December 8, 2024, Ridgefield Park, NJ: Shore AC harriers prepare for the final team race on the USATF-NJ Association's team competition calendar: the All School Special Needs 5K co-ed team race.  Kneeling, left to right: Mike Salamone, Luz Ravines, Scott Linnell and Rebecca Keenan.  Standing, left to right: John Larkin, Chris Moye, Miles Hersey, Leslie Nowicki, Przemek Nowicki, John Delaney, Reno Stirrat and Susan Stirrat.

Shore AC Results for the 2024 All School Special Needs 5K Co-Ed Team Race

Race date: December 8, 2024                                              Full results from CompuScore
​                                                                                             Photo Album by Jason Timochko.
                                                                                             Link to the race web site.
                         
SHORE AC CO-ED TEAM RESULT:

  2     SHORE AC                                460.28 Average: 76.71
     12.Michael Salamone      Ringwood,NJ           65 M 16             867     20:01    82.81*
     15.Miles Hersey              Hazlet,NJ                 62 M 16             829     20:17    79.56*
     35.Reno Stirrat               Rockaway,NJ            70 M 16             817     22:21    77.96*
     22.Rebecca Keenan        Mount Arlington,NJ   50 F 16             847     21:08    77.95*
     90.Susan Stirrat              Rockaway, NJ           69 F 16             818     27:54    74.42*
     75.Leslie Nowicki            Holmdel,NJ               61 F 16             820     26:18    71.15*
     80.Przemek Nowicki       Holmdel,NJ               80 M 16             821     27:12    76.22
     53.Ken Wilson                 Rumson,NJ              72 M 16             967     23:44    75.33
       2.John Larkin                Sparta, NJ                35 M 16             833     17:33    74.33
     45.Scott Linnell               Colts Neck, NJ          68 M 16             811     23:16    73.26
​     10.Christopher Moye       Oak Ridge, NJ          44 M 16             849     19:36    71.08
     28.John Delaney             Toms River,NJ          55 M 16              804     21:31    70.65
     86.Luz Gladys Ravines    Elizabeth,NJ             63 F 16              803     27:35    69.56
       5.Frank M. Novak          Wayne,NJ                 32 M 16             816     18:46    68.62
   194.Bill Indek                     Bloomfield,NJ           77 M 16             957      53:45   36.16

Shore AC Nearly Clinches Series in Exciting Co-Ed Team Finale

Although close may count only in horseshoes and grenades, it was a thrilling race nonetheless.  With first place in the 2024 USATF-NJ Association's Co-Ed Team Grand Prix on the line, Shore AC and Fleet Feet / Essex put on a show.  A Shore AC win would clinch the series for the harriers in the white singlets.  On the other hand, a Fleet Feet victory would leave the two clubs embraced in a series tie.  Which outcome would ensue?

Mike Salamone launched the Shore AC campaign on the right foot, scorching the hilly course in a time of 20:01 to age grade at 82.81%.  Tacoma-bound Miles Hersey tuned up for Club XC Nationals by ripping a huge 20:17, which equated to a superb 79.56%.  Reno Stirrat shook of a case of sniffles to pound out a stunning 22:21 on his 70-year-old legs, contributing a magnificent 77.96% to the cause.

With its top three age-grading men now accounted for, the question became whether Shore AC could gather enough age grading points from its best three women to beat Fleet Feet.  But having only four women total on its roster, none of whom had approached 80% PLP in recent memory, things did not look promising for Shore AC.  Well, up stepped Rebecca Keenan!  She clobbered a towering 21:08 to finish second among all women and nail a surprise 77.95% age grading.  Susan Stirrat followed with a strong 27:54 on the hilly course to deliver a valuable 74.42% AG.  When Leslie Nowicki powered across the finish line in 26:18, the team scoring was completed with her fine 71.15%.

A steady stream of excellent backup performances ensured a high finish for Shore AC.  80-year-old Przemek Nowicki led the way (76.22%), followed by Ken Wilson (75.33%), John Larkin (74.33% and second overall in 17:33), Scott Linnell (73.26%), Chris Moye (71.08%), John Delaney (70,65%), Luz Ravines (69.56%), Frank Novak (68.62% and fifth overall in 18:46) and Shore AC legend Bill Indek (36.16%).  Hooray to all of our athletes!

But did our average score of 77.31% get the job done?  Alas, no.  Fleet Feet / Essex edged us by four-one-hundredths of a point, compiling a 77.35% average score for the win.  That left each club with two victories and two second-place finishes in the four-race Co-Ed Grand Prix.  Even the tie-breaking rule left them dead even, as the two clubs battled to a 2-2 draw in head-to-head competition.  Congratulations to the members of both clubs for an exciting Co-Ed drama!

December 8, 2024, Ridgefield Park, NJ: Reno Stirrat (right) and Hugo Del Bove (left) proudly display their age group medals at the post-race awards ceremony.  Stirrat place first on the men's 70-74 age group.  Photograph by Susan Stirrat.

SHORE AC INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:

Shore AC athletes among the top 3 overall in their genders.
      Name                                   Age       Place                        Time          Age Grading​​​

• John Larkin                       35        2nd MOverall            17:33             74.33%
• Rebecca Keenan               50        2nd FOverall             21:06             77.95%

Shore AC athletes among the top 3 in their age groups.
      Name                                   Age       Place                        Time          Age Grading

• A. Moye                              10        3rd M10-19                23:41             64.84%
• Frank M. Novak                 32        1st M30-34                18:46             68.4%
• Christopher Moye             44        1st M40-44                19:36             71.08%
• Miles Hersey                       62       3rd M60-64                20:17             79.56%
• Leslie Nowicki                     61       3rd F60-64                 26:18             71.15%
• Michael Salamone             64        1st M65-69                20:01             82.81%   <== #2 age grading among all men
• Reno Stirrat                       70        1st M70-74                22:21             77.96%
• ​Ken Wilson                        72        2nd M70-74               23:44             75.33%
• Bill Indek                             77        3rd M75-79                53:45             36.16%
• Przemek Nowicki               80        1st M80-84                27:12             76.22%

Shore AC athletes among the top 10 in their age groups.
      Name                                   Age       Place                        Time          Age Grading​

• John Delaney                      55        5th M55-59                21:30             70.65%
• Luz Gladys Ravines            63        4th F60-64                 27:30             69.56%
• Scott Linnell                        68        4th M65-69                23:16             73.26%
• Susan Stirrat                       69        4th F65-69                 27:54             74.42%