HOT AND HUMID FOR PRESIDENT’S CUP NIGHT RACE
June weather will always be a factor in night races and this past Monday night in Millburn was no exception. The weather predictions were for some serious storms coming through the area. It was hot and muggy – not exactly ideal racing conditions for the President’s Cup Night Race 5K that was schedule to go off at 8:00 p.m.
The race has always featured kids races prior to the main event. As parents lead their youngsters to the starting line for the age appropriate dashes, the sky became darker and lower. At 7:45 a few fat drops of rain fell, heralding a pounding rain squall that soon covered the area. Runners and spectators, kids and parents dashed for the nearest storefront awning or tent that was set up in the Charlie Brown’s parking lot where registration and chip distribution was taking place.
In less than five minutes it was over. People came out from under cover and the runners continued their warm-ups and began to line up for the start. While it was much cooler than before the sudden rain, conditions were still too humid for optimum racing.
At the start, Scott DeFilippis of Normandy Beach was in the lead pack that soon thinned down to DeFilippis and Gene Mitchell of Franklin Lakes. In 2005 Mitchell finished second to Stephen Ondieki of Hackensack in 14:54 to Ondieki’s 14:51.
It must have felt like déjà vu to Mitchell on Monday as he took the second spot again. DeFilippis finished in 14:51, the exact time as Ondieki in 2005, while Mitchell had a 15:00.
DeFilippis lead in the Runners High team, which had five men in the top ten finishers. It can’t get any more decisive than that! Runners High was once again the top team, with 1:16:41 combined time of the top five men.
Placing second, as they did in 2005, was the Running Company with 1:18:24 minutes with the Fleet Feet racing team in third in 1:19:37. The real contest was for fourth and fifth with the Raritan Valley Road Runners edging out the Morris County Striders by a mere 12 seconds, 1:23:16 to 1:23:28. Far off the pace was the Sneaker Factory in sixth with 1:26:11.
After just two races at the end of the spring championship racing season, Fleet Feet and Running Company are tied for first in the Open Men’s grand prix with the Mizuno Runner’s High in third. The Striders, Raritan Valley and Sneaker Factory are in a three-way tie for fourth.
Raritan Valley has a strong lead in the Liberty Waterfront Overall Club grand prix with 132 points to second place Morris County Striders with 110. Sneaker Factory is in third with Running Company fourth.
Local runner Ben Reynolds of Chatham placed fourth in 15:17. The top local female was fourteen year old Dale Kinney of Morristown who finished fifth female overall in 18:20.
The next championship race will be the Open Women’s 10K at the Joel P. Spector 10K on September 17th.
EGAN & SONS 5000 METER LAGER RUN TONIGHT
Runners who like a night race with a beer chaser will be in Montclair tonight for the Egan & Sons 5000 Meter Lager Run. Promising to be a favorite with the run and beer set, the race will be serving beer, soda and accompiments according to the race application after the run, which will start at an early evening time of 5:30 p.m. Registration will begin at 3:00 this afternoon at Eagan & Sons located at 118 Walnut Street, in the pub parking lot on Label Street.
Also on the schedule this week is the always popular Sunset Classic on Thursday night. The Classic had been a premier five mile summer race in the 80’s and 90’s. After a short hiatus, it was revised in 2001. Registration will start at 5:00 p.m. with the race going off at 7:30 p.m. The Classic features a collared shirt rather than the more common t-shirt, making the entry fee well worth the price.
Originally p ublished Sunday, June 25, 2006 in the DAILY RECORD of Morris Country, New Jersey.
Copyright, MADELINE BOST, 2006
