Runners from several states and two countries raced around the Memorial Oval hundreds of times during the second annual Livingston Oval Ultra, held on Saturday, March 8, in front of Livingston High School. Athletes ran around the 0.44-mile loop for one, three, or six hours.
“The course is really conducive to top performances because it’s so flat and well maintained by the town,” said race director Mike Skara. “I’m proud to live here and show off what we have to runners from all over. This is a good event for those looking to do a marathon or more in all 50 states.”
From among runners from the region, Livingston residents placed three times in the various races. Dave Schmied won the three-hour men’s race, completing 19.36 miles; Jen Izen Rubenstein was third in the one-hour women’s race with 6.16 miles; and Eric Cheifet was third in the men’s one-hour race with 8.36 miles In the six-hour men’s race, Nick Puertas of Kingston, New York, topped Gerald Tabios of Elmhust, New York, to claim top honors. Puertas completed 90 laps, good for 39.6 miles, to Tabios’ 87 laps, or 38.28 miles. Carey Wertz of Waterville, Maine, was third with 36.52 miles.
Viktoria Brown of Whitby, Ontario, completed 38.28 miles to win the women’s six-hour race. She topped Jennifer Kim of Denville and Lois Yeung of Monmouth Junction, who completed 34.76 and 31.68 miles, respectively.
“Running for six hours is no joke, regardless of the course,” said Skara. “It’s a physical challenge, but it’s also a mental challenge. Runners have to manage nutrition and hydration, too.”
To keep all of the runners going, there was an aide station with snacks that included Gatorade and water, M&Ms, trail mix, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, dried mangos, pretzels, and more.
“I am always trying to make the event better,” Skara said. “The racers from last year asked for a leaderboard and high-energy music, so I added those items this year. I am looking forward to the feedback from this year.”
In the three-hour women’s race, Linda Du of Florham Park outlasted Joanna Wong of Great Neck, New York, 19.80milesto 19.36miles,respectively. Laura McElduffofNorthvale and Patria Kelly of Berkeley Heights each completed 15.40 miles. However, McElduff completed the distance more quickly, which secured her the third-place plaque. Schmied topped Brian Scanlon of Staten Island, New York, who ran 16.28 miles in the three-hour men’s race. Joseph Frangione of Randolph took third with 14.52 miles.
In the one-hour races, Steve Monteleone of Morris Plains averaged 5:56 per mile to complete 10.12 miles to win the men’s division. Ryan Goldenberg of Nutley was second with 8.8 miles, with Cheifet third. In the women’s division, Leanne Young of Silver Spring, Maryland, won with 7.28 miles, toppingAlexandra Mueller of Mount Laurel, who completed 7.04 miles, and Rubenstein was third.
Next year, the race will have a 12hour division. “Runners looking to complete 50 miles should be able to reach that distance within that generous time limit,” Skara said.
The second annual Livingston Oval Ultra was held on Saturday, March 8. Shown here, clockwise from top left: David Schmied won the men’s one hour race; the top three perfoming men during the one hour race were Ryan Goldenberg (second place), Steven Monteleone (first place), and Eric Cheifet (third place); the top three performing women during the three mile race are Joanna Wong (first place), Linda Du (second place), and Laura McElduff (third place); Jeremy McManus, of Hyde Park, New York, completes laps around the Oval during the March 8 event; the top three performers in the men’s six hour run were Gerald Tabios (second place), Nick Puertas (first place), and Carey Patrick Wertz (third). They stand on the podium next to race director Mike Skara; Erika Concepcion completed 5.28 miles in one hour and Linda Du of Florham Park won the three hour women’s race.
