Youth was served as the Freehold Area Running Club closed out its 31st 5K Summer Race Series at Monmouth Battlefield Park in Manalapan on July 31.
Tom Mongau, 16, captured the final race of this year’s series, covering the 5K Battlefield State Park course in 18:52. He finished just ahead of Dustin Vanella, 18, and Mike Kennedy, 19, who both finished in 18:59.
Completing the top 10 were Manuel Arpi (19:42), Andy Comito (20:06), Sean Frueger (20:12), Eric Davis (20:15), Bob Andrews (20:37), Steve Linton (20:45) and Tom Brieva (20:49).
Alexandra Moore, 18, was the women’s winner. She finished 31st overall in 22:42. Trailing her were Kierra Nealon, 14, in 23:34 and Amanda Krieger, 16, in 23:36.
Completing the women’s top 10 were Jennifer Camita (23:41), Liz Spector (23:42), Robin Markson (24:20), Asha Hagenberg (24:49), Leslie Quiles (25:59), Mona Hagen (26:25), and Martha Lanko (26:36).
Age group winners among the men were: 14 and under, Comito; 15-19, Linton; 20-29, Pawan Harvu (23:18); 30-39, Brieva; 40-49, Arpi; 50-59, Andrews; 60-69, Andy Stevenson (24:34); and 70-79, Ralph Garfield (27:37).
Women’s age group winners were: 14 and under, Allyn Bright (28:46); 15-19, Camita; 30-39, Spector; 40-49, Hagenberg; and 50-59, Carol Riciusa (28:42).
More than 100 runners completed the season finale, which began on June 26.
The July 24 race was won by a pair of former Manalapan High School standouts in Ken Kropac (18:55) and Kristin Andrews (21:09).
The Freehold Area Running Club has been giving race walkers the opportunity to compete in their own series of races this year. The next stop is on Sept. 7 with a 10K walk at Harry Wright Lake in Manchester that begins at 9 a.m. The five-race series that began with a 5K on April 13 will conclude on Nov. 2 with a 15K race back at Harry Wright Lake starting at 10 a.m.
Certified USA Track and Field race walking judges and officials will judge the race walkers.
For more information on the race walk series, go to the club’s website at www.farcnj.com or call 609-758-5454.
The club’s 27th annual Born To Run 5- Mile Race through the streets of Freehold Borough will be held on Nov. 29 starting at 11 a.m. Runners can register online at www.farcnj.com.
The popular run after Thanksgiving benefits the Freehold Open Door Food Pantry.
Jersey Shore Golden Grand Prix
The winners of the Jersey Shore Golden Grand Prix will be decided on Labor Day (Sept. 2) with the Pier House 5K in Long Branch at 8:30 a.m.
The Pier House is the final of the fiverace series that began with the Spring Lake 5- Mile Run and included the George Sheehan Classic in Red Bank, the Belmar 5-Mile Run and the Asbury Park 5K.
Heading into the final race, two former scholastic state champions from the Shore, Andrew Brodeur (Brick Memorial High School) and Craig Segal (Holmdel High School) are vying for first place overall. Brodeur, who has three wins in the series, takes a 299-291 lead into the Long Branch race.
Recent Monmouth University star Jennifer Nelson from Barnegat has an even slimmer lead (four points) over Brick’s Brianna Feerst, 291-287.
The series is sponsored by McLoone’s.
For more information on the Pier House 5K, go to www.jsgrandprix.com.