FARC’s Nestlé St. Paddy’s Day 10-Mile Run set for Sunday
Freehold Township’s roads will be reserved for runners on Sunday when the Freehold Area Running Club presents its 13th Annual Nestlé St. Paddy’s 10-Mile race. This year’s race happens to fall on St. Patrick’s Day, providing runners with a new way to celebrate.
This popular event and the accompanying Windmill Leprechaun 5K (now in its eighth year) are expected to attract a field of 1,000 or more runners. Both races will take runners and racewalkers over the scenic back roads of Freehold Township. The races will start and finish in Michael J. Tighe Memorial Park (formerly Liberty Oak Park) on Georgia Road.
Race time for the 10-mile event is 11 a.m. with the 5K following at 11:15.
Dave DeMonico of South River, the local "King of the Roads," is entered but isn’t sure which race he will run. DeMonico captured the recent E. Murray Todd Half-Marathon (13.1 miles) at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. He has a sore hamstring and may wind up running the Leprechaun 5K. If he feels good on race day, he may go the whole 10 miles
DeMonico, a former winner of the St. Paddy’s race, was fourth last year behind Kenyan Stephen Ondieki, whose sizzling 48:54 broke the course record of 49:17 set by Bill Frawley of Philadelphia in 1998.
Also entered in the Leprechaun 5K is another local road racing star, Maura Bolger, the former St. Rose star.
Howell’s Brianna Jackucewicz, one of the top young runners in the state, will be taking aim at the women’s 10-mile title. Last year, the 11-year-old phenom finished in third place in her first 10-miler. Cathy Grote of Bernardsville, the 2001 women’s winner, will not defend her title this year because of a race conflict.
The women’s course record is the fast 56:51 run by Vanesa Ryan of Asburn in 1994.
Unlike many big races that accommodate to the elite athletes, the St. Paddy’s 10-Mile Run and the 5K cater to the average, middle-of-the-pack runners, making everyone comfortable.
Runners will be doing more than just competing for trophies, personal bests or just finishing. The event is a fund-raiser as well. Proceeds will go to the PBA Torch Run for the Special Olympics; Freehold Township recreation programs; CentraState Medical Center’s cardiac program; the FARC’s scholarship fund; and other local charities.
Race-day registration will begin at 9 a.m.
For more information on the St. Paddy’s race or other FARC events, call the club’s hot line at (732) 431-2627 or visit the Web site at www.farcnj.com.