Kootman, Savino first in the streets of Freehold
First wins for both
in Born to Run
Five-Miler
By tim morris
Staff Writer

JERRY WOLKOWITZ Hamilton’s Cynthia Savino came back to her hometown of Freehold on Friday to win the Born to Run Five-Miler for the first time.

Having twice finished second to South River’s Dave DeMonico at the 18th annual Born to Run Five-Miler through the streets of Freehold Borough, Boston College senior Matt Kootman knew what he had to do last Friday.

"He (DeMonico) likes to take it out early," said Kootman. "Last year I stayed with him as long as I could.

"This year I wanted to make it honest for him at the start," he added. "I didn’t want to take the lead early but that’s what I had to do. I wanted to see what would happen. I felt pretty comfortable."

Although comfortable, Kootman never felt secure in the lead.

"I have too much respect for Dave and (Bob) DeFillippis to think I had it won," he noted.

Running a la DeMonico, Kootman, a graduate of Middletown South High School, had the lead for almost the entire way, crossing the finish line on Court Street in 25:56. A 10:04 for the first two miles had helped him gain an edge over his rivals that he never relinquished.

DeFillippis, of Tinton Falls, got up for second (26:25) with five-time winner DeMonico pushed back to third this year (26:47).

Kootman has just finished his collegiate cross country season and is looking ahead to the indoor season. This is an in-between time for the BC senior and he used the strength and race sharpness from his recent college season to carry him through. Kootman has been running the Born to Run race for a number of years.

"It’s fun and it’s local," said Kootman. "I get to eat turkey and run a race."

Former Freehold Borough High School runner Cynthia Savino had some fun on Friday as well, winning her first Born to Run race in her first start in 32:03. Savino, who has moved on to marathon, had a sense of déjà vu as she ran over streets she recalled training on while in high school.

"I always wanted to run this race," she said.

Savino, who now lives in Hamilton Township and was coming off a win at the Des Moines, Iowa Half-Marathon, was in the lead from the start. In races like the Born to Run, which had a field in excess of 600 competitors, Savino follows a simple strategy.

"I look for a guy who is running at my pace and run as fast as I can," she explained. "I wasn’t sure I could win this race. It was great."

Now, she pointed out, she’ll have to return to defend her title next year.

Lauren Rhatigan of Branch Beach was a close second to Savino (32:37) with Maggie Freeman, Sea Girt, third (33:57).

In the racewalking competition, Jack Lach of Marlboro was first, stepping off the five miles in 46:39.

Joan Venslavsky from Robbinsville was the female winner (54:57).

Rounding out the top 10 male runners were: Ryan McGrath, Red Bank (28:17); Israel Payan, Freehold (28:41); Charles Jenks, Alexandria, Va. (29:36); Robert Wagner, Sicklerville (29:38); David Gaines, Freehold (29:40); Christopher Grottin, Blackwood (30:04); and Neil Van Aartrink, Monmouth Junction (30:09).

Rounding out the women’s top 10 were: Alyson Cooke, Spotswood (34:45); Dawn Ciccone, Highlands (35:15); Jennifer Wakeman, Colts Neck (35:17); Lianne Price, Colts Neck (35:18); Madelyn Noe-Schlentz, Freehold (35:18); Erika Feltz, Gainesville, Fla. (35:24); and Ellie Siev, Manalapan (35:27).

Age group winners were: 19-and-under, men, Gaines and female, Wakeman; 20-24, men, McGrath and women, Feltz; 25-29, men, Steve Kropac, Morristown (30:56) and women, Cooke; 30-34, men, DeFillippis and women, Freeman; 35-39, men, DeMonico and women, Rhatigan; 40-44, men, Wagner and women, Noe-Schlentz; 45-49, men, Dave Hoch, Hopewell (30:17) and women, Ciccone; 50-54, men, Kerry Gillespie, Middletown (33:49) and women, Pauline Willis (38:24); 55-59, men, Douglas Brown, East Brunswick (30:25) and women, Sue Juronics, Hightstown (36:30); 60-69, men, Bob Smelson, Freehold (37:55) and women, Ann Warsing, Maple Shade (44:18); and 70-and-over, men, James Robbins, Eatontown (55:10).

The top racewalkers behind Lach were: Art Glass, Red Bank (54:30); Frank Pelcher, Keyport (54:40); Venslavsky; Ed Adamsky, South River (55:02); Elliott Denman, West Long Branch (1:00:08); Chuck Schmidt, Freehold (1:02:26); Conrad Crisafulli, Cedar Grove (1:03:16); and Rosemary Ramanauskas, Metuchen (1:06:25).

Proceeds from the Born to Run race benefit the Monmouth County Child Abuse Task Force.