By tim morris
Staff Writer
FARRAH MAFFAI Allentown’s Chris Krantz looks to drive past a Monroe defender during the Redbirds’ 58-49 win at home on Saturday. With the win, Allentown improved to 4-6 on the year.
Runners take pride in their toughness, and nothing has put that to the test like the Freehold Area Running Club (FARC) Winter Race Series.
This year, the event, which is held Sunday mornings at the Michael J. Tighe Park, Georgia Road, Freehold Township, is celebrating its 20th year and the number of participants has been staggering. In the first race of the season, held on Jan. 5, the 5K race drew a state record number of participants for a winter series, 166.
"We get the diehards who want to do something in the winter," said FARC president Bob Hyer.
Through its 20 years of existence, the race series has consistently been well attended.
The series began as a members-only run. Then it was a progressive marathon over four weeks adding up to the marathon distance of 26.2 miles. Club members ran five-mile races the first two weeks, then pushed it up to 10 to total 20 miles. They closed with a 10K (6.2 miles) the fourth week for 26.2 miles.
After two years, the club opened the winter series to anyone and it not only survived, it thrived.
Starting in the early 1990s, the distance dropped to five mile runs, and now to the popular 5K distance. One thing has been constant — the participants. They come no matter what the wind chill or if there is snow on the ground.
According to Hyer, the FARC series has a couple of other things going for it. There is an indoor facility at Tighe Park where runners can stay warm before and after the race and socialize, and there is food. The club provides donuts from Dunkin’ Donuts and bagels from Manhattan Bagels after the race.
"We have a lot of food," Hyer pointed out.
The series is also very affordable, with registration just $2 for club members and $4 for non-members.
Twenty years ago this month (Jan. 13, 1983), the Freehold Area Running Club was formed with a meeting of local runners at the Freehold Township Recreation office at the then Liberty Oak Park. The recreation commission had been holding a fall five-mile run in the township and its popularity had spawned the idea for a local club. Recreation members Joe Tyberghein, Woody Gloth and Sue Gilbert are credited with pushing for the meeting.
The FARC’s first president was Paul "Bud" Fitch. He said the club’s early goals were very modest.
"We had two goals, a race series and informal training runs," he said. "We also wanted to have monthly meetings and bring in guest speakers."
Jim Schlentz, the current track and cross country coach at Colts Neck High School and of Team Asics which is based in Freehold, and former Manalapan High School star Gary Salva were the club’s first guest speakers.
The race series that immediately came out of the club’s formation became the Summer Race Series at Battlefield State Park in Manalapan. That series celebrated its 20th anniversary this past summer. The winter series, now in its 20th year, followed. Other events include the Born To Run Five-Miler, the St. Paddy’s 10-Miler and Toys For Tots 5K.
The club has served the community very well in the last two decades. Over the years it has raised more than $500,000 for local charities through its races. The club also awards college scholarships each year to graduating high school male and female seniors who are club members.
The FARC, which began with 53 members back in ‘83 has grown to just under 800. Hyer said that each year the Winter and Summer Series bring in new members as do the St. Paddy’s and Born To Run events.
Fitch, who is still a club member, said that over the last few years, the club has been getting younger with far more high school participants than ever before. The club has managed to span generations. It started off at the height of the running boom and is now getting a new generation of runners.
The 2003 Winter Series opened on Jan. 5 with Jackson’s Paul Bahamondes winning in 16:40 while Farmingdale’s young Briana Jackucewicz was first in the women’s race with an 18:58. Bahamondes led a Jackson sweep of the top three places with Greg Emmons (16:59) and George Wolchko (17:15) finishing second and third. Wall’s Brian Kayser (17:51) and Pt. Pleasant’s Tom Zarra (17:55) rounded out the first five.
The age group winners were: 14-19, Emmons; 20-29, Freehold’s Jon Gloth (18:29); 40-49, Zarra; 50-59, Morris Plains’ Bill Hagman (18:51); 60-69, Piscataway’s Paul Krentar (22:03); and 70+ Jackson’s Stan Dubroff (26:54). Bayville’s Amanda Cavallo followed Jackucewicz across the line in the women’s race in 19:37. Danielle Soldo of East Windsor (20:42), Ashley Higgonson, Marlboro (21:09) and Theresa Marciani, Brick (21:10) rounded out the top five.
Age group winners were: under 14, Cavallo; 20-29, Freehold’s Kelley Korz (23:08); 30-39, Soldo; 40-49, Marciani; 50-59, Jackson’s Shirley Sullivan (25:21); and 60-69, New York City’s Anna Thornhill (23:16). In racewalking, Jack Lach of Wall edged Philadelphia’s Erik Litt, 27:14-27:19. Lakewood’s Ben Ottmer was third (31:12). Ashleigh Pisciotta of Marlton was first in the women’s racewalking division (31:27) with Brick Fran Emanuel, second (34:45).
In week two of the Winter Series, Red Bank’s Ronald Torres was the first to the line in 16:27 while Jackucewicz made it two-for-two, clocking 18:46 this time.
Eric EsCorscia, also of Red Bank was the male runner-up in 16:40 with Bob Keiper third (18:04). Rounding out the first five were Zarra (18:24) and Princeton’s Rob Mirabile (18:28). Age group winners were: under 13, Morganville’s Richie Roman (22:55); 13-19, Keiper; 20-29, Mirabile; 30-39, EsCorscia; 40-49, Zarra; 50-59, Hagman (18:55); 60-69, Colts Neck’s Ray Folio (24:45); and 70+, Staten Island’s Bill Welsh (29:32). Jersey City’s Joy Jaworowski chased Jackucewicz in the women’s race, placing second in 19:42. Soldo was third (20:52), followed by Marciani and Freehold Kerry Calnan (21:48). Age group winners were: 13-19, Calnan; 20-29, Korz (23:16); 30-39, Soldo; 40-49, Jaworowski; 50-59, Sullivan (25:50); and Spring Lake’s Kathy Worth (32:44).
Litt followed up his second place in the racewalking competition at the first race of the series with a first place. The Philadelphia walker stepped off a 28:12 in topping Plumsted Ron Salvio (31:11) and Ottmer (31:32). Bridgewater’s Sherry Brosnohan (29:15) beat opening week winner Pisciotta (31:04) in the women’s race. Emanuel was third (34:32).
Sunday, the nine-degree weather tested the runners, but 117 were there. The race produced a third straight new winner with Roger Price of Piscataway getting the win in 17:46 followed by North Brunswick’s Ken Vercammen (18:06) and Zarra (18:18). Rounding out the top five were Mirabile (18:37) and the shirtless Hagman (18:42).
Jackucewicz made it three-for-three in the women’s division, lowering her time to 18:39. Island Heights’ Molly Kempton (19:18) and Cavallo (19:56) were second and third. Jennifer Gunn of Red Bank (20:32) and Higgonson (21:17) were fourth and fifth.
Male age group winners were: 13-19, Chris King, Hillside (20:46); 20-29, Mirabile; 30-39, Glen Noe, Tinton Falls (19:43); 40-49, Vercammen; 50-59, Hagman; and Ray Folio, Colts Neck (25:04).
Female age group winners: under 13, Kempton; 13-19, Higgonson; 20-29, Korz (23:12); 30-39, Gunn; 40-49, Kim Daley, Brick (22:17); 50-59, Sullivan (25:47); and 60-69, Madeline Bost, Ironia (30:19).
Willingboro’s Cliff Mimm won the racewalking in 24:04 followed by first-week winner Lach (27:38) and Morganville’s John Weitz (30:15). Panse Geer of Hazlet was the women’s winner in 35:47.
The Winter Race Series continues on Sunday with the 5K going off at 10 a.m. There are kids’ race (half-mile and one-mile) that start at 9:30 a.m. For additional information on the series, which continues through Feb. 2, or the club, call (732) 531-2627 or visit the Web site at farcnj.com.