AREA WOMEN FARE WELL AT MIDLAND RUN
The Midland Run 15K [ web site - results ] always draw talent so it was no surprise to see Stephen Ondieki of Hackensack crossing the finish line first last Sunday. Ondieki, who was the winner of the New Jersey grand prix in 2004, finished in 49:40, well off a record for the course.
Runners reported being slowed by the unusually high humidity. The first
man from this area was Scott McCaffery of Morris Plains who finished eighth
in 51:02.
On the women’s side, the local runners were much more dominant. Caryn Heffernan, of Flemington was the winner in 56:55, but Megan O’Brien-Duerrin of Long Valley took second in 58:09. Linda Barry of Mendham, who is a previous winner of the race, finished fourth in 1:00:41 and Heather Gracie-Petty of Peapack placed sixth in 1:02:04.
Peter Allen, 45, of Morristown, who finished in 54:26 earned the ranking of 5th in the masters age graded division. On the masters women’s side Jane Parks, 52, of Morristown, who finished in 1:07:03 was ranked third woman in age grading. Barry and Gracie-Petty also placed in the top ten in age grading.
Allen was on the Sneaker Factory’s Men’s team. That club’s open men’s team captured third, while it’s M40 team was fourth and it’s M50 team was fifth. Their women’s team fared much better, winning the open women division and the W50 as well. In the W40 they placed second.
The other Morris area club, the Morris County Striders finished ahead of the Sneaker Factory in only one men’s division, the M40, although the Striders had a team in the M60 and Sneaker Factory did not. In the women’s divisions the Striders finished behind the Sneaker Factory in all divisions, except in the W60, where the Sneaker Factory had no team.
But the Striders, by virtue of having B teams that scored, increased their overall club points by 48 while the Sneaker Factory garnered 42. The club that all the others are chasing, the Raritan Valley Road Runners Club increased their lead so that position of the top three clubs remains the same - Raritan Valley, Morris County Striders and the Sneaker Factory. Today’s Run for Rachel, which is the open women’s 5K championship will offer each club the chance to move up, but the Sneaker Factory has to be considered the favorite.
WYETH 5K RUN WITH PRIDE A DIFFERENT ANIMAL
Races that do well have a niche. Strong competition and an all day picnic give the Midland Run two niches at least. In the case of the Wyeth 5K Run With Pride that takes place this Wednesday evening in Madison, the niche is the corporate runners. Corporate runners may very well be competitive runners, but a large percentage of the runners who turn out for their corporate team are happy to just complete three miles and share the camaraderie of their fellows.
Many of the companies that are located on the Giralda Farms corporate campus, where the race takes place, field teams. In 2004 there were six men’s teams, five women’s teams and sixteen co-ed teams. These teams are huge, with some having dozens of runners. Thanks to these teams, over 630 runners competed in 2004.
One change for 2005 has been to the date of the race. Normally held earlier in the month, this is the first time the Run With Pride has been held after the Midland Run. It just might be an added draw.
Runners can register and pick up their numbers at the Sneaker Factory in Millburn on Monday and Tuesday this week, and from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
Registration on site at Giralda Farms will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday and the race will go off at 6:30 p.m.
Originally published in the DAILY RECORD on Sunday, May 22, 2005
Copyright Madeline Bost, 2005