Marathoners tour Long Branch, Monmouth Beach

Below, Quebec's Richard Tessier crossed the line first at Sunday's New Jersey Marathon in Long Branch. At right, Long Branch's Donna Schwartz nears the halfway point along the Long Branch oceanfront. At top (photo by Pat Hickey), runners get their start during the inaugural Long Branch Half-Marathon.

Marathon runners from across the state and beyond converged on the Ocean Promenade in Long Branch on Sunday for the 10th anniversary edition of the New Jersey Marathon.

The race, which is sponsored by the New Jersey Road Runner Club, includes a two-loop course that travels though the diverse neighborhoods and business districts of Long Branch and Monmouth Beach, with a start and finish at the Promenade.

This year also included the Long Branch Half-Marathon and the Gold's Gym Two-Person Marathon Relay.

Quebec's Richard Tessier, 37, was the overall winner of the New Jersey Marathon, completing the course in a time of 2:31.35, with Brooklyn's Jacob Cooper (2:34.09) and Felipe Vergara (2:35.18) in second and third.

Bridget McCarthy, 45, of East Elmhurst, N.Y., was the first woman to cross the finish line, completing the course in 3:04.45. She was closely followed by Wall Township's Heather Monahan, who crossed the line in 3:05.33.

Among the top local finishers were Navesink's Greg Mendina, who finished 27th in a time of 2:57.49; Fair Haven's Matthew Stypul (30th, 2:59.05); and Shrewsbury's Ken Kobylowski (38th, 3:01.50).

Brooklyn's Felipe Garcia won the half-marathon, crossing the line in 1:09.46, followed by Perth Amboy's Jesus Resendiz (1:10.21) and Brooklyn's Angel Confeser (1:15.37). New York's Kathryn Boyles was the first female finisher in the half-marathon, in eighth place in a time of 1:23.32.

Among the top local finishers were Old Bridge's Bill Burger (fifth, 1:19.13); Rumson's David Wellner (22nd, 1:26.59); Middletown's Bruce MacLeod (46th, 1:32.26); Middletown's Gavin Dochery (52nd, 1:33.45); Long Branch's Simon Kay (88th, 1:38.13); and West Long Branch's Dalia V. Vidazinha (96th, 1:39.03).

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff