VERIZON WIRELESS CORPORATE CLASSIC SHAPING INTO BIG EVENT
If the organizers had had any second thoughts about stepping in to continue the tradition of the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge July race in Morristown, it has certainly been dispelled with the entries that have flowed in and that are continuing as the days count down to this Thursday, July 20th. Verizon Wireless, which has continuously boasted of the largest field of runners in the previous corporate runs, stepped in to sponsor and support the race. Dan Brannen of Morris Township is the race director, with a long background with corporate challenge races.
In 2005 the corporate challenge race, one of several in the nation, counted about three thousand runners. While that was a small number for the series, it was a pretty huge number for a small city like Morristown. The organizers are looking for the same kind of support for this week’s race.
While the name has changed, the location remains the same, with all the staging taking place at the Headquarters Plaza Pioneer Park as in the past. Runners were relieved to find that the course has been shortened from three and a half miles to 5 kilometers. Those four tenths of a mile have been eliminated by cutting off the portion early in the race that went down Atno to Route 24. Other than that the course route has not changed which means the pesky hills remain.
Individuals may enter the race, where they had been barred from the earlier corporate races. Each runner will be wearing a bib number with a computer chip embedded within and their times will be recorded and posted, but there will be no age division awards. Only the top three male and female finishers will be recognized.
Major emphasize is on the corporate teams and with the new scoring system the team captains will not be required to submit their team scorecards as it will be done by computer.
Two thousand and five had the most exciting men’s race thanks to the participation of the Running Company and its CEO Gene Mitchell of Franklin Lakes, who placed first overall in 17:22, which may have been the fastest time on the 3.5 mile course. Second place went to another Running Company member, John Honerkamp of New York in 17:33 with the third scoring member of the company team Brian Harris of Somerville finishing fifth. Back-up man, Gary Rosenberg of Boonton finished in sixth place. It was a stunning win for a corporate team.
It appears that Running Company is not entering this year although it could be a late entry. Registration does not close until the day of the meet, but online registration closes tomorrow, the 17th.
DOWNTOWN WESTFIELD HAS A REP
Some races just get lucky and some can’t seem to find their niche. They could be outstanding races with all the favored amenities, yet unable to draw the crowd of runners that they deserve.
One race that has won the contest for drawing runners is the Downtown Westfield 5K and Pizza Extravaganza, also known as “the pizza run”. Five years ago the weather was perfect for a nighttime race and the always hungry-to-race runners flocked to Westfield. Of course the promise of pizza was a big draw, but the perfect weather set the stage for a positive reaction from the runners. They have been coming back ever since and bringing their friends.
Last year 1,326 runners officially finished, led in by the same Gene Mitchell mentioned in the story above. Mitchell finished in 15:26 ahead of a strong field that had tenth place finishing in 16:27, often fast enough to win a race.
On the women’s side, Amy VanAlstine of Midland Park finished first in 18:31 with tenth place just over 20 minutes. Clearly this is a race to be at for the north Jersey runners in late July.
This year’s race is next Wednesday, July 26th . Pre-registration is open until July 21st. More information can be found at www.oymp.net.
Originallly p ublished in the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey on Sunday, July 16, 2006.
Copyright, Madeline Bost, 2006
