WILDWOOD CREST – More than 200 runners competed in the annual Wildwood Crest 5K Beach Race Saturday, Aug. 4. The race was held on an out-and-back hard-sand course beginning and ending at the Wildwood Crest Beach Pier at Heather Road.
Nicholas Volpe, 24, of Southampton, Pa., was the overall winner, finishing in 17 minutes, 31 seconds. Brian Clayton, 18, of Eatontown, was second in 17:44 and Leo Zaccaria, 17, of the North Wildwood Beach Patrol, was third in 17:59. Rounding out the top five were Sean Egan, 33, of Southampton, Pa., in fourth place in 18:01 and Dean Hernandez, 18, of Tinton Falls, in fifth place in 19:20.
Julie Blackmon, 21, of the North Wildwood Beach Patrol, was the top female finisher in 22:14. Sophia Bostwick, 13, of North Wildwood, was the second female finisher in 22:29 and Shannon Costa, 41, of Swedesboro, was third among female runners in 22:58.
The Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol nipped the North Wildwood Beach Patrol in the team beach patrol competition. The Crest scored 26 points to North Wildwood’s 29. North Wildwood’s Zaccaria was the top beach patrol finisher. John Steiger of the Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol was the second lifeguard finisher in 19:27, good for seventh overall.
Chris Johnson, 17, was the first Wildwood Crest resident to finish. He placed eighth overall in 19:51.
The event also included an untimed one-mile fun run/walk.
Participants hailed from 10 different U.S. states and the province of Quebec.
Proceeds from the Wildwood Crest 5K Beach Race help support Wildwood Crest Recreation activities and programs. The race was sponsored in part by the Greater Wildwood Tourism Improvement and Development Authority, the Wildwood Crest Recreation Commission and the Wildwood Crest Tourism Development Commission.
Full race results are available online at sjtiming.com.