Sheehan Classic is Saturday in Red Bank

More than 2,000 runners are expected to be in Red Bank on Saturday morning for the 17th annual George Sheehan Classic 5-mile road race.

The 5-miler, which highlights the weekend’s festivities, is scheduled to go off at 8:30 a.m. A Community YMCA fitness walk will start a few minutes later. A wheelchair race will precede the run at 8:30 a.m., and the Kids Classic, a series of short races for children ages 4-13, will be held Friday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Among the runners expected to compete in the five-miler are Noel Brock, who will be seeking her fourth straight triumph in the women’s division. Earlier this year, Brock won the Spring Lake Five for the third successive year. Craig Segal, the former Holmdel High School star, who won the Sheehan two years ago and also won at Spring Lake earlier this year, has entered as well, according to race director Phil Hinck.

The Spring Lake 5 and the Sheehan Classic are the first two events of the Jersey Shore Golden Grand Prix, which also includes the Belmar 5 (July 10), the Asbury Park 5K (Aug. 14) and the CPC Pier House 5K (Long Branch, Sept. 6). Brock, of Toms River, swept all five a year ago to take the Women’s Grand Prix title, while Robert Cavenaugh of West Long Branch won the men’s crown.

The five-mile Sheehan course begins on Broad Street and winds its way through the residential sections of neighboring Little Silver and Fair Haven before returning to downtown Red Bank. It takes runners out and back along Harding Road and includes a test at just past the fourmilemarkwhen runners must ascend Tower Hill, after which it’s downhill and relatively flat to the finish on Broad Street. Digital clocks will be placed at every mile, and water stops will be at each mile as well as the start and finish areas.

About 400 or so volunteers will support the race, providing assistance at the start and finish lines, water stops and all along the course. Hinck is supported by a Race Committee comprising more than 30 people.

“We couldn’t do this without the support of all three towns and our volunteers,” he said. “They make it a great experience for the runners.”

The Sheehan Classic has a rich history. Previously it was known as the Asbury Park 10K Classic before it moved to Red Bank and became the Sheehan. At one time, the race included many elite runners, attracting the likes of Bill Rodgers among many others, and in recent years several top-flight Kenyans have competed. Over the years, prize money has been reduced and it’s become more of a community event.

Traditionally the race was held during the secondweek of August, but it was moved to Father’s Day weekend in 2004 as organizers looked to make the weekend a family-oriented event and draw additional participants with the cooler June weather.

Hinck noted that the early forecasts for this weekend are predicting favorable conditions. A Runner’s Expo will be open 2-8:30 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. All entrants receiveT shirts, and all finishers will receive medals.

Entry for the five-miler is $30 in advance, and $35 on race day. Entry for the fitness walk is $25 ($20 on race day), and entry for the Kids Classic is $12 ($15 on Friday). For more information, call 732-988-7725 or register online at www.sheehanclassic. org.