SHORE A.C. RUNNERS ENJOY A GOOD DAY ON 5TH AVENUE

 A group of Shore A.C. runners excelled on Sunday, September 8th at the running of
the Annual 5th Avenue Mile in NYC.  Led by master’s stars Hugh Sweeny and Suzann La Bert,
club runners accounted for six of the medals awarded to the top three finishers in
the various masters age group categories.  Sweeney, a newly minted eighty year old
ran away with the 80-84 age group race in a quick 7:31, winning by almost a minute
over the second place runner in his age group.  La Bert stepped down from her usual
LDR events to claim first in the women 60-64 age group also in a quick 5:44.
 
Two seventy plus runners also ran well with each picking up second place medals in
their age groups.  Ken Wilson, 71, ran head to head with the eventual winner of the 70-74
age group placing second in 6:28.  Dr.  Harry Nolan, 77, running in the 75-79 age group,
was unable to duplicate his 2023 winning title, but did place second in his age
group in 7:08.  Running in the 60-64 age group, the two time defending 5th Avenue
champion Rick Lee landed a fourth place this year in 5:19.  Lee was hampered by a
hamstring issue which developed while competing in the 2000 steeplechase event
at the World Masters Championships in Sweden in August, and is still on the mend.
 
In the open elite professional mile, involving some of the best milers in the world, Brian
Hill Jr. ran a very credible race, clocking in with a quick 4:11.  Another shore area runner
who did very well was Joan Totora of Toms River, who claimed the 50-54  women’s title in
5:42.  Over 8,000 runners competed in a variety of age group and special title races
which began at 7:30 am and lasting into the early afternoon.