St. Paddy’s 10-mile run Sunday in Freehold Twp.
Getting set to host the 11th annual St. Paddy’s race that begins and ends at Liberty Oak Park, Freehold Township, are (l-r) Jack Lucey, Linda Hyer, president of the Freehold Area Running Club, Race Director Marcia Shapiro and Avram Shapiro. A field of 700 men, women and children is expected for Sunday’s 10-mile event.
Hundreds of runners and racewalkers will take to the roads of Freehold Township on Sunday when the Freehold Area Running Club hosts the 11th annual St. Paddy’s 10-Mile Run. For the sixth time, there will be an ac-companying Windmill Leprechaun 5K race. The starting point for both races is Liberty Oak Park, Georgia Road. The 10-mile race will take runners and walkers over the scenic back roads of Freehold Township before heading back to the park for the finish. Kevin Devine of Morristown won last year’s St. Paddy’s race in 55:54, while the women’s winner was local standout Annie O’Dowd of Old Bridge. She ran 1:05.41. Megan Phillips of Spring Lake Heights was second to O’Dowd last year and is returning to take another shot at winning one of the region’s most popular road races. The course record is 49:17 set by Phil-adelphia’s Bill Frawley in 1998. Another Quaker stater, Laura Mason, holds the women’s course record. She ran a sizzling 56:51 in 1994. Ken Holryd of Jackson won the Leprechaun 5K in 16:50 while Howell High School’s Lindsey Gallo was the women’s winner in 18:32. It was Gallo’s second straight win in the event. Starting time for the 10-mile race is 11 a.m. with the 5K following at 11:15 a.m. Race day registration begins at 9 a.m. Proceeds from the races will benefit Freehold Township recreation programs, the PBA Torch Run for Special Olympics, CentraState Healthcare Foundation and other local causes. Call the FARC hotline at (732) 431-2627 or consult the Web site at www.farcnj.com for more information.