NJ Summer Biathlon 2010 Race One Results

Seventeen Match class and Eighteen Sport class athletes competed in the first race of the Summer Biathlon Summer Series at Cherry Ridge Range in Vernon, New Jersey on Sunday, May 9. The race distance was 5km with targets set at 50m for Match Class (4.5cm prone and 11.5cm offhand targets) and 25m for Sport Class with 9.5cm targets. A 70m penalty loop was run for each prone and standing miss. With strong, gusty winds and temperatures that brought about snow flurries, it was a challenging day for everyone!

Match Class Results

Patricia Zerfas of Maryland won the Women's Match Class race with seven penalties to finish in 29:23. Zerfas covered the course 65 seconds faster than Connecticut's Rachel Lussier who also recorded seven penalties, finishing in 30:28. Jeanice Naulty of Pennsylvania finished third in Match with six penalties and a time of 31:59. First Place in the Men's Match Class event went to Pennsylvania's Doug Hoover, who recorded five penalties to win in a time of 23:14. Veteran Winter Biathlete and NJ first-timer Eli Walker of New Hampshire also recorded five penalties to finish second in 25:07. Rounding out the top three was David Greenberg of New York City, who finished in 25:28.

Sport Class Results

Christina Waggoner of Morristown, New Jersey and Tim Riley of East Brunswick, NJ won the Women's and Men's Sport Class races. Waggoner and Riley each recorded four penalties to win in 31:31 and 24:33, respectively. Finishing in second and third places behind Waggoner in the Women's Sport event was the sister team of Karen Martin and Claire Coolbeth, who finished in 32:32 and 35:24. In the Men's Sport race, second and third places went to a Father and Son team of Summer Biathlon first-timers: Mitchell and Matthew Weintraub, who finished in 30:04 and 30:15.

May's event was held on Mother's Day, so we added a prize category for Mother-Child teams. Placing first in the Mother-Child Team Category was Mom Christina Waggoner, who competed with daughter Jessica Waggoner. Competing in their first summer biathlons and finishing in second place was the Mother-Child Team of Cynthia and Daniel Jonas. Congratulations! Thanks to all the Mother-Child Teams who were comprised of some combination of volunteers and competitors: Pat & son Curt Emmich, Caroline & son Paul Mossip, Sheryl Reich & son Sam Greenberg, Alice Martin & daughters Karen Martin and Claire Coolbeth, and Chris Rogers & sons Ryan and Daniel Rogers. We know that we are pushing the envelope a bit by hosting a race on Mother's Day, so we really appreciate all the moms who participated, volunteered, or simply "allowed" us to enjoy our own guilty pleasure on her big day! We hope everyone had a safe and fun time. Complete race results are listed further down.

Thank You Volunteers!

A special Thank You to all the volunteers who helped out at May's race! Thanks to all our help in the range, including Chief of Range Paul Mossip, range officials Bob Verhasselt, Frank Gaval, Joe Iwan, William Malkames, Tim Slifkin and Dave Lange and to scorers Pat Emmich and Stacy Iwan. Thanks too to Emmy Mossip, Sheryl Reich, and Ryan Rogers who timed the event, and Sam Greenberg and Daniel Rogers who helped record penalty loops. Thank you to Linda Kiehl and her son, who ventured out to Cherry Ridge on two separate occasions to clear and widen the trails in preparation for our event. Our event would not be a success without the support of friends and family members who man the refreshment tables and reload magazines, among other things. We really appreciate your dedication and help! Thanks too, to all the participants who take the time to set up the range and course the day of the event, teach clinic, and help clean up after the event: to Mike Marsan for teaching clinic and helping behind the scenes; to David Greenberg for motivating us and recruiting his entire family to volunteer... to Marty Linkletter, Tom Tyls, Paul Leestma, Tim Riley, the Martin & Emmich Families, Chris Poux, and Rick Kitts - thank you so much. I apologize if I've missed any names. Your kindness and helpfulness is not overlooked :-) and we do realize that your assistance on race day takes away from your own athletic efforts. Our event really is a team effort - from start to finish! Lastly, thanks to the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs for sponsoring our event and allowing us to use the wonderful facilities at Cherry Ridge Range - we really appreciate your support!!

With one race down, we are looking forward to planning at least two other events this summer. As soon as plans are finalized, details will be available on this Website and sent out via e-mail.