2017 Brielle Day Hill and Dale 10K Race Results

The 37th annual Brielle Day Hill & Dale 10K had two hundred and forty road racers finish on the cool, perfect-running-weather Saturday morning of September 9. The premier course starts at the Elementary School area on Union Lane, meanders through the many, very many, picturesque hills of adjacent tree-lined streets; passes by Manasquan River Golf Course, and ends the 6.2 mile challenge at Green Acres Park, also located on Union Lane, amidst over a hundred quality crafters and vendors enjoying Brielle Day.

The event is staged by the Brielle Day Race Committee with the help of the Jersey Shore Running Club (JSRC) to benefit Brielle Recreation.

First into the finish-line chute, set up by Elite Racing Systems of Clifton, and breaking the tape held by Wall’s Jack and Diane Cheer, the race directors, was Matt Sampson, 25, former Manasquan resident, now of Morristown, at a racing time of 37:05 (37 minutes and 5 seconds). Coming in second place was Chuck Schneekloth, 40, of North Brunswick at 37:22 and rounding out the top three male finishers was Mount Laurel’s Marquis Cox, 23, at 37:57. Coincidentally, Sampson’s time was the EXACT finish time of the 2016 winner, Terry Davidson.

“Today went really well!“ said the winner, Sampson (bib 133), when asked about his performance. “I grew up half a mile from the start of the race, and although I've run those roads hundreds of times, this was my first time running in the Brielle 10k. I live in Morristown now, but it was great to come back home for the weekend to run the race with my dad and have my mom and my girlfriend cheer us on.”

He added that “knowing the course has a reputation for its hills, I forced myself to seek out hilly routes during my runs leading up to the race.” He was thankful for the training because there was never any point where he felt that bad. Luckily, the weather was a little cooler today which was a huge advantage for everyone trying to run well. “I ran conservatively in 2nd place for about 4 1/2 miles behind Chuck (Schneekloth, second place finisher). At that point I saw I was making up ground on him and decided to make a strong move to pass him. From there, I just kept pushing the pace until the end.

“Since finishing running cross country and track at Rider University in 2014, I haven't done much competitive running and have mostly run just to stay in shape. Now that I'm running a little more consistently and with the added confidence of this win, I think I'll be looking to add some 5k’s or 5 mile races to add to my calendar.” His final comment: “I would definitely consider coming back to this race next year and try to compete for the win again! ”

Point Pleasant Beach’s Lindsay Ritchings, 29, was first in for the females at 39:27 (an impressive 6th place overall) and rounding out the top three distaff competitors, respectively, were Lauren Rome, 27, of Howell at 40:36 (9th overall) and Point Pleasant Beach’s Christine Arsego, 32, at 41:57 (15th overall).

At the 9:00 a.m. start on Union Lane race-starter Phil Hinck informed the assembled racers that there were two water spots available and strategically placed so that each served the racers twice, once on the way out and the other on the way back and that it would be wise to make use of them all four times.

He then led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance, as the Boy Scout Troop 63 stood Color Guard, and gave his usual loud “Ready, Set, Go!” and the racers were off on their 6.2 mile trek following a lead police vehicle.

Manasquan’s Charles (Keith) Henderson, 50, finished at 1:17:10, a 12:25 pace (racing time for each mile). This was his 14th Brielle 10K finish. When congratulated on his performance, he responded graciously “I always do my best,” but recognized that he was cautious because of the heat, and was quick to wish this writer a “Happy Brielle Day”.

The aforementioned winners and other special groups, as well as age-group leaders, were awarded plaques and hooded sweatshirts by the race director Cheer, assisted by members of the JSRC in the center of Green Acres Park, which also served as the refreshment area. Many random prizes were offered, due to the generosity of the private business community, the heartBeacht of our nation, including the grand prize of a bicycle donated by Brielle Cyclery, won by Mary White of Fair Haven.

Luke LaValva, 17, with a racing time of 39:24, and Mercedes Wall, 42, 45:24 were presented awards as the First Brielle Residents. Jamie McCarthy, 37, Belford, with a finish time of 45:59 and Cameron Fuller, of Brielle at 43:06, were recognized as First Law Enforcement Officer and First Firefighter, respectively.

Race Directors Jack and Diane Cheer noted that ““the 37th Annual Brielle Hill and Dale 10K Challenge did hold true that ‘It never rains on Brielle Day’. This year's race was accompanied by a vigorous autumnal chill. This autumnal chill as compared to last year's heat and humidity allowed for an energetic ascent up Union Lane towards Schoolhouse Road.”

They wished to “thank everyone who made the day possible, including behind the scenes help from Brielle Borough Hall, Brielle First Aid, Brielle Fire & Police Departments, Brielle DPW, Brielle Mayor Thomas B Nicol, the town of Brielle, Jersey Shore Running Club, BSA Troop 63, and the Church of Brielle.” The Cheers also wish to recognize and thank all of the sponsors of the event including Simko’s Grille of Brielle, Waypoint 622 of Brielle, Montenegro, Thompson, Montenegro, & Goetz of Brick, H2M Architects & Engineers, Brielle Cyclery of Brielle who donated the Grand Prize of a bicycle; an orange Crusher Beachch Cruiser, Ocean First Bank, The River House of Brielle, Borough of Brielle, and the Jersey Shore Running Club.

Other leading finishers of this 10K (6.2 miles) hilly challenge:

Leading male Monmouth and Ocean finishers: Pat Ford, Neptune, 38:05; Mick Morris, Brielle, 40:49; Eddie Carvent, Toms River, 40:59; Joseph Baldasare, Brick, 41:26; Jakov Philosof, Brick, 41:29; Jack Goh, Ocean, 41:37; Aaron McKerraw, Toms River, 42:30; Malachi Towey, Brick, 43:22; Carter Condoluci, Brielle, 43:59; Charles Kiesnowski, Brick, 44:24; Sean Savage, Brielle, 44:46; Alexander Gribtsov, Matawan, 44:56; Glenn Panaro, Surf City, 44:59; Nick Wall, Brielle, 45:18; Doug Fleischer, Fair Haven, 45:33; Ed Alburtus, Belmar, 46:20; Holden Becker, Brielle, 46:32; Mick Hughes, Point Pleasant Beach, 46:44; Jack Dickerson, Point Pleasant Beach, 47:10; Dan Viani, Brielle, 47:33; Brian Obser, Pt Pleasant, 47:33; Jason Stanco, Manasquan, 47:51; Bryce Ridge, Manasquan, 48:05; Ed Sampson, Manasquan, 48:07; Peter Quigley, Farmingdale, 48:28; Richard Siderko, Brielle, 48:43; Manolo Teijelo, Ocean Grove, 48:51; Mark Weston Dawkes, Ocean, 49:00; Timothy Higley, Sea Girt, 49:01; Robert Hahn, Red Bank, 49:06; Matthew Donovan, Toms River, 49:12; Bob Miller, Spring Lake, 49:24; John Willison, Brielle, 49:33; David Duff, Toms River, 49:52; Brendan McCaig, Brick, 49:57; and Joe Bertha, Brielle, 49:58.

Leading female Monmouth and Ocean finishers: Lauren Rome, Howell, 40:36; Christine Arsego, Point Pleasant Beach, 41:57; Melanie Viani, Brielle, 45:32; Kate Hoppe, Brielle, 46:14; Kristina Kircher, Point Pleasant Beach, 46:28; Kathleen Bade, Brielle, 46:54; Jamie Hale, Brick, 48:35; Megan Becht, Manasquan, 48:45; Jenna Kennett, Toms River, 48:52; Leigh Frye, Point Pleasant, 48:55; Barbara Donelik, Middletown, 49:00; Michelle Whiting, Brielle, 49:02; Erin North, Brielle, 49:06; Dedrie Caplo, Avon By The Sea, 49:23; Jane Decker, Brick, 50:10; Kaitlin Mahony, Brielle, 50:13; Stefanie Granzin, Spring Lake, 50:22; Eileen Kean, Ocean Grove, 50:51; Alexis Francese, Brick, 50:56; Maria Debrluin, Manasquan, 51:18; Kirsten Kalemba, Brielle, 51:28; Tricia Callahan, Brielle, 52:00; Jillian Pereira, Manasquan, 52:16; Kimberley Herman, Brielle, 52:36; Brielle Pearce, Allenwood, 52:52; Karen Kelly, Oceanport, 53:05; Torie Pickersgill, Point Pleasant, 53:17; Elaine McAvoy, Brick, 53:56; Megan Attanasio, Brick, 54:14; Teri Nelson, Wall, 54:29; Cara Lapolla, Manalapan, 54:39; Kelsey Currie-Naffin, Holmdel, 54:51; Sandra Rinderer, Pine Beach, 55:03; Mary Beth O'Brien, Neptune, 55:30; Tara Quigley, Farmingdale, 55:33 and Liz Hart, Brielle, 55:38.

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

Photos by George Ertle