Higginson, Clink post quick wins at FARC 5K run

The high school cross country season is not too far off.Wednesday, Colts Neck's Ashley Higginson showed that she is ready for what could be a very special season for her and her Cougar teammates when she won the women's division of the Freehold Area Running Club's Summer Series 5K held at Battlefield State Park in Manalapan.

Higginson, who holds the Freehold Regional District record for Holmdel Park, circled the Battlefield course held inside the park in 18:51, the fastest time run this year in the series. Coming in second and third were two girls who figure to be her rivals come the fall; Freehold Township's tandem of Janel Parker (20:05) and Allyson Moskal (20:32), who finished second and third.

Overall, Higginson finished seventh in the race that had 96 finishers.

Wednesday's race also produced the fastest overall time of the summer as Adrian Clink posted a 16:38 in winning the men's race just ahead of ex-Freehold Township harrier Brian Brach, of The College of New Jersey. Current Patriot harrier Jack Tarpey was third (18:06).

Rounding out the Top 10 were: Abe Hamami (18:17), Chris Ernst (18:22), Jesse Arnstein (18:32), Higginson, Andrew Posen (19:11), Randy Spadola (19:31) and John Taylor (19:33).

Men's age group winners were: 15U, Hamami; 16-19 Ernst; 20-29, Todd Briggs (20:27); 30-39, Arnstein; 40-49, Bob Derringer (19:56); 50-59, Taylor; 60-69, John Kuhi (22:50); 70-79, and Jim Robbins (33:31).

Women's age group winners were: 15U, Anne Werkley (24:59); 16-19, Charlotte Walsh (21:48); 30-39, Megan Peterson (20:57); 40-49, Pam Spadola; and 50-59, Penny Litterio (30:20).

The Summer Series continues tonight with the featured 5K going off at 6:45 p.m. It is preceded by the Kid's Races (6) and the Mile Run (6:30).

The Summer Series has been extended to Aug. 9.

For more information on the FRAC and other events, call the club's hot line at (732) 431-2627 or log on to www.farcnj.com.