New Jersey Marathon

Last updated
New Jersey Marathon
DateApril
Location Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Event type Road
Distance Marathon
Primary sponsor Goya, Newport, RWJ Barnabas Health Jersey City Medical Center
Established1997(27 years ago) (1997)
Official site https://www.jerseycitymarathon.com/
Participants7395 finishers (2024) [1]

The New Jersey Marathon and Half Marathon is now taking place in Jersey City NJ taking over the former, defunct race that took place in and around Long Branch, NJ. It started in 1997 as a revival of the Jersey Shore Marathon, which was held from 1972 to 1985. The name was changed to the New Jersey Shore Marathon in 1999, and changed again to the New Jersey Marathon in 2001. Then-governor James McGreevey declared it the official state marathon in 2005. [2]

Contents

As of 2023, the Jersey City Marathon has been crowned the official marathon to represent the state of New Jersey. The race which was first held in April of 2023 with over 6,000 runners from over 15 countries, is now in its 3rd year. The next race is taking place on April 13th, 2025 and is expected to have over 9,000 runners.

History

The original Jersey Shore Marathon was held from 1972 to 1985 every November, which was too close to the New York City Marathon, and the marathon dissolved in 1985 due to lack of participation and sponsorship. [2]

In 1995, the idea of staging a world class marathon was promoted and a feasibility study showed great interest within the racing community. By 1997, the dreams of a world class marathon returning to the Jersey Shore became a reality and the first New Jersey Marathon was held on April 27, 1997. Over 1,000 runners registered for the race and over 800 of them finished.

In 2005, race officials were told by the governing body of Sea Bright, NJ that they could no longer use Ocean Ave., a critical section of the course, in the town for the race. Sea Bright officials cited safety concerns as the reason for the banning of all sporting events on the road.

The race moved south to Long Branch, and the finish of the course has been there since 2006. The Long Branch half-marathon was also added in 2006.

In 2010, hundreds of runners were incapacitated by heat stroke and dehydration during the marathon, with several people going into cardiac arrest and organ failure.

The 2020 in-person edition of the race was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with all registrants given the option of running the race virtually, transferring their entry to 2021, or obtaining store credit of equivalent value. [3] The 2021 marathon was also cancelled due to COVID-19, as Long Branch refused permission for a large gathering to be hosted in the town due to concerns over Delta variant. [4]

Although the organizers hoped to return in 2022, they were neither able to reach an agreement with Long Branch nor find a new venue willing to accommodate the race. The 2019 race will remain the last one in the series, and the New Jersey Marathon is officially defunct. This created a void of spring races in the area, and in 2023 the Jersey City Marathon debuted. It was successful, and the race has grown bigger than the New Jersey Marathon. [5]

Course

External image
Searchtool.svg Course map of full marathon in 2018 [6]

The old New Jersey Marathon started within the parking area of Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. It wound its way through the residential areas of Oceanport and Monmouth Beach before turning south into Long Branch. [7] It then continued south through the beach communities of Deal, Allenhurst, Loch Arbour, Asbury Park and Ocean Grove, mostly within a block or two of the beach itself. [8] The final 1.7 miles was run on the Long Branch boardwalk. [9]

The course had no significant hills and was virtually flat, outside of some gentle rolling stretches early on and several bridge crossings. [8] It was USATF-certified, which allowed runners to use the full marathon course to qualify for the following year’s Boston Marathon. [10]

The new marathon and half marathon will be a USA Track & Field-sanctioned event on a USATF-certified course, one of the fastest and flattest in all of America. Furthermore, runners will get to race through Jersey City’s uniquely diverse and culturally rich neighborhoods.

Winners

Key:  Course record

YearMale WinnerTimeRepresentingFemale WinnerTimeRepresenting
1997Brian McCourt2:39:34NJ/USAKimberly Keenan3:09:53NJ/USA
1998Brett Albert2:37:43NY/USALaurie Corbin3:02:59NJ/USA
1999John Gouveia2:40:55NJ/USAKate McCoy3:01:52PA/USA
2000Michael Harrison2:41:02VA/USALaurie Corbin2:59:55NJ/USA
2001Michael Harrison2:29:19VA/USAWendy Locke3:04:03NJ/USA
2002Maciej Ciepak2:44:19PolandDorian Meyer2:57:28NJ/USA
2003Peter Heimgartner2:37:22NY/USADorian Meyer2:52:46NJ/USA
2004Gyula Szabo2:33:55NY/USADorian Meyer2:51:43NJ/USA
2005Jacob Cooper2:36:55NY/USAJennifer Meyer3:09:05CT/USA
2006Richard Tessier2:31:37QC/CANConnie Grace3:04:22NY/USA
2007Anthony Cioce2:32:27NJ/USAMolly Mahany3:10:03NY/USA
2008 Oz Pearlman 2:33:09NY/USAKathryn Bowser3:04:51PA/USA
2009Michael Arnstein2:38:42NY/USALauren Uhler2:52:10NY/USA
2010Michael Arnstein2:37:53NY/USAHolly Parker3:13:37MA/USA
2011 Oz Pearlman 2:28:19NY/USABronawyn Oleary3:02:22NJ/USA
2012Jason Page2:33:13NC/USAMegan DiGregorio3:00:44MD/USA
2013 Oz Pearlman 2:28:23NY/USAElizabeth Drews3:00:11NJ/USA
2014 Oz Pearlman 2:29:24NY/USARachel Clattenburg2:57:58NJ/USA
2015Thomas McConville2:32:30NY/USASara Belles3:05:01CT/USA
2016Robert Dennis2:33:16NJ/USAGreta Sieve2:53:06NJ/USA
2017Jeff Powers2:32:22PA/USAAnnie Onishi2:54:17NY/USA
2018Leif Fredericks2:23:56ID/USACaitlin Phillips2:41:43NY/USA
2019Sean Clark2:25:51PA/USAMeghan Bishop2:42:17NY/USA
2020cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic [3]

Notes

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    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Monmouth County, New Jersey</span> County in New Jersey, United States

    Monmouth County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is bordered to its west by Mercer and Middlesex Counties, to its south by Ocean County, to its east by the Atlantic Ocean, and to its north by the Raritan Bay. Monmouth County's geographic area comprises 30% water. The county is part of the Jersey Shore region of the state. It has also been categorized under the Central Jersey region, though it was not among the four counties explicitly listed as included in Central Jersey as part of legislation signed into law in 2023.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Allenhurst, New Jersey</span> Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

    Allenhurst is a borough located on the Jersey Shore, in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The settlement was named after resident Abner Allen and was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 26, 1897, from portions of Ocean Township. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 472, a decrease of 24 (−4.8%) from the 2010 census count of 496, which in turn reflected a decline of 222 (−30.9%) from the 718 counted in the 2000 census.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Asbury Park, New Jersey</span> City in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

    Asbury Park is a beachfront city located on the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 15,188, a decrease of 928 (−5.8%) from the 2010 census count of 16,116, which in turn reflected a decline of 814 (−4.8%) from the 16,930 counted in the 2000 census.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Interlaken, New Jersey</span> Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

    Interlaken is a borough situated in the Jersey Shore region, within Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 828, an increase of 8 (+1.0%) from the 2010 census count of 820, which in turn had reflected a decline of 80 (−8.9%) from the 900 counted in the 2000 census.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Arbour, New Jersey</span> Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

    Loch Arbour is a village situated on the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the village's population was 224, an increase of 30 (+15.5%) from the 2010 census count of 194, which had in turn reflected a decline of 86 (−30.7%) from the 280 recorded at the 2000 census.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Branch, New Jersey</span> City in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

    Long Branch is a beachside city in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 31,667, an increase of 948 (+3.1%) from the 2010 census count of 30,719, which in turn reflected a decline of 621 (−2.0%) from the 31,340 counted in the 2000 census. As of the 2020 census, it was the 6th-most-populous municipality in Monmouth County and had the 74th-highest population of any municipality in New Jersey.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Monmouth Beach, New Jersey</span> Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

    Monmouth Beach is a borough in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, situated on the Jersey Shore in Central Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 3,174, a decrease of 105 (−3.2%) from the 2010 census count of 3,279, which in turn had reflected a decline of 316 (−8.8%) from the 3,595 counted at the 2000 census.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Oceanport, New Jersey</span> Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

    Oceanport is a borough situated in the Jersey Shore region, within Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, specifically Central Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 6,150, an increase of 318 (+5.5%) from the 2010 census count of 5,832, which in turn reflected an increase of 25 (+0.4%) from the 5,807 counted in the 2000 census.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">West Long Branch, New Jersey</span> Borough in New Jersey, US

    West Long Branch is a borough situated within the Jersey Shore region, within Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 8,587, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 490 (+6.1%) from the 2010 census count of 8,097, which in turn reflected a decline of 161 (−1.9%) from the 8,258 counted in the 2000 census. West Long Branch is the home of Monmouth University.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea Bright, New Jersey</span> Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

    Sea Bright is a borough situated on the Jersey Shore, within Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,449, an increase of 37 (+2.6%) from the 2010 census count of 1,412, which in turn had reflected a decline of 406 (−22.3%) from the 1,818 counted in the 2000 census.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Jersey Shore</span> Coastal region of the U.S. state of New Jersey

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    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Monmouth Park Racetrack</span> Horse racing track in New Jersey

    Monmouth Park Racetrack is an American race track for thoroughbred horse racing in Oceanport, New Jersey, United States. It is owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and is operated under a five-year lease as a partnership with Darby Development, LLC.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">North Jersey Coast Line</span> Commuter rail line in New Jersey

    The North Jersey Coast Line is a commuter rail line running from Rahway to Bay Head, New Jersey, traversing through the Jersey Shore region. Operated by New Jersey Transit, the line is electrified as far south as Long Branch. On rail system maps it is colored light blue, and its symbol is a sailboat. The line runs along the former New York & Long Branch Railroad, which was co-owned by the Central Railroad of New Jersey and the Pennsylvania Railroad.

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    New Jersey's 6th congressional district is represented by Democrat Frank Pallone, who has served the district in Congress since 1993. The district includes the northern and eastern portions of Middlesex County and the coastal areas of Monmouth County, including towns along the Raritan Bay.

    Shore Regional High School is a regional public high school and school district serving students from four communities in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The high school serves students from the constituent municipalities of Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright and West Long Branch, where the school is located. The school is the only facility of the Shore Regional High School District.

    The Oceanport School District is a community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade from Oceanport, in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The district also includes students from Sea Bright, a non-operating district that was subject to a mandatory merger with Oceanport in 2009.

    The West Long Branch Public Schools is a community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade from West Long Branch, in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Students from Interlaken attend the district as part of a sending/receiving relationship in which students attend on a tuition basis, as do students from Loch Arbour, New Jersey, who began attending schools in West Long Branch starting in the 2017–18 school year, after leaving the Ocean Township School District and those from Allenhurst, after a 2017 decision that terminated a relationship with the Asbury Park Public Schools.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Branch High School</span> High school in Monmouth County, New Jersey, US

    Long Branch High School is a comprehensive, four-year community public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades in the city of Long Branch, in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Long Branch Public Schools. LBPS, one of 31 special-needs Abbott districts in the state, serves the city of Long Branch. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1928.

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    References

    1. {{cite web|url=https://www.jerseycitymarathon.com/Race/Results/129526#resultSetId-447843;perpage:100 = New Jersey Marathon Race Results 2024}
    2. 1 2 Miller, Jen (2010-04-14). "Marathon Man". NJ Monthly. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
    3. 1 2 "2020 Event Cancellation — the Novo Nordisk New Jersey Marathon". Archived from the original on 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
    4. LoGiudice, Daniel. "New Jersey Marathon canceled again over COVID-19 concerns". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
    5. Rock, Brian (2024-12-03). "The Races COVID Killed: Marathons That Never Returned". Running with Rock. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
    6. "Courses — the Novo Nordisk New Jersey Marathon". Archived from the original on 2020-04-02. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
    7. "Course". Archived from the original on 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
    8. 1 2 "N.J. Marathon expected to draw 15K to the Jersey Shore". 28 April 2017.
    9. "Viewing Proposed 2015 Novo Nordisk New Jersey Marathon Course #4 | MapMyRun".
    10. "FAQs". Archived from the original on 2017-09-29. Retrieved 2017-09-06.