JERRY WOLKOWITZ Red Bank’s Matt Kootman finishes second in last Friday’s Born to Run five-mile race through the streets of Freehold Borough.
After 19 years and 45,000 miles, South River’s Dave DeMonico still has some life in his tired legs, and it’s a good thing.
DeMonico needed all of his experience and savvy to take the 2001 Born to Run five-mile race through the streets of Freehold Borough for a record fifth time in 25:47. One thing that DeMonico doesn’t find tiring over the years is winning.
This year, Red Bank’s Matt Kootman made DeMonico earn it.
In winning his previous four Born to Runs, DeMonico had used the same modus operandi — go out fast to see who was serious, and if he found any takers, keep pushing the pace. That strategy had led to four comfortable wins.
Friday, DeMonico went straight to the front as always and had a 15-20-yard lead on Kootman by the half-mile.
However, unlike previous races, Kootman would not go away. At a mile (passed in 4:53), he caught the defending champion and even took the lead. They would trade the lead over the next two miles.
If DeMonico was going to win this time, he would have to do it by coming from behind.
"I repassed him and had the lead at three miles," recalled DeMonico. "In Topanemus Park I made a surge and got a 10- or 15-yard lead between mile three and four. I kept saying to myself, ‘This is my race; this is my race.’ And I kept pushing it."
DeMonico made it his race again, gradually pulling away from the game Kootman and avoiding a sprinter’s kick at the finish.
Crossing the line with a celebratory jump that signaled his elation at repeating, DeMonico finished 16 seconds ahead of Kootman (26:03).
"This was the most painful race I’ve run," he said, noting that he had been bothered in the last two months by a pelvic muscle strain. "I didn’t think I could do any better than 26:10. Kootman pushed me today."
This was the 49th race of the year for the former Rutgers University runner who has earned the title as the local "king of the roads."
As always, the Born to Run attracted many former high school stars who are back home for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Rounding out the men’s top 10 were: Mike Mooney, Jackson (27:55); Bob Horn, Brick (28:07); Neil Van Aartrijk, South Brunswick (28:22); Chris Peters, Barnegat (29:18); Jason Hewitt, Freehold (29:33); Ken Kropack, South Belmar, a Freehold District champion when he ran for Manalapan (29:40); and Ken Vercammen, North Brunswick (29:43).
The race for top women’s runner was a battle of college stars between University of Virginia senior Jessica Thomas of Point Pleasant and Michigan sophomore Lindsey Gallo, the Howell High School graduate, who was making her Born to Run debut.
Thomas picked up the win in 29:13, followed by Gallo in 30:30.
Gallo is fresh off a great cross country year in which she earned First Team All Big 10 honors. After a season of 5,000-meter runs in cross country, Gallo noted that she wasn’t ready for a five-mile effort. Despite the extra distance, the multiple high school state champion ran a solid race.
Thomas and Gallo have met before. Back in 1998 when Gallo won the New Jersey Meet of Champions 1,600 meter title, Thomas, then a senior at Point Pleasant, ran fifth in that race.
Farmingdale’s young star, Briana Jacklucewicz, 11, was right behind Gallo in third (30:40).
Former Manalapan High star Tara Ricciuto was fourth (31:28), finishing one place ahead of her former high school teammate, Christ Corey, who now calls Ocean Grove home, who ran a 32:11.
Rounding out the women’s Top 10 were: Maggie Freeman, Spring Lake (32:57); Jennifer Gunn, Red Bank (33:58); Dawn Ciccone, Highlands (34:17); Erika Feltz, Freehold (34:59) and Kristina Riley, Flanders (35:39).
Anne Gonellis of Point Pleasant was first among the racewalkers stepping off a 52:51. The first male racewalking finisher was Arthur Glass of Red Bank, who clocked 54:57.
Age Group winners among the men in the Born to Run were: John Regan, Colts Neck (29:58), 19 and Under; Kootman, 20-24; Horn, 25-29; Mark Lanergan, Red Bank (30-34 (32:53); Charles Jenks, West Long Branch (30:13), 35-39; Van Aartrijk, 40-44; Mooney, 45-49; Vincent DelGuiercio, Elm (32:24), 50-54; John Nowatkowski, Spotswood (33:39), 55-59; Bob Smelson, Freehold (35:35), 60-69; Clarence Lurch, Brielle (1:15:59), 70+; and Frank Groff, Braille (34:37), Clydesdale.
The women’s age group winners were: Gallo, 19 and Under; Feltz, 20-24; Ricciuto, 25-29; Corey, 30-34; Gunn, 35-39; Ardito (37:32), 40-44; Ciccone, 45-49; Vora Stek, Somerset (37:44), 50-54; Heysoon Loe, Maple Shade (42:15), 55-59; and Marilyn Ryder, Long Branch (60-69).
More than 500 runners competed in the 17th year of the Born to Run race.
The race, the brain child of director Hank Bailey, is a fund-raiser with proceeds going to the Monmouth County Child Abuse Task Force. The event has raised more than $90,000 for the task force.