June 8, 2025, Glen Ridge, NJ: A burgeoning SAC crew gathers pre-race for a group photo.  Kneeling, left to right: Pam Ricker, Luz Ravines, Scott Linnell, Tammy Grossberndt, Karen dos Santos and Diana Stavrou.  Second row, left to right: Jamie Button, Susan Stirrat, Mark Minervini, Nora Cary, Suzanne La Burt, Diane Rothman, Mauro Castro and Hal Leddy.  Third row, left to right: Denis Keenan, Peter Monaco, Mo Yaprak, Alberto Perez, Frank Fazio, Luis Absalon, Mike DiLeva, Donna Grocki, Chris Peterson, Pete Auteri and Joe Maranzani.

Shore AC Results for the 2025 Fitzgerald's Lager 5K Road Race

Race date: June 8, 2025                                                        Team and individual results from Compuscore.
​                                                                                              Link to the race web site.
                         
SHORE AC TEAM RESULTS:

40+ Women:

​  2     SHORE AC "A" WOM 40                     1:00:16.06        AVERAGE:  20:05.35
     53.Karen Dos Santos             Belvidere,NJ                43 F       386               18    18:37.32*
    112.Lindsay Bergman              Montclair,NJ                44 F       386             724    20:42.33*
    119.Allison Lemanski               Ramsey,NJ                 46 F       386             843    20:56.41*
    228.Lori Kilmurray                   Glen Rock,NJ              48 F       386             638    23:09.01
 
  5     SHORE AC "B" WOM 40                     1:06:55.27        AVERAGE:  22:18.42
    127.Rebecca Keenan             Mount Arlington,NJ       50 F       387 436       305   21:12.53*
    174.Ann Kim                           Glen Rock,NJ               56 F       387 436       346   22:07.74*
    243.Diana Stavrou                  Scotch Plains,NJ          43 F       387              875   23:35.00*
    312.Kim Anicito                       Parlin,NJ                      45 F       387                72   25:01.27
    366.Patricia Kavanagh            Saddle Brook,NJ          59 F       387              279   25:50.65

50+ Women:

  2     SHORE AC "A" WOM 50                     1:01:52.87        AVERAGE:  20:37.62
     71.Suzanne La Burt               Greenwood Lake,NY    62 F       436 486      344   19:35.11*
    124.Nora Cary                        Morristown,NJ              70 F       436 486      851   21:05.23*
    127.Rebecca Keenan             Mount Arlington,NJ       50 F       387 436      305   21:12.53*
    174.Ann Kim                           Glen Rock,NJ               56 F       387 436      346   22:07.74
 
  4     SHORE AC "B" WOM 50                     1:07:59.98        AVERAGE:  22:39.99
    195.Donna Grocki                   Hammonton,NJ            65 F       437 486      728   22:33.45*
    201.Diane Rothman                Leonardo,NJ                66 F       437 486      434   22:43.09*
    202.Pamela Ricker                 Westfield,NJ                 60 F       437 486    1067   22:43.44*
    366.Patricia Kavanagh            Saddle Brook,NJ          59 F       387            279   25:50.65
 
 11     SHORE AC "C" WOM 50                     1:23:22.52        AVERAGE:  27:47.51
    360.Leslie Nowicki                  Holmdel,NJ                  62 F       438 487      295   25:42.47*
    409.Susan Stirrat                    Rockaway,NJ               69 F       438 487        39   27:04.09*
    588.Tammy Grossberndt         Flanders,NJ                 61 F       438 487    1086   30:35.96*
    708.Luz Gladys Ravines         Elizabeth,NJ                63 F        438 487    1048   34:20.74

60+ Women:

  1     SHORE AC "A" WOM 60                     1:03:13.79        AVERAGE:  21:04.60
     71.Suzanne La Burt               Greenwood Lake,NY    62 F       436 486      344   19:35.11*
    124.Nora Cary                        Morristown,NJ              70 F       436 486      851   21:05.23*
    195.Donna Grocki                   Hammonton,NJ            65 F       437 486      728   22:33.45*
    201.Diane Rothman                Leonardo,NJ                66 F       437 486      434   22:43.09
    202.Pamela Ricker                 Westfield,NJ                 60 F       437 486    1067   22:43.44
 
  5     SHORE AC "B" WOM 60                     1:23:22.52 AVERAGE:  27:47.51
    360.Leslie Nowicki                  Holmdel,NJ                  62 F       438 487      295   25:42.47*
    409.Susan Stirrat                    Rockaway,NJ               69 F       438 487        39   27:04.09*
    588.Tammy Grossberndt         Flanders,NJ                 61 F       438 487    1086   30:35.96*
    708.Luz Gladys Ravines         Elizabeth,NJ                63 F        438 487    1048   34:20.74

June 8, 2025, Glen Ridge, NJ: Leslie and Przemek Nowicki smile after completing excellent races.  Sisters Laura Guerin and Karen dos Santos along with Diana Stavrou join in the post-race merriment.

Shore AC Masters Ladies Brew a Dandy at Lager 5K

Masters women's racing, like beer drinking, has come a long way.  This year's Fitzgerald's Lager 5K provided a perfect example. Years ago, beer options were as sparse as, well, masters-age women in a road race.  You had the mainstays like Miller and Budweiser.  Teens drank Rolling Rock (back when the legal age was 18 in most states).  Schaefer's aired the best jingle ("...is the one beer to have when you're having more than one!").  Coors put Colorado on the map.  But by today's standards, selections were severely limited.

Fast forward to today, and beer aficionados enjoy a plethora of libations from which to choose.  Microbreweries everywhere offer their special versions of quality IPAs, stouts, lights and so on.  Likewise, the quantity and quality of female masters harriers have blossomed compared to the days of disco.  Consider these statistics from this year's Lager race: of the 13 women's 40+ teams, 9 had average times below 23 minutes.  Within the 16-team women's 50+ field, the top 5 squads also had average times below 23 minutes.  Individually, in the women's 65-69 age group, the top 5 finishers all notched times of under 23 minutes -- and achieved age gradings above 86%!  Insane!

W60+ Teams:

How delightful it was to observe so many Shore AC singlets within those female masters ranks!  That theme of quantity and quality applied to our ladies in white as well.  Let's start with a chronicling of the Shore AC women's 60+ crews.  Blessed with nine ladies of the proper age, we entered "A" and "B" teams.  The "A" crew flattened the rest of the 60+ field, staffed as it was by 5 of the 8 fastest sexagenarians in the race.  Shore AC 2024 Female LDR Athlete of the Year Suzanne La Burt forged the way, bending the 5K course to her will with a sintering time of 19:35.  SAC 2024 Athlete of the Year Nora Cary came screaming down the track next, with sparking flying from her wheels as she crossed in 21:05.  She missed her own 70-74 age group world record of 20:56 by just 9 seconds.  The final three team members dashed across the threshold all within 10 seconds of each other.  Third scorer Donna Grocki demonstrated proper navigation to her car's faulty GPS (which nearly caused her to miss the race) by cruising the streets of Glen Ridge in a flawless 22:33.  Diane Rothman and Pam Ricker broke the timing plane almost side by side in 22:43 to provide outstanding backup.  The team's average time of 21:04 outpaced the next bast team by more than 3 minutes.  What a win!

Our Shore AC women's 60+ "B" team bubbled up some froth of their own.  The placed fifth out of eight teams, finishing tops among all 60+ "B" teams.  Leading lady Leslie Nowicki keeps getting better with age.  Her marvelous time of 25:42 netted her an impressive 72.78% age grading.  Fabled Boston Marathoner Susan Stirrat proved that she can still rev her engines, crossing in a solid 27:04 as second scorer.  Dedicated newcomer Tammy Grossberndt powered through the misty air to reach the finish line in 30:35 and complete team scoring.  Profile in courage Luz Ravines sustained an 11-minute pace despite substantial back pain, thus supporting her teammates with a 34:20 insurance policy.  Brava, ladies! 

W50+ Teams:

We knew going in that Garden State Track Club would pose a monumental challenge in the 50+ team competition.  After all, they had won the USATF Masters National 10K race at Dedham, Massachusetts, in April, relegating us to second place.  Though this was a different day, the script played out the same way.  But we made them earn it!  With La Burt and Cary spearheading our charge, Rebecca Keenan injected a supercharged 21:12 into our spirited corps to complete team scoring.   Freshman phenomenon Ann Kim contributed a robust 22:07 as backup.  The "A" team's average of 20:37 per runner lagged behind GSTC's by only 22 seconds.  Superbly done, ladies!!!

Lest you think that the "A" team is all that matters, never discount the impact of our "B" and "C" teams!  Although they might not score in the USATF-NJ Team Grand Prix, not only can they displace the "A" teams of other clubs, but they also add to the Shore AC score in the Club Grand Prix.  Our "B" and "C" teams did both at Lager!  The "B" team rocked Glen Ridge, placing fourth and beating "A" teams from 6 other clubs.  Scorers Grocki, Rothman and Ricker set an average time of 22:39.  Meanwhile, as "B" team insurance runner, former NJ Pacer Patricia Kavanagh made her first race for Shore AC memorable, nailing a fine 25:50.  This was also her last race as a 59-year-old.  Welcome to the 60+ club, Patricia!
​ 
Meanwhile, the Shore AC women's 50+ "C" team created waves of their own.  Though populated entirely by ladies over the age of 60, they secured 11th place within a field of 16 50+ teams.  In doing so, they beat "A" teams from two other clubs.  The questing quartet of Nowicki, Stirrat, Grossberndt and Ravines earned a point for our fair club in the Club Grand Prix.  Well done, ladies!

W40+ Teams:

​Younger age groups of course mean faster crowds.  Like high end craft beers, you better watch out!  As with the 50+ competition, Garden State topped us in the 40+ team brew-off.  But, again, it wasn't by all that much.  Their team average of 19:43 was just 21 seconds ahead of our "A" team's average of 20:05.  Speed demon Karen dos Santos blasted our crew into orbit with a supernova-style 18:37.  Karen would have finished first among female masters had a demigoddess named Roberta Groner (16:35 at age 47) not jumped into the same race.  Vaunted teammate Lindsay Bergman fired her thrusters to cross in 20:42 and boost the team to a higher altitude.  Rookie sensation Allison Lemanski then blasted her engines for a shot at the moon while registering a 20:56.  Fellow freshman phenom Lori Kilmurray flew in under the arch as backup runner in 23:09 to guarantee a great team score.  Superbly run, ladies!

Not satisfied with just one great 40+ team performance, our gang of gals grabbed even more gusto with a fifth-place "B" team finish!  With Keenan and Kim headlining this quintet, globetrotter Diana Stavrou sunk a splendid 23:35 to secure a superb team score.  Zoology specialist Kim Anicito continued her return to fitness with an encouraging 25:01 as first backstop, while Kavanagh cradled the crew in her hands as second insurance runner.   Our "B" squad beat the "A" teams of four other clubs.  Way to go, ladies!

Our women's teams now hold a firm lead in the USATF-NJ PMAG LDR Team Grand Prix in Open through 60+ categories.  Next up is an Open Men race at President's Cup on June 23.   Attention will then turn to the July 19 Big Bang Mile, where masters women and masters men will vie for top team honors.

GOOOOOOOO SHORE AC!!!

SHORE AC INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:

Clink your mugs and yell "Prost!" for these tremendous Shore AC athletes who finished among the top ten in their respective genders:
      Name                                     Age       Place                        Gun Time         Age Grading​​​​

• Troy Hill                              23        1st MOverall                  15:11                  84.32%
• Karen dos Santos              43        4th FOverall                   18:37                  80.54%
• ​Suzanne La Burt                62         9th FOverall                  19:35                  95.49%

Tap a keg for these Shore AC athletes who scored among the top 3 in their 5-year age groups.
      Name                                     Age       Place                        Gun Time         Age Grading​​​

• Lindsay Bergman               44        2nd F40-44                    20:42                  73.15%
• Allison Lemanski                  46        3rd F45-49                     20:56                  73.88%
• Luis Absalon                      51        2nd M50-54                   18:06                   81.27%
• Alberto Perez                       61        3rd M60-64                    19:08                  83.68%
• Pamela Ricker                     60        3rd F60-64                     22:43                  80.23%
• Ed Kavanagh                       67        3rd M65-69                    21:33                  78.35%
• Donna Grocki                      65         3rd F65-69                     22:33                  86.32%
• Harold Leddy                     79         1st M70-74                    20:48                  83.73%
• Peter Auteri                         73         3rd M70-74                    22:53                  79.19%
• Nora Cary                           70        1st F70-79                     21:05                  99.06%
• Carl Richko                        75         2nd M75-79                   28:19                  66.07%
• Przemek Nowicki                80        1st M80-99                    25:55                  79.83%​​

Now pop open a brewski for these Shore AC harriers who placed among the top 10 in their age groups!
      Name                                     Age       Place                        Gun Time         Age Grading​​

• Mark Minervini                     32        9th M30-39                     17:03                  75.36%
• Chris Peterson                     41        4th M40-44                     17:47                  76.56%
• Joshua Dueger                    43        9th M40-44                     19:49                  69.75%
• Lori Kilmurray                      46        7th F45-49                      23:09                  68.29%
• Kim Anicito                          45         9th F45-49                     25:01                  61.17%
• Robert Riordan                    51        6th M50-54                     19:42                  74.67%
• Denis Keenan                      50        7th M50-54                     19:54                  73.34%
• Murat Yaprak                       54        8th M50-54                      20:50                  72.36%
• Rebecca Keenan                 50         4th F50-54                      21:12                  76.25%
• John Delaney                       56        6th M55-59                      20:30                 74.77%
• Ann Kim                               56        5th F55-59                       22:07                 78.41%
• Mauro Castro                       63        6th M60-64                      21:38                 75.27%
• Mike Heal                             64        9th M60-64                      22:16                 73.79%
• Leslie Nowicki                      62        7th F60-64                       25:42                 72.78%
• Tammy Grossberndt             61        9th F60-64                       30:35                 60.37%
• Jamie Button                        67        6th M65-69                      23:01                 73.36%
• Diane Rothman                    66        5th F65-69                       22:43                 86.88%
• Susan Stirrat                        69        8th F65-69                       27:04                 76.07%
• Bill Bosmann                        74        8th M70-74                      27:28                 67.00%