Despite Rain, Celtic Tribute 5K Run Has Solid Turnout

Despite the wind and rain which battered Long Branch on Saturday, the 21st Annual Celtic Tribute 5K went off without a hitch.

Race Director Philip Hinck said about 200-250 people showed up for the race, and that 500 registered to participate.

"We had about 50 more register this morning, but it didn't look like that many at the starting line with this weather," Hinck said with a laugh.

Hinck said the fact that even that amount people showed up in such bad conditions speaks to the spirit of the runners and the event.

"There's a lot of die hard runners out there that will come out in any kind of weather," Hinck said. "It's for a good cause ... there were three police officers who were killed in the line of duty, for Long Branch, and the scholarship's in their names."

The run benefits the Long Branch PBA Local 10's scholarship fund to remember Long Branch's fallen officers.

The proceeds of the 5K will benefit the scholarship fund for deserving graduates of Long Branch High School.

The 2-mile walk, which went started shortly after the 5K, will benefit NephCure Foundation, which performs research to help find a cure for kidney failure in children.

Runners anxiously waited for Hinck to announce the start of the race as they wiped rain drops from their face and jogged in place to keep the cold air out. Once they began, they ran down the promenade and boardwalk before turning right onto Ocean Boulevard. They eventually looped around and back to the promenade where the finish line awaited them.

The first person to cross the finish line was Long Branch resident Luciano Deoliveira, who finished second in a close race last year. Deoliveira finished with a time of 17:38:99.

Deoliveira was followed by John Gouveia, of Kearny, and Erick Escorcia, of Red Bank.

The first woman to finish the race was Amber Hart, a New Jersey State Policewoman from Belmar. Hart finished fifth overall with a time of 19:23:86.

There were awards given out to the top five finishing male and females as well as the top five finishing law enforcement officers. 

A full list of results and award winners can be found here.

Hinck said the Celtic 5K will also be one of his favorite races and that he looks forward to another race, and better weather, next year.

"It's one of my favorite races, it's close to home, and one of the earliest one's I've started," Hinck said. "It's been a lot of fun."