ST. PATTY'S 5K BRINGS OUT THE EAGER RUNNERS Close to 1,200 runners registered for the St. Patty's 5K that took place yesterday (Saturday) in Morris Township. Heavy traffic around Ginty Field was a prelude to the crowds that would later line the streets in Morristown for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Parading was not on the minds of the runners who burst off the starting line at 10:00 a.m. as they made their way out on the course that features a difficult hill after the first mile. Richard Cornwell, 24, of White Hall Maryland, and Juan Martinez, 29, of Syracuse New York broke early from the pack to wage a two-man battle for first. "The two of us broke away at about a half mile," said Cornwell, who was in New Jersey with his fiancée Stephanie Snyder, who was a standout for Randolph High School a dozen years ago. |
"He (Martinez) lead it basically to the two and a half mile point," said Cornwell. "I'd surge and he'd surge ahead. There was a lot of back and forth."
Martinez, who said he is originally from New Jersey, came down to start up a racing career that has been dormant for eight years.
"It is my first race after training over the winter," said Martinez. Cornwell similarly offered that he just started training in January after an injury plagued career at Kent State.
In the end, Cornwell made the final surge that put him first across the line in 16:29 with Martinez trailing at 16:46. Kevin Ryan, 18, of Ringwood was third in 17 flat.
Bing a first timer on the challenging course was no detriment to Jenifer Martin, 36, of Clifton who had no trouble taking the women's race in 18:48.
"It is challenging," said Martin. "It was a little windy today and after mile one, at about mile one and a half there was a little hill. That was a little challenging and dropped my time down. But the downhill afterward makes up for that tough hill."
Elizabeth Campbell, 17, of Colonia finished in second place in 19:18 and Jenny Herschberger, 30, of Ringwood was third in 19:29.
Herschberger and Martin compete on the Running Company team. Martin was the first scoring member on the team last Sunday at the Newark Distance Classic 20K. She said the team is looking to be contenders in this year's USATF-NJ team grand prix.
Gary Rosenberg of Morris Township, is careful to say that he is guiding the Running Company women's team, and not actually coaching. He said that his goal is to help the team to sweep the top five spots in the New Balance Grand Prix, or at least put three or four in the top five.
"They did well last week," said Rosenberg, referring to the Distance Classic. "I think we had four girls in the top eight."
"We were not as organized last year," said Martin. "We tried to do as well as we could, but this year Gary is trying to organize us better; giving us workouts, guiding us through what we should be preparing for at each race. Hopefully with Gary's guidance we can get up there in the grand prix standings."
"I'm not telling them what to do day to day," said Rosenberg. "I'm giving them workouts. Some of them are training for Boston so I'm trying to help them get ready for that."
Rosenberg has been dealing with injuries in recent years but had a good race at the Classic last Sunday and ran pain free for the first time in recent memory. He placed eleventh overall with a time of 1:13:31 and is expecting to improve in the weeks ahead.
"I was hurt almost all of last year," said Rosenberg. "So now I'm actually healthy but I am just way out of shape."
"I'm hoping by May I can start racing somewhere near where I used to be," he said. I'm going to start hitting pr's again this year."
FREEHOLD ST. PADDY'S TEN MILE MARCH 30TH
Next up in the championship line-up is the Freehold St. Paddy's Ten Miler in two weeks. After the Newark race it is clear that this will be a very different team grand prix thanks to new clubs entering the fray.
The Madison Rose City Runners had mens and womens teams in all divisions except for the 60 to 69. The Geezers, from Randolph, had two men's teams, and from Bergen County was a new women's team, sponsored by Road Runners Sports. In addition, clubs that had previously had teams in only one or two divisions filled many more spots. Eleven clubs fielded 59 teams, by my count. This could be a very interesting year.
Originally published by the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey on Sunday, March 16, 2008
Copyright, Madeline Bost, 2008
