2003 Fall Classic Review

The weather for Cranford’s two big summer races could not have been more
different.
The cool rainy conditions of Labor Day proved more to Tim Styler’s liking than
the hot sticky July 4th weather as the former Cranford High School star
improved on his second place finish at the Firecracker race to win the 26th
annual Central Jersey Road runners’ Fall Classic Five mile run. held on
September 1 trough the streets of Cranford and Kenilworth.

“This weather is very good for running”, said Styler, a 1999 graduate, who ran
collegiate at Villanova and now competes for the Sneaker Factory of Millburn.
Although a long time resident and runner, Styler has rarely trained on the
similar courses of the two races which winds down Kenilworth Boulevard before
snaking back through Nomahegan Park.

Styler blasted through his first mile in 4:52 and was never threatened by the
second place finisher, 22 year old Jeffrey Bigham of Amanda, OH. Defending
champion Paul Buccino,37 of Westfield finished third on the wet,slick course in
27:37. The win capped a summer of high finishes at shorter races including a
third at the Westfield Downtown 5k in July. Now Styler sets his sights on
longer races, which will culminate in him running his first marathon at
Philadelphia in late November.

“I am hoping to qualify for the Olympic trials in the marathon next year”, said
Styler, who will need to run a 2:22 marathon to accomplish his goal.

Other notable area finishes included Michael Borik, 37 of Scotch Plains 15th
overall in 30:29. Tom Cusimano 51 of Westfield in 33:59 and Susan Graff,47 of
Fanwood who was second in the women’s masters in 36:34.