Harris repeats at "cool" Firecracker

For Independence Day 2007, the weather gods served up conditions more conducive to running than swimming which was the perfect recipe for Firecracker 4 Mile Race Director Mike Rokicki and defending champion Brian Harris. Temperatures in the high 60’s produced a large amount of post registration race day entrants that swelled the overall finishers 20 percent over 2006 totals for the race, which celebrated its 28th anniversary at Nomahegan Park in Cranford. The cool conditions also pleased Harris, who easily defended his title running 20:36, 34 seconds faster than his 2006 time

“Although we haven’t counted everything yet, it appears that the race was a huge success in every way possible,” said Rokicki.

“It was very helpful that the rain held off and with the cool records many people decided to run at the last minute.”

In a pre-race interview Harris was hopeful that the temperature would not exceed 70 degrees, an unlikely occurrence for a race usually conducted in hot and sultry conditions. But on cloudy breezy morning, Harris broke away from field just past the one mile mark and was never seriously threatened

Harris was able to put together consistent mile splits of 5:05,5:06 and 5:08 before finishing in 5:17 on the final mile which contains a multitude of turns and also includes a footbridge.

“The key to winning this race is getting a lead at three miles because it is very hard for the trailing runners to see the leader because of all the turns ” said Harris, who had not raced seriously since running 2:32.49 at this year's Boston Marathon.

“I was very pleasantly surprised to run as well as I did. The strength I built up training for Boston has helped me maintain my fitness over the last few months. Obviously this was great weather for me to run in. I was not in the shape I was in a year ago but I ran faster,” said Harris, who did not take advantage of several water stops during the race.

Holding on for second place was four-time winner Budd Coates of Rodale Press, who has made a tradition of traveling over 70 miles from Emmaus, PA to run the race.

“I originally came here in the early 90’s because they offered prize money but now I just come here because it’s a fantastic race and a great way to start the holiday,” said Coates, who won the master’s championship and has run as fast as 18:27 on the course.

Coates, who turned 50 in April, also won the parent-daughter competition, teaming with his 14-year-old daughter Kelsey, who ran 27:42.

“It is nice that the race has all these different categories that give you a chance to combine with your children,” added Coates.

Kevin Brown, a star distance runner at Cranford, who graduated in 2006,was the first town finisher, winding up eighth in 21:51. Brown, who just completed his freshman season at Yale, has fought through injuries and now feels like he his rounding into shape for this fall.

“I have been running this race since I was small and enjoy the chance to run a race through my hometown,” said Brown.

Kevin Mahoney, a 2005 graduate, was second Cranford finisher, 16th overall.
The women’s winner was Sarah Muhlbradt 29 of Piermont, NY who ran 23:37. The first Cranford woman to finish was Lauren Krause Garbac, 36 who ran 27:19.

Jim Colvin, 58 was the first Westfield finisher in 24:30 and Mark Carow, 48 (25:19) was first Scotch Plains finisher. Jim Lambert, 40 (27:03) led the Fanwood finishers.

Former Race Director Art Bilenker, a Jaycee and race benefactor once again held court after the race and gave out awards to runners who could answer trivia questions, had the strangest jobs and had the nicest biceps among other things.

“This is nice day for the community. It’s a good day for everyone,” said Bilenker, a dentist in Cranford.

After a frenzied start early in the day when he seemed to be holding three conversations at once, Rokicki settled in and after the race could enjoy what was another successful race.

“I hope to do this for many years. Once you get through the first one, each year gets a lot easier,” said Rokicki.