2004 Firecracker Preview

When the first Firecracker four mile was run in 1980 Art Bilenker was in dental
school and Timothy Styler was several years away from being born but the two Cranford
residents have become integral parts of the 25th annual race, which will be
held Sunday at Union College. The race usually draws well over 1,000 runners, making it one of the top participation events in New Jersey.

As always, the Cranford Jaycees will handle all volunteering and logistical aspects of the race which can be considerable. The director is Vitas Roman, who will be ably assisted by Bilenker among others. Bilenker has directed the race numerous times and is donating prize money to be paid to the second place finisher.

Styler, a championship runner at Cranford and more recently Villanova, finished
second a year ago and although injuries may prevent him from running his
presence will be felt in several talented Cranford High School runners he
coaches.

Bilenker, who has a dental practice in the center of Cranford, has run numerous marathons and has been involved with the race since 1990, when he joined the Jaycees
at the urging of Frank Krause, a Cranford orthodontist who is an alumnus of
the Jaycees.

“ I was looking to get involved and I had run the race in the
past. I was directed to a blond guy who looked like one of the Beach Boys,
John Bashaw. John was an excellent Race Director and really improved and
systematized the race so that the succeeding race directors had a much
easier job,” said Bilenker.

While Styler refers to his participation as “ a gametime decision” most of the strong
Cougar team will be running on familiar turf. Much of the course, especially the part that winds through Nomahegan Park is part of the regular training course for the team.

Coach (Ray) White has always considered this race to be an excellent test for cross
country,” said Styler, who first ran the race as a high school sophomore and again as a junior.

The leading returning runner is junior Kevin Brown, who was one of Union County’s most improved runners this spring, running a 9:22 two mile to place second in the Group II state championships.

While Brown broke the sophomore two-mile record at Cranford previously held by
Styler, freshman Joe McKenney smashed Styler’s freshman mile record with a
4:21.97 and was the county’s top newcomer this year. Unlike Brown, who ran just under
24 minutes last year this will be McKenney’s first four mile.

“I think I can run between 21 and 22 minutes if it’s not too hot,” said
McKenney. The course starts on Springfield Avenue in front of Union College and winds its way down Kenilworth Boulevard before making a right turn on 21st street and eventually going through the back of Orange Avenue School before it finishes up by going through the back of Nomahegan Park. The runners finish by running along the pond in the park.

If successful, McKenney will finish ahead of over 90% of the race entrants, many who bring their entire families to enjoy the many facets of the holiday. The day culminates with fireworks at Nomahegan Park that night.
“We do try to emphasize the American pie aspects of the race as we tie it to
the fourth. We are trying to make it a family good time
event ,” said Bilenker.

This year the race will have balloons, face painting, popcorn, and ice
cream-all free for everyone. One of the exciting aspects of this years’ race will be corporate sponsorship from Commerce Bank.

“It is very big for us to have Commerce bank as our major sponsor. We have tried for years to get one and the fit with Commerce, an expanding bank,
very local in character, fit into things nicely ,” said Bilenker.

“We showed how the race could help them get local recognition and worked with
their efforts to support the communities they do business in. We really don't
make anything without the sponsorships,” added Bilenker.

“ The entry fees cover the costs of the event. It is the sponsorships that allow us to get the money that is then distributed to the charities, scholarships and local services, like the First Aid Squad, that the Jaycees support .”

The Firecracker features one of the lowest large-race entry fees, $15. The pre-race entries at press time were a little lower than normal, a little over 300, which Bilenker attributes to July 4 happening on a Sunday. If there is good weather on race day, race day entries have sometimes doubled.

Another factor that draws a large number of repeat runners to the race is the amount of gifts each runner gets in addition to their tee shirt. In recent years, every runner has received such nice extras as designer polo bears, luggage or a men’s cologne package.

“ At race time we are still looking for more goody bag stuff. We used to
get a lot from the local drug companies who were very generous, particularly Schering, but new government restrictions on drug company give always have dried up that source,” said Bilenker.

Bilenker, as has become the tradition, will be giving out numerous prizes after the race for such diverse skills” as the nicest legs, the most degrees earned, trivia questions and of course the runner who traveled the furthest. Usually there is at least one runner who has traveled across the country or come from overseas.

The key to the race’s long-term success has been the dedication of the volunteers.
“On race day, many things do not go exactly as planned, as any Race Director
will tell you. The key is to make it look to the runners that everything is
fine, and it really is, but adaptation and flexibility is the key ,” said Bilenker.

“I would like to add that the race really is planned throughout the year and
a tremendous amount of work, and missed time with the family, goes into that
One-hour event. The Race director does more than plan the race, he has to
motivate others to help him, because the job is too big for one person.
Everyone who volunteers, Jaycee or not, from the police and the First aid
squad to the people at the water stops and the sponsors, should be thanked.”

The four-mile starts at 9:30 and there is a one mile fun run that begins at 9 am.