Golden Grand Prix, sponsored by McLoone’s, which ties together the top shore summer races: the Spring Lake 5, the Belmar 5, the Asbury Park Sheehan Classic, and the Pier House 5K in Long Branch which concludes the Golden Grand Prix on Labor Day Monday, September 5. Current Grand Prix leaders after four races are last year’s Grand Prix Champion Brian Quilty of Blackwood leading for the men with 292 points, with Marty McCormick, Arlington, VA, 260 points and Andrew Dombrowiecki, Ocean with 258 points. The women’s race has point leader Amanda Marino of Bradley Beach with 293 points, followed closely by Marisa Cumming, New York City, one point back, with 292 points and Beth Marzigliano, Lake Como, 277 points. After points are awarded for performances at the Pier House 5K, champions will be crowned on Labor Day.

Marino, the returning female Champion at Asbury, “hopes to have the opportunity to take the Grand Prix series.” Her goal for the Asbury race was “to simply get out of my comfort zone. I knew the heat would be a huge factor, so I focused on being able to run strong while feeling uncomfortable. Looking back, I know I could have battled for the win if I started kicking at the casino. But overall, I'm happy with my performance. I'm racing to the top of Mount Mansfield the week before the Pier House 5k, so hopefully I make it back in one piece!”

At the starting line at 8:30 a.m., Phil Hinck, race director, informed the racers about the course, warned them to make use of the water spots and asked that they remove headphones before crossing the finish line.

Michael Sheehan, one of the many offspring of Doctor George Sheehan who was family spokesman, was introduced and offered remarks: He started by thanking directors Phil and Penny Hinck, the sponsors, and volunteers for putting on all these great races throughout the year. “Thank you for keeping my father’s name and spirit alive; my father would be very happy because he always love racing in Asbury in August. He loved to compete with the best to try to win his age group and he loved to sweat. He once said, ‘You can discover a whole new world on the other side of sweat!’ and he came here to discover that world. After the race he and his friends would come back to our house in Ocean Grove and my mother would feed them a healthy dose of hot dogs and beer and then they would take a plunge in the ocean. For that day he was a child again, running, competing and spending time with friends. Today, we all have the opportunity be a child again, to enjoy the effort of the race and the party with friends and the companionship of all of us. Have a great race!!”

Hinck next introduced Maya Jacoby of Long Branch, a twelve-year-old seventh grade student of the Ranney School who gave a fine rendition of our National Anthem. Then he gave a loud “Ready, Set, Go” and the racers followed the lead Asbury Park Police vehicle.

Kids’ races, held with support from the Friends of the Spring Lake Five, followed the main event and featured various distances for children ranging from ages 1 to 12. Over 100 young runners enjoyed a morning of races and treats, with tie-dye shirts, tie-dye beach balls and medals for all participants.

"I want to thank all our volunteers, especially the race committee, and the members of area running clubs for their know-how efforts, and the water-stop and course volunteers from Rotary Club, NJ Natural Gas, Bayshore Civil Air Patrol, Asbury Scout Troop 241, Movement Dance Team and Trinity Church. I want to recognize the continued support of the City of Asbury Park, its residents, and to acknowledge the patience of motorists who were detoured for the safety of the racers. I would also like to thank Asbury Park Public Works, Fire, First Aid and Police Departments. Thanks to the many participants this year and support of our sponsors - the success of the race will allow it to present donations our local beneficiaries," said Phil Hinck, race director, and past president of the Jersey Shore Running Club in his final comments. “I think the merging of the Sheehan Classic with the Asbury Park 5K will have it become one of the most popular running events at the Jersey Shore.”

Male Asbury Park leading finishers: Douglas Salom 22:44 (22 minutes and 44 seconds), Ronald Marshall 22:51, Mason Soto 23:15, Michael Paul Thomas 26:40, Robert Holzberg 26:57, Jim Macdonald 27:49, Brent Altemose 30:28, Michael Herbert 30:47, Rick Forsman 31:27, Josh Forsman 31:54, Glenn Edwards 32:12.

Female Asbury Park leading finishers: Amber Hart 20:49, Laura Dolan 25:49, Lauren Castellini 26:18, Diana Pittet 26:20, Teresa Rodriguez 27:31, Marybeth Charter 28:00, Regina Siciliano 28:16, Christa Barardo 28:19, Denise Desposito 28:52, Michelle Scarpari 29:40, Andrea Laign 29:45, Christine DeGennaro 30:47.

Male Monmouth County leading finishers: Aaron Barlev, Holmdel, 16:26; Kyle Clonan, Tinton Falls, 17:33; Daniel Dombrowiecki, Ocean, 17:35; Jonathan Erdelyi, Red Bank, 17:41; Tom Phillips, Neptune, 18:05; Matt Coleman, Oceanport, 18:44; Brian Hill, Middletown, 18:47; Kevin Mazzela, Middletown, 18:58; Send Goh, Ocean, 19:07; Ken Kropac, Lake Como, 19:07; Jay McGovern, Atlantic Highlands, 19:18; Emilio A DelToro, Hightstown, 19:26; Ronald Dickson, Neptune, 19:34; John Kelly, Wall, 19:39; Wilton da Costa, Ocean, 20:12; Ralph Toussie, Loch Arbour, 20:23; Ryan Loehr, West Long Branch, 20:26; Jonathan Loyola, Ocean Township, 20:32; Michael D'Angelo, Fair Haven, 20:44; Jachson Wilcox, Little Silver, 20:45; Michael McHale, Belmar, 20:50; Joshua Orsag, Freehold, 21:00; Ray Castellano, Middletown, 21:04; Michael Dora, Spring Lake, 21:12; Thomas Moeller, Bradley Beach 21:22.

Female Monmouth County leading finishers: Beth Marzigliano, Lake Como, 19:47; Dactilia Booth, Long Branch, 20:17; Kiera Russo, Long Branch, 20:27; Kellee McEwen, Howell, 20:33; Dawn Wilcox, Little Silver, 20:39; Barbara Pomeroy, Howell, 21:02; Madelyn Kopec, West Long Branch, 21:13; Julianne Kopec, West Long Branch, 21:16; Rachel Kenny, Matawanv21:26; Christine Hill, Middletown, 21:37; Brianne Kilian, Red Bank, 21:46; Amy Bernstein, Hightstown, 21:48; Alexandra Christ, Tinton Falls, 21:49; Amanda Tripodi, Manalapan, 21:50; Carly Clifton, Belmar, 22:14; Corinne Coyle, Neptune, 23:15; Kim Hart, Belmar, 23:17; Kristin Corapi, Bradley Beach, 23:25; Angela Ciroalo, Long Branch, 23:32; Jennifer Duffy, Oakhurst, 23:47; Deborah Alpert, Ocean, 23:57; Haven Dora, Spring Lake, 24:03; Kim Turlip, Ocean Grove, 24:05.

Complete results are available at asburypark5k.org. Road-racing events continue and information on them can be found of the following websites: www.jsrc.org and www.farcnj.com. Next up for the Jersey Shore Grand Prix, sponsored by McLoone's, is the 13th Annual Pier House 5K, to benefit local charities, on Labor Day in Long Branch.

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