By tim morris
Staff Writer
Youth dominated the Freehold Area Running Club’s 14th annual 5K for Women Friday night in Marlboro.
Farmingdale’s Briana Jackucewicz led a trio of youngsters who aren’t even in high school yet across the finish line.
The 12-year-old Jackucewicz, who holds national, age group records, scorched the 3.1-mile course that starts and ends at the Marlboro Township Recreation Complex on Wyncrest Road, in 17:49. That equaled the third fastest time ever in the 14-year history of the event.
"I was looking for a quick time," said Jackucewicz. "The nationals are coming up, and I wanted to run this as a good workout."
Jackucewicz will be running the 1,500 and 3,000 at the AAU Junior Olympics in Detroit later this month.
It didn’t take Jackucewicz long to turn the 5K for Women into a solo effort. A 5:32 first mile opened up a gap of 100 yards on her pursuers and an 11:24 split at the 2-mile had eliminated the others from contention.
Jackucewicz said her track experience paid off after she broke the race open so quickly.
"Usually you’re not alone in a road race," she said. "I get used to it on the track."
Chasing Jackucewicz was nothing new for runner-up Ashley Higginson, 14, of Marlboro.
"I know her from middle school," said Higginson. "I’ve competed against her and we’ve trained together."
Higginson ran a 19:53 in what she said will be her last competitive race of the summer. She will be a freshman at Colts Neck High School this fall and is looking ahead to the cross-country season.
Higginson pulled away from another middle school star, 13-year-old Amanda Cavallo of Bayville, over the second half of the race. Cavallo clocked 20:08 in third place.
Finishing in fourth place was Jessica Whang, a 17-year-old who runs for Marlboro High School. She posted a 20:26.
Fifth-place finisher Vanessa Gibens, 18, graduated from West Windsor North this year. She ran 20:33, two seconds up on another teen, 14-year-old Alexis Roy of Old Bridge, who was sixth in 20:35.
Rounding out the top 10 were Joan D’Alonzo, Newark, Del., in 20:51; Ellie Siev, Manalapan (20:53); Erica Weitz, Marlboro (21:02); and Barbara Feinstein, Marlboro (21:05).
Long Branch’s Donna Cetrulo won the racewalking division in 31:08.
Age group winners were: Whang, 19-and-under; Holly Potts, Mahwah, 20-29 (21:18); Laura Fielding, Cedar Grove, 30-34 (23:58); Feinstein, 35-39; D’Alonzo, 40-44; Siev, 45-49; Diane Cheer, Wall, 50-59 (27:09); and Marilyn Ryder, Long Branch, 60-69 (28:50).
Hazlet’s Panse Geer won the Master’s Racewalking Division (32:23).
Mary and Amanda Cavallo won the Mother/Daughter Team competition, while Alexis and Jackie Roy were first in the Sister/Sister competition.
FARC Summer Series
The Freehold Area Running Club’s 5K Summer Series continued last night at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Manalapan.
Last week, youth was served there as well as 17-year-old Mike O’Flaherty of Freehold Borough again led his two Colonial teammates, Jose Melendez and Mirza Salihagic, across the line in a one-two-three sweep. O’Flaherty posted a 17:37, while Melendez clocked 17:52 in second, and Salihagic 18:02 in third.
Ashley Higginson won the women’s race in 20:08 as she used last week’s race as a warmup for the 5K for Women.
Higginson was more than a minute clear of runner-up Danielle Soldo of East Windsor (21:15). Manalapan High School’s Laura Saffer was third (21:28).
Age group winners were: men, 13-and under, Brian Register, Middletown (21:49); women, 13-and-under, Rachel Morris, Marlboro (23:45); men, 14-19, Melendez; women, 14-19, Saffer; men, 20-29, Eric Fernstrom, Princeton (20:57); men, 30-39, Mark Moore, East Windsor (22:54); women, 30-39, Soldo; men, 40-49, Mark Leary, Roselle Park (21:24); women, 40-49, Gabby Barrett, Freehold (22:57); men, 50-59, Bob Roman, Marlboro (22:47); and men, 60-69, Ralph Garfield, Manalapan (24:20).
There was a 5K Relay Race that went to a team of Freehold runners, Michael O’Flaherty, Cody O’Flaherty and James Davis. Their time was 19:45.
Sunday, the RYKA-Take Fitness to Heart race will be held at Monmouth Battlefield State Park at 9 a.m. This is the culmination of an eight-week training clinic held Thursdays at Michael J. Tighe Park, Freehold Township, to prepare women for either the 5K or 10K races that will be contested.
For more information on the race, call the FARC hot line at (732) 431-2627, or visit the club’s Web site at farcnj.com.