Plainsboro’s Stefan Kolata won the 31st running of the E. Todd Murray Half-Marathon held at Brookdale Community College. Kolata routed the 13.1-mile course that took runners around a looped course through sections of Lincroft, Holmdel and Colts Neck before returning to the BCC campus for the finish, in 1:13.03.
Runner-up was Manalapan’s Dan Newman, who posted a 1:14:43.
Rounding out the men’s top five were Convent Station’s Joseph McVeigh (1:15:20), Elizabeth’s Rufino Mendez (1:16:14) and Monmouth Beach’s Jason Gers (1:16:33).
Brick’s Amy Nalvern won the women’s race in 1:24:42. Belmar’s Karen Charles was runner-up (1:25:33), followed by Succasunna’s Sherry Sikor (1:27:58). Fourth and fifth place went to Morganville’s Monica Sanchez (1:32:03) and Staten Island, N.Y.’s Kari Proffitt.
Janet Higbie of Indianapolis was the first racewalker to the finish line in 2:22:54, while Staten Island’s Cesare Lucio was the first male (2:57:57).
Age group winners were: 19-under, male, Cordell Oberholzer, Ephrata, Pa., (1:23:28), and female, Sahar Durali, West Chester, Pa., (2:00:52); 20-24, male, Pedro Espinosa, Freehold (1:17:12), and female, Ashley McCarthy, Bayville (1:42.01); 25-29, male, Jay McGovern, Atlantic Highlands (1:16:43), and female, Lesly Wassef, Highland Park (1:34:51); 30-34, male, Norbey Gonzalez, Denville (1:21:43), and female, Zsuzanna Carlson, Edison (1:37:09); 35-39, male, Jesse Arnstein, Jackson (1:19:59), and female, Loren McReesh, Nutley (1:35:47); 40-44, male, Nick Van Langen, Edison (1:24:19), and female, Ann O’Dowd, Colts Neck (1:34:04); 45-49, male, Rocco Della Serra, Cranford (1:22:12), and female, Amy Rappaport, Califon (1:34:46); 50-54, male, Daniel Murphy, Glen Ridge (1:22:48), and female, Sue Wharton, Three Bridges (1:43:58); 55-59, male, Fabio Rico, Summit (1:29:50), and female, Ellen Jacques, Jersey City (2:59:51); 60-64, male, Feliciano Pereira, Union (1:32:02), and female, Lee Evans, Brielle (2:11:22); 65-69, male, David Gross, Morganville (1:45:19), and female, Marilyn Ryder, Long Branch (2:12:55); and 70-79, male, Ralph Garfield, Englishtown (1:48:28). There were 508 entrants in the half-marathon with 474 finishing.
The Fourth Annual Rebel Relays, April 7 at Howell High School, will help start the scholastic outdoor track and field season. The relays will be held in three divisions for boys and girls based on the NJSIAA classification. Division 1 is for Groups I and II; Division 2, Group III; and Division III, Group IV. Both track and field events will be contested and everything will get started at 9 a.m. On April 5 at 6 p.m. there will be a special Frosh-Soph Night. For more information on the relays, call race director Kevin Dee at (732) 919-2131, ext. 8491.
Harness driver Jeff Gregory had just one drive at Freehold Raceway on Thursday, but it was one to remember. The 40-year-old reinsman guided Classic Flyer N to a win in the eighth race, but more importantly, it was the 5,000th win over his career. Gregory began his driving career in 1983. Last year he enjoyed his finest season in 2006, scoring 581 wins and earning more than $4.5 million in purses.
Friday, it was Steve Smith who had a memorable day at Freehold Raceway. He drove five winners on the card, taking Ring of Honour, All American Happy, Labella N, Talia’s Character and Emperor Sahbra.