The Pequannock River Coalition Sponsors 2007 Highlands
5K
[On October 13. 2007, The Pequannock River Coalition
hosted the annual Heart of the Highlands 5k Run/Walk at
the West Milford Autumn Light Festival.
Click here for info on this years event!]
A stellar autumn day greeted 126 runners participating
in West Milford’s “Heart of the Highlands” 5K Run on Saturday,
October 13th. The opening event for West Milford’s Autumn
Lights Festival, the run benefited the Pequannock River
Coalition, an environmental organization working in West
Milford and 10 other communities across the northern Highlands
region.
State Senator Robert Martin was on hand to start the
race, assisted by West Milford Councilman Bob Nolan and
the West Milford Chamber Singers. Senator Martin was an
appropriate official for this “Heart of the Highlands”
event as Martin was one of the co-sponsors of the Highlands
Act; legislation that is doing so much to preserve the
natural resources of this area. “Today we’re here to enjoy
the Highlands,” said Senator Martin. “Clean air, autumn
colors. This is what we’ve been working to protect.” Nolan
and Martin ran the 5K course, turning in respectable times
that claimed Martin third place and Nolan second place
in their respective age groups.
The best time overall was posted by Marty Doherty of
West Milford with a run of 18:12. Second place overall
was taken by Michael Yorey of Wayne (18:20) and third
place by Mike Montalband of Rutherford (19:11). In the
women’s division high honors went to Crystal Carlson of
West Milford for a time of 22:06, second place to Maritza
Ostlund of Oak Ridge (22:18) and third place to Catherine
Clinton of West Milford for a time of 22:27. Medals were
awarded in 14 categories from age 10-14 through 70-89.
All runners agreed the event was well organized and that
the USATF-certified course was challenging and fun. More
than 25 volunteers, led by race directors Bev Puntolillo
and Pequannock River Coalition Vice President Carl Richko,
spent months preparing for the race and kept things running
glass smooth. “Few realize the incredible amount of effort
and expense that goes into these events,” said Richko,
“but we felt it was important to give this back to our
citizens.”
Major sponsors were businesses such as Eastern Propane,
Re/Max Classic Group, Lakeland Bank, Columbia Bank, Ramsey
Outdoor, Applebee’s, East Coast Associates, Sneaker's
Unlimited and Ramapo Insurance and generous individuals
donors including Doug Williams, the Fischer Family, and
Dr. Frank Russo, DDS.
Volunteers and runners are already looking forward to
next year. Bev Puntolillo summed it up, saying “When everything
comes together—great people, great weather, a wonderful
course—it makes all the effort worthwhile. It’s hard to
improve on, but we’re eager to try.”
Pictures
from the 2007 Heart of the Highlands 5K Run/Walk
