MORRIS AREA RUNNERS TAKE TOP SPOTS IN GRAND PRIX
Ben Reynolds of Chatham finished in first place in the premier USATF-NJ long distance running grand prix, the New Balance of North Jersey sponsored year long event. Reynolds completed his ninth race at the last grand prix race of the season, the New Jersey association's ten mile championship on December 10th. Although he did not have a perfect score, he did win six of the nine races, quite a feat for a masters athlete.
Ken Rolek of Easton PA was second and Rufino Mendez of Newark was third.
Jeanne Pare of Mendham also let the clock tick down to the end of the season to solidify her place at the Ashenfelter 8K in November and then at the ten miler in December. Pare had only one win out of the nine races but was clearly the class act of the season. Beth Moras of Ridgewood was second and Kathleen Rocker of Metuchen was third. All three women are masters athletes.
First place in the NBGP earns one thousand dollars, with $600.00 going to second place and $300.00 for third. Each age division winner will receive $200.00, second place $125.00 and $100.00 for third.
No prize money is awarded for the two mini series, but awards are given at the USATF awards banquet coming up on January 20th. Mini One requires the runners to complete nine races at distances from 3 kilometers to four miles. Mini Two is for distances over four miles up to but not including 15 kilometers with seven races necessary for inclusion in the scoring.
MORRIS MEN WILL PICK UP AWARDS
John Sabatino of Morris Plains won the M35 division of the NBGP as well as placing second in the Mini One Grand Prix. Sabatino was first in this division of the NBGP in 2004, second in 2003, and third in 2005.
In the M50 Division, 2005 winner Charlie Slaughter of Parsippany placed second in the NBGP, only 11 points behind first place Dave Hoch of East Brunswick. The two men traded places in the Mini One where Slaughter took first, but in the Mini Two Hoch came out on top, with Slaughter in second by an even narrower margin of six points.
Bill Trengove of Wharton placed third in the NBGP in the M50 division as he did in 2004.
In the M55 division, Bruce Langenkamp of Wharton placed third in the NBGP, just eleven points out of second. In the Mini One he did capture second place, and in the Mini Two he claimed first by a wide margin.
In the M60 division William Hagman of Parsippany placed second in the NBGP but had no trouble winning the Mini One. Vincent Madison of Mountain Lakes won the M60 Mini Two.
For the third year in a row, George Studzinski of Kinnelon won the M70 division in the NBGP while Richard Wilde of Denville took third. Wilde won the Mini One with Arch Seaman of Rockaway finishing in third.
Some runners focused only on the Mini grand prix series like Gregory Mullins of Wharton who placed second in the 34 and under age division of the Mini One. Adam Hantman of Denville was second in that division in the Mini Two with Jeffrey Mason of Chatham third.
Mark Lorello of Budd Lake won the M40 division of the Mini One, and Pete Tummey of Boonton placed third in the Mini Two in that division. Will DeRoberts of Boonton placed second in the M45 division of the Mini Two.
Next Week: The Women of Morris
Originally published by the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey on Sunday, January 7, 2007
Copyright, Madeline Bost, 2007
