JEFF HUNTLEY Barbara Moldoch of Point Pleasant crosses the finish line first in Sunday’s Freehold Area Running Club 5K Race for Women in Marlboro.
Barbara Moldoch doesn’t like to look back during a race. She follows the Satchel Paige line, "Don’t look back because someone might be gaining on you."
Last Sunday, Moldoch could have afforded to look behind her because she would have found no one gaining on her. In fact, she would have found no one in sight as she dominated the Freehold Area Running Club’s Sunday 5K For Women in Marlboro that started and finished at the Marlboro Municipal Complex, Wyncrest Rd.
The Point Pleasant runner led every step of the way clocking 18:29 under the hot summer sun for her second win in the race that was starting its second decade (11th year).
"I like going out real fast to see how everyone else is running," said the veteran runner who is the girls’ cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field coach at Manchester High School. "Today I went out in 5:40 and it felt easy."
It might have seemed easy to Moldoch (who won the Born to Run five-mile race through Freehold Borough back in November), but behind her no one was able to mount a challenge. Runner-up Lisa Herman-Tofler from Los Angeles, Ca. was more than a minute behind, running 19:49. Former Manalapan High School star Chris Corey, who now lives in Belmar, was third (20:05). Moldoch’s second Women’s Only win helped to erase the painful memories of last year when she pulled her back muscle halfway through the race. She continued on through the discomfort and pain to finish seventh in a race she thought she could have won. That experience made her very determined.
"I was looking forward to this race," said Moldoch, who runs for Miles Ahead and the Jersey Shore Running Club. "This makes up for last year. I’m in better shape than my time shows."
Moldoch is looking forward to the other top road races on the summer calendar with renewed confidence. Corey is as well.
Corey runs for the Asics East team that has come close to winning the national cross country team championship. The fall cross country season is what she is piqued for and she is using the summer races to achieve that. She was pleased by what she did on Sunday.
Natalie Jones of Titusville, 15, who was second behind Moldoch at the one-mile mark, was fourth (20:12) and Jane Erbe of Manasquan, fifth (20:17). Rounding out the Top 10 were: Kay Romano, Bayonne (20:39); Daniela Kolarsick, Matawan (20:39); Theresa Marciani, Brick (20:41); Erin Cahill, Ewing (20:59); and Pam Spadola, Howell (21:13). Age group winners were: Jones (U-20); Kolarsick (20-29); Romano (30-34); Hannah Herman, Wayne (22:53, 35-39); Erbe (40-44); Pam Allen, Oceanport (21:43, 45-49); Laurene Jones Titusville (21:40, 50-59) and Donna Mehler, Manasquan (26:50, 60&Up).
The first FARC finisher was Lois Eder of Colts Neck, who was 17th overall (22:14).
Other top local finishers were former Manalapan High School runner Maya Levy, 18th (22:24), Freehold Township High School runner Erin Coyne, 19th (22:26) and Old Bridge’s Linda Ferrara, 20th (22:35).
Natalie and Laurene Jones won the mother/daughter team competition while Herman-Tofler made her trip from Los Angles to visit her family in Wayne that much more memorable because in addition to her second place finish overall she and her sister Hannah teamed up to win the sister/sister team competition.
Renee Hyer of Marlboro was the youngest finisher.
In the racewalking division, Sherry Brosnahan of Bridgewater was the winner in 29:14. First in the Master’s Division was Donna Cetrulo of Long Branch (30:10).
The Sunday 5K For Women is the oldest women’s only race in the state and this year it served as the New Jersey event in the Avon/Road Runners Club of America Women’s 5K Series.
The FARC’s Summer Race Series at Battlefield State Park continues tonight with the 5K going off at 6:50. For more information on FARC events call 431-2627 or visit the web site a www.farcnj.com.

