Winter freeze hasn’t kept FARC runners from racing
FARC’s 21st
Winter Race Series
concludes on Sunday

Through the winter’s deep freeze and snow, the Freehold Area Running Club’s 21st Winter Series, like the mailman, has delivered. Runners and racewalkers have not let sub-zero wind chill temperatures or snow keep them from their destination — racing.

The five-week series of 5K runs through Michele J. Tighe Park, Freehold Township, will conclude on Sunday at 10 a.m.

Whiting’s Tim Mulligan shook things up Sunday with the fastest 5K of the year, a scorching 15:43 on the freezing morning. His victory snapped the three-race win streak of Jesus Resendiz of Perth Amboy, who was third this time in 16:27. Ex-Christian Brothers Academy star Chris Chairo of Jackson, was second in this race at 16:21.

Rainer Koch of Wurzburg, Germany, was fourth (17:50), and Manalapan’s Rob McKinley was fifth (18:04).

In the women’s race, Morganville’s Eric Weitz became the first repeat winner, posting a 21:06. Freehold’s Gabby Barrett was second (22:02) with Sandy Santiago of Eatontown, third (22:16). Pam Spadola of Howell was fourth (22:58) and Jennifer Dolan, Lakewood, fifth (23:18).

Plumstead’s Ron Salvio stopped Lakewood’s Ben Ottmer in the racewalking division with a swift 29:20. Ottmer had won the first three races of the series. He was second this time in 31:25 followed by Avram Shapiro of Howell (36:58).

Men’s age-group winners were: Jason Weiner, Freehold, 21:01 (under 13); Kris Carle, Jackson, 19:17 (13-19); Chairo (20-29); Chris Davis, Freehold, 19:54 (30-39); McKinley (40-49); Bob Markow, Bound Brook, 20:32 (50-59); Bill Hageman, Morris Plains, 19:55 (60-69); and Bill Welsh, Staten Island, 32:10 (70-plus).

Women’s age-group winners were: Dolan (13-19); Jody Denn, Surf City, 24:21 (20-29); Santiago (30-39); Barrett (40-49); and Vera Stek, Somerset, 23:50 (50-59).

The opening race of the series (Jan. 4) saw Resendiz run a 16:45 in topping former Marlboro High School star James Coomber (17:04). Seaside Heights’ Scott Higgins was third (17:19).

Youth was served in the women’s race with Farmingdale’s national age-group record holder, Briana Jackucewicz, posting an 18:13. The seventh-grader finished ahead of two other youngsters, Molly Kempton from Island Heights (18:36) and Amanda Cavallo, Bayville (19:16).

Lakewood’s Ottmer was first in the racewalking division (31:29) while Brick’s Fran Emanuel (34:33) was first in the women’s division.

The men’s age-group winners were: Coomber (13-19); Higgins (20-29); Bob Cavallo, Bayville, 18:30 (30-39); Tom Zarra Point Pleasant, 18:07 (40-49); John Wendolowski, Allentown, 20:20 (50-59); Bill Hagman, Morris Plains, 19:48 (60-69); and Bill Welsh, Staten Island, 38:39 (70-plus).

Women’s age-group winners were: Kempton (13-19); Peihan Su, Morganville, 24:55 (20-29); Danielle Soldo, East Windsor, 20:06 (30-39); Gabby Barrett, Freehold, 21:54 (40-49); Teri Principie, Brick, 35:18 (50-59); and Marilyn Ryder, Long Branch, 27:03 (60-69).

In week two, Resendiz made it two straight, lowering his 5K time to 16:28. Andrew Wong of Holmdel (18:24) and Ken Vercammen of South Brunswick (18:29) ran second and third

East Windsor’s Soldo won the women’s race in 20:27, ahead of Morganville’s Erica Weitz (21:33) and Eatontown’s Sandy Santiago (22:18).

Ottmer (31:26) and Emanuel (33:40) repeated as the racewalking winners.

Men’s age-group winners were: Jason Weiner, Freehold, 20:58 (under 13); Wong (13-19); Jon Gloth, Freehold, 18:43 (20-29); Chris Davis, Freehold, 19:43 (30-39); Vercammen (40-49); Tom Resch, West Creek, 20:49 (50-59); Hagman, 19:49 (60-69); and Welsh, 32:06 (70-plus).

Women’s age-group winners were: Delaney Gaughan, Marlboro, 32:01 (under 13); Weitz (13-19); Amy Hanlon, Belmar, 27:07 (20-29); Santiago (30-39); Barrett, 22:38 (40-49); and Ryder, 27:43 (60-69).

Week three saw Resendiz’s closest race as he held off Chairo of Jackson, 16:50-16:58. It was a long way back to third place Osbourne Shaw, Princeton (19:28)

Weitz made it three different winners in three weeks among the women, outrunning Freehold’s Barrett (22:24) with Bayonne’s Jennifer Smiga in third (22:36).

Ottmer made it three-for-three in the racewalking, stepping off a 32:33.

Men’s age-group winners: Weiner, 21:14 (under 13); Carle, 19:45 (13-19); Chairo (20-29); Gavin Bannat, Bloomingdale, 20:05 (30-39); Bob Derringer, Jackson, 19:31 (40-49); Don Phillips, Manchester, 21:18 (50-59); Bob Kucharski, Bound Brook, 27:01 (60-69); and Welsh, 32:45 (70-plus).

Age-group winners among the women were: Rachel Morris, Marlboro, 24:11 (under 13); Hillary Gall, Ewing, 24:15 (13-19); Smiga (20-29); Santiago, 23:44 (30-39); Barrett (40-49); and Principe, 33:13 (50-59).

For more information on the Winter Race Series final on Sunday or other FARC activities, call the club’s hotline at (732) 431-2627 or visit the Web site www.farcnj.com.