The George Sheehan Classic introduced its new distance, 5K, on June 16, and it produced very competitive races on the men’s and women’s sides.
Four runners broke 16:00 on the new 3.1-mile course, which started and finished on Broad Street in Red Bank (the race had been run over five miles prior to this year), with Jon Phillips of Brooklyn, N.Y., the first to the line. He averaged 4:58 a mile, stopping the clock in 15:24.94 and setting the mark that will be the course record target for future participants.
Runner-up was Tim Mulligan from Whiting (15:343.44). Third place went to Newark’s James Gathoga (15:48.69), with West Long Branch’s Rob Cavanaugh fourth (15:56.63).
The women’s race was equally competitive, with six runners breaking 19:00 led by the winner, Maria Pavkovitch of Union City. She finished 17th overall in what is the new course record, 18:19.94
Tina Morrison, who ran for Middletown South and the University of Pennsylvania, was runner-up in 18:27.96. Jessica Francis, Red Bank (18:32.19), Caitlin Dorgan, Red Bank (18:343.45, Dactilia Booth, Long Branch (18:41.44), and Noel Whitall, Long Branch (18:41.44), also broke 19:00. Completing the overall Top 10 were: Matt Dahl, Keansburg (16:47.24), Joe Lesniak, Point Pleasant (16:53.109), Pete Forgach, Long Branch (16:57.44), Geoff Harrison, Fair Haven (17:02.69), Patrick O’Boyle, Atlantic Highlands (17:12.94), and Sean Rath, Atlantic Highlands (17:38.19).
In the team competition, Mulligan and Cavanaugh led Runners High to the men’s title. Their five-runner team average was 17:02.27.
The Shore AC won the women’s team title with an average of 21:16.93, led by Wall’s Lisa Namath (19:42.39).
The ShoreAC also won the Male Masters title with a team average of 19:33.26, led by Sea Girt’s Doug Twyman.
Just under 1,300 runners completed the race (1,296). There was a Kids’ Classic race held on June 15.
The Sheehan Classic was the second stop on the five-race Jersey Shore Golden Grand Prix.
The next stop is the July 14 Belmar Five-Mile Run.
The other races are theAsbury Park 5K (Aug. 11) and the Pier House 5K in Long Branch (Sept. 3).
For more information on the Golden Grand Prix, go to www.jsgandprix.com.