ASBURY PARK - After 55 years, new chapters keep adding to the lore of the Asbury Park Polar Bear Races.

The authors include such notable figures on the statewide running and racewalking circuits as Justin Scheid of Succasunna, Beth Marzigliano of Belmar, John Soucheck of Little Silver and Maria Paul of Long Branch.

Their triumphs Saturday in the Polar Bear event - Scheid and Marzigliano in the 5K run, Soucheck and Paul in the 10-mile racewalk - ensured their places in the annals of this longest-going event on the busy-busy, year-round Shore area calendar of footracing competition. 

A year-end feature at Holiday time since their origin in 1964, the Polar Bear Racewalks have endured virtually every form of meteorological extreme over the years - everything from rain and snow to the blizzard of 2010 to the oncoming Superstorm Sandy of 2012.  But after Friday's all-day rain, some 400-plus Polar Bear athletes welcomed the mild (temperatures in the 50's) but gusty conditions on the boardwalk Saturday.

Scheid, the former Georgetown University star, capped it all by racing off with over-all honors in the 5K and crossed the finish line just south of Convention Hall in 15:42, a clocking that moved him to sixth place on the all-time Polar Bear ranking list, a stellar roster still topped by mile great and USA Olympian Marty Liquori's 15:23 dating back to 1975.  In the process, he relegated another USA Olympian, Bill Reilly of Oceanport, who'd run 15:45 in 1971, down to seventh all-time.

"The wind was a little rough at times, but that was not a huge problem, considering all the things that I know have happened here over the years," said Scheid, smiling, after his decisive decision over 2017 champion Joseph Amoresano of Hoboken (who ran 16:34) and third-placer Eric Laurel of Portland. Oregon (16:57.)

Marzigliano, meanwhile was running a brilliant race of her own.  With an 18:13  clocking, she led all women and outran all but the top seven men.  Just one previous Polar Bear women's titlist - ex-Villanova star Amanda Marino, who'd run 17:41 in 2016 - has ever been quicker on the Asbury Park boardwalk.  Her leading challengers were Kiera Russo of Eatontown (18:43) and 8-year-old sensation Ava Johnson of Howell (20:42.)

The co-featured 10-mile racewalk had opened the program at 10 a.m. and multi-past champions Soucheck and Paul were the class of the field.  Soucheck led the men with a 1-hour, 38-minute, 22-second performance and Paul outwalked all the women in 2:02:56.  For both, it meant elevated positions in the Polar Bear archives.

It was an eye-opening 16th all-time Polar Bear walk win for Soucheck, and the fifth Polar Bear win for Paul.  Soucheck now has a wide lead on former Toms River resident Ray Funkhouser (a 10-time past Polar Bear winner, dating back to 1983) while Paul shares the women's all-time Polar Bear lead with Panse Geer of Hazlet and Sherry Brosnahan of Bridgewater.  All three have now walked to five Polar Bear wins.

Special Polar Bear honors were reserved for Middletown's Dr. Harold "Harry" Nolan, and Raritan resident Eliot Collins.   Nolan, who placed 76th in the 5K at 24:42, added to one of the longest-running streaks anywhere in the sport. It was his 55th consecutive Polar Bear completion - he's never missed one - and some of his past finishes included return trips home from Nebraska, Utah and New Hampshire.  

Noted journalist-author Marc Bloom - the former St. Rose High School cross country coach - was the only 70-up runner over the line (in 22:21) ahead of Nolan.

Collins won the Polar Bear "daily double" title, racewalking 10 miles in 2:15:10, then running 5K in 39:53.

Veteran runner Dave DeMonico - adorned as Santa Claus - was a big part of the event again, too.   After his National Anthem trumpet solo at the 5K race's start, his mid-race serenades put added bounce in every runner's stride. And when it was over, he led a small corps of runners in taking a quick ocean dip - the equivalent of a three-meter freestyle.

"It wasn't so bad going in, but you really felt it when you came out," said DeMonico.  "But that's a big part of the Polar Bear experience, too."

The races were again hosted and organized by Shore Athletic Club volunteers, led by Middletown's Erin O'Neill.  Champions Scheid, Marziigliano, Soucheck and Paul. and super-vets Bloom and Nolan, are all Shore AC members.

By ELLIOTT DENMAN

LOS ALTOS, CALIFORNIA - The authoritative Track and Field News world and U.S. rankings for the 2018 season have been posted and once again Shore AC "alumni" and current Varsity Team athletes have earned prominent positions of honor.

Once again atop the USA women's 800-meter list is Neptune's own Ajee' Wilson, our distinguished Shore AC alumna.

Already an eight-time USA champion, a 2016 Olympian and past World Youth and Junior champion, Temple University graduate Ms. Wilson is ranked #1 in the nation at the two-lap distance and #3 in the world.   Only her chief rivals on the global circuit, Caster Semenya of South Africa and Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi, are listed ahead of international star Wilson in the World rankings.  Semenya was also named women's athlete of the year by Track and Field News, the publication called "the bible of the sport."

Seven current Shore AC Varsity Team athletes have gained U.S. top-10 rankings in their specialities.

With the wheels in motion - hopefully - to get the women's 50-Kilometer Racewalk onto the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games program, 50K pioneer Erin Taylor-Talcott of Shore AC is ranked #2 in the nation and clubmate Susan Randall #3 over the ultra-tough 31.1-mile distance.  Taylor-Talcott's promotional efforts over a long period of years are now paying off as the 50K seems destined to become the 24th Olympic event for women - matching the men's total - as the IAAF and IOC stride to their avowed goals of assuring total gender equity.

On the men's side of the sport, Shore AC pole vaulter Scott Houston, javelin thrower Mike Brazzel and racewalkers Anthony "A.J." Gruttadauro, Michael Mannozzi and Dave Talcott have all gained top-10 U.S. positions.

Houston, the USA national indoor champion, was ranked #3 in the pole vault, back only of World #1 Sam Kendricks and Chris Nilsen.

Brazzel, the former Georgian Court University star, made his Shore AC debut season a big one and ranked #8 in the javelin, on a USA list topped by another Jerseyan, Curtis Thompson of Florence and Mississippi State University.

The men's 50K racewalk list sees Shore AC's Gruttadauro as #3 and Talcott as #6.   In the men's 20K racewalk rankings, it's Shore AC's Gruttadauro #7 and Mannozzi #9.

Donovan Catholic HS graduate and UCLA sophomore Alyssa Wilson of Howell Township gained a National #10 ranking in the women's hammer throw.  Of course, she's always a triple threat in every major meet - having excelled in the shot put and discus, too at such major meets as the Pac-10, NCAA, USA 20-under and World 20-Under Championships.

Many other New Jerseyans feature prominently in the rankings.   Among them are:

• Mount Olive's Keturah Orji, World #4 and USA #1 in the women's triple jump, and USA #4 in the long jump.
• Dunellen's Sydney McLaughlin, World #5 and USA #3 in the women's 400 hurdles. and USA #7 at 200 meters and #10 at 400 meters.
• Montvale's Zack Bazile, World #10 and USA #4 in the men's long jump.
• Princeton University alumna Imani Oliver, USA #3 in the women 's triple jump. 
• East Brunswick's Sam Mattis, USA #3 in the men's discus.
• Rutgers grad Rudy Winkler, USA #3 in the men's hammer throw. 
• Edison's Monique Riddick, the Fairleigh Dickinson coach and former Monmouth assistant coach, USA #5 in the women's shot put.
• Haddonfield's Marielle Hall, USA #5 in the women's 5,000 meters.
• Deptford's Tim Van Liew, #6 in the men's javelin throw. 
• Old Bridge's Travis Mahoney, #8 USA in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase.
• Dunellen's Taylor McLaughlin - Sydney's brother - USA #9 in the men's 400 hurdles.
• Princeton University's Adam Kelly, #9 USA in the men's hammer throw.

By Elliott Denman

​

NEW YORK, November 26, 2018 – The 112th NYRR Millrose Games are scheduled for Saturday, February 9th, and the Jack and Lewis Rudin Women’s 800m race promises to be one of the highlights of the meet. Four competitors from last year’s world record-setting race in the 4x800m relay are set to return to the New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory.

Highlighting the field is local superstar Ajeé Wilson, the 2017 world championship bronze medalist, and the hero of the American relay team that set the 4x800m world record. Wilson is the outdoor American record holder in the 800m, with a personal best of 1:55.61. Wilson will certainly have her eyes set on claiming the indoor American 800m record as her own.
“I’m looking forward to a great race at Millrose,” said Wilson, of Neptune Township, N.J. “I know that it will be a tough race with the talent and strength of the other girls running.”

Victory will indeed not come easily for Wilson, as she will be challenged by Jamaican standout Natoya Goule. The Commonwealth Games bronze medalist had a tremendous 2018 season, running a Jamaican record of 1:56.15 at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco, a race where she bested Wilson. Goule will look to continue to establish herself as one of the best 800m runners in the world at Millrose.

Also in the field is Charlene Lipsey, who ran on the record-setting relay team, and is also Wilson’s training partner and the current indoor American record holder. Lipsey ran her record-setting time of 1:58.64 at Millrose in 2017, and built off that momentum to make the world championship final that summer, where she finished seventh. Another American name to look out for is 2018 breakout star Ce’Aira Brown. Brown ran a terrific third leg on the runner-up relay team at Millrose last year, and later went on to break two minutes for the first time, running 1:58.01 in Sweden.

The Rudin family has a long and distinguished history supporting the sport of running and New York City. During the 111th NYRR Millrose Games the Rudin family sponsored the women’s 4x800 relay which culminated in a world record.
“We are excited to again be a part of this iconic sporting event in New York City, the 112th NYRR Millrose Games at The Armory,” said Eric and Bill Rudin. “We believe the Jack & Lewis Rudin Women’s 800m in a few months will match the excitement of last February’s world-record breaking performance by a superb USA team.

“Our fathers were extremely devoted to New York City and the sport of running. What better way to add to their legacy than for their names to be associated with this prestigious indoor track & field meet.”
“The Armory is delighted to announce the continued generous support by The Rudin Family- New York City's First Family of Running, for the Jack and Lewis Rudin Women's 800m featuring many of the most renowned runners in the world, during the 2019 NYRR Millrose Games,” Armory Foundation Co-President Rita Finkel added.  

The Jack & Lewis Rudin’s Women’s 800m is just one of many loaded events at the 112th NYRR Millrose Games, the most historic indoor track meet in the world. The men’s shot put will feature Olympic gold and silver medalists Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs throwing from the center of the track. Top athletes for the Men’s 800m were recently announced, including the dynamic trio of Clayton Murphy, Michael Saruni and Donavan Brazier. The night’s signature events are the prestigious NYRR Men’s and Women’s Wanamaker Mile.

Entry announcements will continue leading up to the February 9th event and high school and youth qualifiers are determined during the January 9th NYRR Millrose Games Trials at The Armory.
For more information on the 112th NYRR Millrose Games and to purchase tickets please go to www.nyrrmillrosegames.org.
Follow The Armory on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @armorynyc, or go to ArmoryTrack.com or Armory.NYC.
​
About the NYRR Millrose Games
With a storied history that spans more than a century, the NYRR Millrose Games is one of track and field’s most prestigious and enduring annual events. A New York City sports staple, the meet moved to the New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory in Washington Heights in 2012 after having called Madison Square Garden home from 1914 to 2011. The Games—established by employees of Wanamaker’s Department Store—features track and field’s most prolific male and female stars as well as collegiate, high school, club and youth competitors. More than 200 athletes share the distinction of being both Millrose and Olympic champions. In November of 2013, New York Road Runners became the title sponsor of the NYRR Millrose Games, which is owned by The Armory Foundation. The NYRR Millrose Games is a USATF television series event and The Armory Foundation appreciates the support of USA Track and Field.

About The Armory Foundation
The Armory is a New York City non-profit institution, with the mission of "Keeping Kids on Track." Each season The Armory— the proud home of the NYRR Millrose Games — hosts more than 100 track & field meets and welcomes more than 220,000 athlete visits. Among its many youth sports and educational programs, including the acclaimed Armory College Prep program, The Armory runs the leading collegiate indoor track meet with the Dr. Sander Invitational, and hosts the largest high school indoor track meets with this year's 25th Hispanic Games, The New Balance Games, and the New Balance Nationals Indoors.  The Armory also runs NewYork - Presbyterian ColumbiaDoctors Indoor Marathon presented by New York Road Runners, which is the world’s largest indoor marathon relay. The Armory is also the home to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame and dozens of very large education-focused events. For more: Please visit Armory.NYC and ArmoryTrack.com.

About the Rudin Family
The Rudin family has long supported running in New York City and is best known for its Samuel Rudin Trophy, presented since 1976 to the winning male and female runners in the TCS New York City Marathon. Samuel Rudin was an accomplished runner and member of the Class of 1918 at City College, not far from The Armory in Washington Heights where the Millrose Games takes place. His sons, Jack and Lewis, honored their late father by becoming the first sponsors of the five borough New York City Marathon. Now their sons, Eric and Bill, along with their children and grandchildren, carry on this tradition by naming the Women’s 800m for Jack and Lewis Rudin at the 112th NYRR Millrose Games. The Rudin family’s real estate holdings are comprised of 16 office towers with more than 10 million square feet of Class A space, and 18 apartment buildings, all in New York City.
--
Erin O'Neill

Director, Shore Athletic Club
Facilitator, The Suppers Programs

Shore AC mined gems today at the By Hook Or By Crook 12K USATF -NJ Team Championship race on Sandy Hook.  We dug up 53 club points, more than any other club besides (of course) Garden State Track Club.  This fortune in points accrued from solid placement by our teams across the many age groups.  Here were our (still unofficial) achievements:

• Men’s Open:                 5th       6 points
• Men’s 40+:                    4th       7 points
• Men’s 50+:                    3rd       8 points
• Men’s 60+:                    1st        10 points
• Women’s Open            3rd       8 points
• Women’s 40+:              4th       5 points
• Women’s 50+:              3rd       5 points
• Women’s 60+:              2nd      4 points

 
Two new women’s ran their inaugural races for Shore AC: 37-year-old Kiera Russo (2nd female overall in 46:57) and 33-year-old Jessica Steedle.  Welcome aboard, Kiera and Jessica!!!
 
A team picture and unofficial results can be found on the SAC LDR web site here:
   http://s417502011.initial-website.com/usatf-long-distance-running-teams/2018-hook-12k-results/
A race report will follow if I can find the time. 😉
 
What’s next?
 
Another USATF-NJ club/team championship race – and another chance for Shore AC to amass club points and keep moving up in the USATF-NJ Grand Prix standings – occurs this coming Sunday.

• Sunday, September 16, 8:30 am: Newport-Liberty Half Marathon, Jersey City: All Men and Women
  • Race web site: click here.  $52 for USATF members until 9/12 11:59 pm, $65 race day.

 NOTE: The Newport HM will be the last team race for women and for U40 men until the USATF-NJ 8K XC race on October 21.  Masters men will have the Little Silver 5K race on October 1.

• Sunday, September 30, 9:30 am: Little Silver Classic 5K, Little Silver: Masters Men
  • Race web site: click here.
  • On-line registration: click here.   $32 for USATF members until 9/17, $40 thereafter.
  • Status of Entries: click here.
• Sunday, October 21, 10:00 am: USATF-NJ 8K XC Meet, Deer Path Park, Readington: All Men and Women
  • On-line registration: click here.  $25 for USATF members until 8/17?; $30? race day.
  • Status of Entries: click here.

GOOOOOOOOOOO SHORE AC!!!!!
 
-Scott Linnell, age 62
Captain, SAC Long Distance Running Program

​SAC LDR Web Site: http://s417502011.initial-website.com/usatf-long-distance-running-teams/

By ELLIOTT DENMAN

NEW YORK, N.Y. – With no USATF National Club Championships (most unfortunately) on the 2018 schedule, Shore Athletic Club athletes descended on the USATF’s Eastern Regional Championships at the world-class Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, NYC, Sunday, July 22, 2018, and did a superb job of it in this meet that ranked as the biggest scored team event available to them all year.

In this meet that was scored 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 for each of the 20 events apiece for men and women (with only club-representing athletes garnering points),  thirty-five different club teams gathered from East of the Mississippi River and
Shore AC men and women led them all  by very large margins!

In men’s scoring, it was Shore AC on top with a total of 144 points (with  Central Park TC-NB second at 63 and Next Level AC third at 51.) In women’s team scoring, it was Shore AC on top with 127 points (with Rock City second at 68 and Next Level AC third at 62.)   It was a truly tremendous job by one and all – and the Shore AC scorers ranged from youngsters to the Masters (who set a USA age-65 relay record to cap it all!)

On the men’s side, our list of Shore AC gold medalists had Jeremy Bascom (10.43 100 after 10.40 heat); Calvon Bowden (14.71 110HH); Rich Luettchau (23:49 3000 racewalk); Brandon Jones (14.74 TJ) and our 4x100 (41.00) and
4x400 (3:27.73) relay teams. 

On the women’s side, Jenea McCammon led the way with double wins in the 100H (13.67) and 200 dash (23.99.)  Olga Kosichenko then won the 400 (56.42), Amarys Berry the shot put (13.73) and Veleisha Walker the discus (47.11.) And the list of Shore AC medalists and scorers rolled right on.

The men’s 100 was a feature event, with Shore AC producing five of the eight finalists.  Back of Jeremy Bascom’s 10.43 in places 4-5-6-7 were teammates Delano Davis (10.75 after 10.64 heat), Dorien Johnson (10.78 after 10.46 heat),
Brandon Jones (10.82 after 10.79 heat) and Kevin Thompson (10.88 after 10.82 heat.) It was a major pleasure welcoming Kevin back into the Shore AC lineup!

Aleigh McIntyre ranked 10th (10.83) and Matt Bernardo 35th (11.84) of 41 who ran.  The 200 saw Delano Davis (21.35) take the silver.  The 54-man field also saw Kevin Thompson rank 12th (22.31) and Desmond Howell 16th (22.79.) 

Garvey Moore (50.22) and Desmond Howell (50.47) ran 6-7 in the 400.

Team co-captain Larry Ramirez “stepped up” big time with gutsy, close-miss silver-medal performances in first the 400 hurdles (56.35) and 800 (1:56.47.)

Masters stars Jeff Conston added a ninth in the 1500 (4:39) and Barry Blake a sixth
(32:34) in the 5000 racewalk.

Brandon Jones’s busy day continued with his seventh in the LJ (6.78.)

Abel Gilet was a brilliant tripler in the throws, placing third in the discus (44.20), fourth in the
shot put (13.87) and fifth in the hammer (31.25.)

Michael Brazzel then notched a second in the javelin (65.86) – four weeks after his superb seventh in the USA Outdoor Nationals in Des Moines, Iowa.

And some of the most cheering news of all came in the concluding 4x400 relay. After Garvey Moore anchored the over-all 3:27.73 win, the Masters quartet of Emanuel Brody, John Kilduff, Ivan Black and Noah Perlis ran a scoring fourth place in
5:07.10 to set a USA men’s 65-up national record!! 

Meet announcer Dennis Kornfield lauded the record-breaking foursome as the Icahn Stadium fans gave them rounds of cheers for the feat!
     
The Shore AC women, of course, were equally terrific. After coming off a stint of active-duty military training, new member
Valetta Burgess ran fifth in the 800 at 2:31.94.

And the Shore AC throwers were superb. After winning the shot put, Amarys Berry placed sixth in the discus (33.58.)

In addition to her discus win, Valeisha Walker placed third in the javelin (39.85) and fourth in the shot put (12.21.) Esmerada Reyes had a busy day with a second in the javelin (40.99) and fifth in the high jump (1.40.)

Samantha Morillo placed second in both the shot put (12.75) and discus (39.30.)
 
Ashley Walsh placed third in the shot (12.49) and fourth in the hammer (37.69.)

Completing a 1-2-3 Shore AC slam in the discus was Jennifer Odoemene with her 39.29 third, and that followed her 42.03 third in the hammer.

Bernadette McGowan rounded out the tremendous Shore AC team showing in the throws with her fourth in the javelin (33.52), and fifths in the shot (12.10) and hammer (36.94.)

So there were cheers all around on this great Shore AC day. Special cheers went to Coaches Michael Robinson, John McCree and Anthony Washington for their major roles in all this, along with co-captains Nicholas Reid and Larry Ramirez.

Additionally, our Shore AC athletes did their respective colleges and universities proud, too.
  
We came from LIU, St. John’s, Hampton, Albany, Buffalo, Brookdale, Rutgers-Camden, Stockton, Queens, East Carolina,
Newberry and Georgian Court – and several others as well.

Bottom Line:  One more great day in our distinguished club’s distinguished history, which dates back to 1934.

Xxxx
  
Writer’s Note:  Have I used too many superlatives in this story?  Consensus opinion: definitely not. 
​ELLIOTT D.

​June 24, 2018, Glen Ridge, NJ: Shore AC harriers savor their accomplishments at the Lager 5K race. Front row, L-R: Antonio Meza Soriano, Rob Neugass and Amanda Eller. Middle row, L-R: Jan Stofan, John Kuhi, Lindsay Ritchings and Jamie Reuter. Rear row,
Race Date:  June 24, 2018           Results from CompuScore

SHORE AC TEAM RESULTS:
OPEN WOMEN:
  2     SHORE AC "A" OPEN WOM          1:33:39.23 AVERAGE:  18:43.85
  62.Lindsay Ritchings  New York,NY     30 F 336      U  675   17:55.12*
  70.Brianna Feerst     Brick,NJ        24 F 336      U  251   18:05.41*
  93.Jamie Reuter       Leonardo,NJ     32 F 336         669   18:40.47*
  96.Amanda Eller       Delmont,NJ      27 F 336      U  239   18:45.53*
 164.Kellee Mcewen      Howell,NJ       30 F 336      U  512   20:12.70*
 403.Kendal Hand        Howell,NJ       24 F 336      U  329   24:48.81

​OPEN MEN:
  9     SHORE AC "A" OPEN MEN          1:29:05.00 AVERAGE:  17:49.00
   2.Justin Scheid      Succasunna,NJ   32 M 36       U  728   15:22.62*
  59.Antonio M. Soriano Red Bank,NJ     34 M 36       U  536   17:45.68*
  65.Jan Stofan         Englishtown,NJ  46 M 36       U  788   17:56.94*
 105.Terry Lusardi      Madison,NJ      54 M 36       U  965   18:55.75*
 109.Robert Skorupski   Rockaway,NJ     45 M 36       U  760   19:04.01*
 136.Reno Stirrat       Rockaway,NJ     64 M 36       U  786   19:40.05
24     SHORE AC "B" OPEN MEN          1:55:55.61 AVERAGE:  23:11.12
 132.Timothy Mcqueen    Ogdensburg,NJ   46 M 37       U  523   19:33.06*
 241.Emmanuel Brody     Roselle,NJ      66 M 37       U 1048   21:51.99*
 275.Przemek Nowicki    Holmdel,NJ      73 M 37       U  579   22:25.95*
 296.Rob Neugass        Marlboro,NJ     57 M 37       U  569   22:43.92*
 668.John Kuhi          Oakhurst,NJ     74 M 37       U  424   29:20.69*
 705.Dennis Tardio      Bradley Bch,NJ  65 M 37       U  806   30:05.80

June 24, 2018, Glen Ridge, NJ: Emmanuel Brody toasts to his 65-69 age group victory with blessings from his wife Edith.
​
Shore AC Ladies Spice Up Lager 5K
Like beer streaming out of open keg taps, runners flowed fast across the finish line at the Lager Run 5K on June 24.  After all, this race served as the USATF-New Jersey team championships for the men’s and women’s open categories.  The teeming hordes of colorfully clad harriers included an impressive 34 men’s teams and 23 women’s teams.  Within this mass, Shore AC partisans could spot 2 men’s open teams and 1 women’s open team sporting their classic navy blue singlets.

WOMEN’S OPEN:
Though few in number, Shore AC ladies attracted lots of attention!  They battled the much more numerous and perennially talented Garden State Track Club for top team honors.  Shore AC supporters were hoping for a repeat of the 10K championships at Newport earlier this year, where the SAC women’s team won, in part because Garden State split their top talent between their A and B teams.  But Garden State had obviously learned their lesson and instead concentrated their premier speedsters on the A team at Lager.  The Shore AC lady rockets had to settle for second place this time --  despite a scorching average of 18:43 per runner!
Former Point Pleasant Beach High School standout Lindsay Ritchings led the charge for Shore AC.  Lindsay fulfilled her pre-race challenge of running under 18:00 by crossing the finish line in a phenomenal 17:55.  Hot on her heels came another Point Pleasant Beach star alumna: Brianna Feerst, registering a superb 18:05 as our number two lady.  The hit parade continued when former Middletown South High School sensation Jamie Reuter (nee Liberti), in her Shore AC debut, ripped a terrific 18:40 as third team scorer.  Welcome, Jamie!  In the blink of an eye, Shore AC’s fourth scorer, high school track coach Amanda Eller, showed her students how it's done by dashing past the clock in a blazing 18:45.  SAC veteran and former Howell High School heroine KelleeMcEwen (nee Hand) cemented the team’s silver medal when she sprinted home in 20:12 to complete team scoring.  Younger sister Kendal Hand served as the squad’s all-important insurance runner with a solid 24:48 performance.  Congratulations, ladies!!!

​MEN’S OPEN:
Shore AC assembled two high-spirited teams for the Lager 5K.  Neither had expectations for high placement.  However, the A team did manage to crack the top 10.  They finsihed in ninth place, thanks to a tour de force performance by the incomparable Justin Scheid.  Justin seared the pavement with an incredible time of 15:22.  Folks, that equates to an average pace of 4:56 per mile.  Can you say, "WOW!!!???"  More than 2 minutes later, but still with a superb time, our second man Antonio Meza Sorianocrossed in 17:45.  Shore AC fans barely had time to catch their breath before rookie phenomenon Jan Stofan flew down the finishing chute in 17:56.  Our fourth place gentleman, Terry Lusardi, rose to the occasion by contributing a solid 18:55.  Teammate Bob Skorupski wrapped up team scoring when he tripped the timing system in 19:04.  National age-60+ sensation Reno Stirrat provided high-powered backup with his 19:40 measurement.  Knowledgable readers might be asking, what happened to Reno?  Painful side stiches compelled him to walk at 2.5 miles.  Hey, it happens to the best!
Great perfomances highlighted Shore AC's men's open B team.  Prized rookie Tim McQueen celebrated the participation of his wife and children in the race by spearheading his team in 19:33.  Notching the number two spot was the indomitable road warrior Emmanuel Brody.  Manny rallied his taped-up body to another 65-69 age group victory, this time in a laudable 21:51.  Next across for the B team was the 70-74 age group champion, none other than the great Przemek Nowicki.  His 22:25 signaled another positive milestone in Przemek's return to high-level competition.  Encouraging news kept on coming when Rob Neugasstriggered the clock in 22:43.  Rob keeps chopping off time as he rehabilitates hamstring, ankle and foot.  Team scoring came to a close when Coach John Kuhi sailed triumphantly into port well below 30 minutes in 29:20.  Knee pain does not sideline this stalwart!  Finally, our honorary Captain of the Z team, the delightful Dennis Tardio, clanged the bell in 30:05 to add team insurance.  Well done, team!

Individual Accomplishments:
Like always, Shore AC athletes garnered glory for the club and themselves by placing high in individual competition.
One Shore AC athlete achieved fame by placing among the top 10 overall.

• Justin Scheid:  2nd  MOverall:  15:22;  85.10% 5th M AG!!!
• Lindsay Ritchings:  6th FOverall:  17:55;  82.34% 10th F AG
• Brianna Feerst:  7th FOverall:  18:05;  81.58%

Several SAC members scaled the podium in the hotly contested age group competitions.

• Maya McQueen:  3rd  F9-12:  25:44;  64.02 (family)
• Jan Stofan:  3rd  M45-49:  17:56;  79.76%
• Terry Lusardi:  3rd  M50-54:  18:55;  80.36%
• Reno Stirrat:  2nd  M60-64:  19:40;  83.89%
• Emmanuel Brody:  1st M65-69:  21:51;  76.82%
• Przemek Nowicki:  1st M70-74:  22:25;  80.98%

​Numerous other Shore AC stars distinguished themselves by placing in the top 10 in their age groups.  Three cheers to these hard-working harriers!

• Matt McQueen:  7th  M9-12:  31:15;  52.02% (family)
• Amanda Eller:  4th  F20-29:  18:45;  78.69%
• Jamie Reuter:  5th  F30-39:  18:40;  79.12%
• Kellee McEwen:  9th  F30-39:  20:12;  73.04%
• Necia McQueen:  6th  F40-44:  23:31;  66.2% (family)
• Robert Skorupski:  7th  M45-49:  19:04; 74.47%
• Timothy McQueen:  9th  M45-49:  19:33; 73.17%
• John Kuhi:  5th  M70-74:  29:20; 62.84%​​

Race Date:  June 3, 2018           Results from USATF
SHORE AC TEAM RESULTS:
60+ MEN:
  2.    Shore Athletic Club A    4:35:11
============================================================
  1     RENO STIRRAT             64   1:26:44
  2     KEVIN DOLLARD            62   1:31:07
  3     SCOTT LINNELL            61   1:37:22
 (4)    PRZEMEK NOWICKI          73  (1:49:22)

SHORE AC INDIVIDUAL RESULT:​

        SUSAN STIRRAT            62   1:58:08

Ann Arbor Half Marathon: The Right Stuff​

Save the day against all odds: it's what heroes do.  Picture Tom Hanks in "Apollo 13".  Fate punches him and his crew in the gut, but he stays calm and pulls the team through.
Something similar happened with Shore AC's men's 60+ team at the USATF National Masters Half Marathon competition in Ann Arbor.  Key team memberKevin Dollard came down with a sudden gastrointestinal pain six days before the race.  The searing agony almost compelled him to stay home and not attend the race.  But with expert medical care, his condition stabilized enough that, by race day, the pain was gone.  Quite remarkably, there he was standing on the starting line.  And guess what?  Our hero ran a magnificent race!
Yet it would take much more than Kevins's 1:31:07 result to counter the efforts of the other outstanding teams in the men's 60+ category, namely Boulder, Ann Arbor and Genesee Valley.  Well, uh, correction: there was no countering Boulder.  That team is absolutely loaded with unbelievable talent.  They took first place by a mile.  But, as assessed by USATF Running Professor Paul Carlin, the other three teams were evenly matched, and it would be anyone's guess which would take second place behind Boulder.
Enter Shore AC superman Reno Stirrat.  Determined to fulfill his team front-runner role with fortitude and keep Ann Arbor's #1 guy Michael Young in sight, Reno pounded out a scorching 6:32 per mile average to cross in 1:26:44.  This heroic achievement put Reno 11th on the age grading list in this tremendously loaded national race.  Superb!
But a team's score is determined by its top three men, not its top two men.  It was estimated that Shore AC's #3 crewmate, Scott Linnell, had to deliver better than a 1:40:00 performance for Shore AC to vie for second place.  Scott started decently with a 7:00 per mile pace through 3 miles.  However, fatigue gradually overtook his body.  By Mile 9, Scott had slowed to a 7:45 pace.  Scott knew that such a pace wouldn't cut it.  There wasn't much energy left in his body, but Scott re-focused all of his remaining vim on picking up the pace.  It worked.  Scott's final time of 1:37:22 got the job done.
Septuagenarian Przemek Nowicki served as back-up runner for the M60+ team.  Przemek notched a solid 1:49:22 to improve on the 1:50:xx clocking that he recorded at the Polish National Half Marathon competition in mid-May.  Well done, Przemek!
Running individually in the Half Marathon, Susan Stirrat happily dipped under 2 hours with a 1:58:08 finish.  Brava, Susan!
This article would not be complete without recognizing another one of our heroes: Kevin's wife Denise.  We call her our "team mom" and for good reason.  Dee collected our warm-up clothes before the race, drove to two spectator points along the race route to cheer us on, and was waiting for us at the finish line with a bright smile that brought sunshine on a cloudy day.  Dee even researched restaurants and made reservations.  Thank you, Team Mom!!!
This article will be updated with age grading information when it becomes available.