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59th Annual Ocean Beach/John & Jessie Kelley Half Marathon ~ Results
- Half Marathon :- Run 13.1 Miles
_ The 58th Annual Ocean Beach/John & Jessie Kelley Half Marathon: - Changed To Virtual Event
During the 50's and early 60's, Schaefer Day was an annual sports-oriented event, with swimming contests at the Ocean Beach Pool, auto races at the Waterford Speed Bowl, and a fireworks show at the New London Pier. In 1963 event sponsor F & F Distributors representing the F & M Schaefer Brewing Company met with Beach Manager Tony Pero, also attending the meeting were, John Priolo, Anthony Sabilia, and John Dempsey.
The plan was to organize a 12 mile road race on the roads of New London and Waterford, starting and finishing at Ocean Beach Park. A plan was adapted for the race which is always held on the first Saturday in August. From inception, race has been no entry fee. The first running of the Schaefer Race in 1963 drew 19 starters and was won by John J. Kelley, a native of New London, then living in Mystic with a time of 54:51.4 over the 10.5 mile course. The 1957 Boston Marathon Champion, Kelley won the first two races, followed by three straight wins for Amby Burfoot, the 1968 Boston Marathon Champion. Another local runner, New York City Marathon Champion Norm Higgins won the race in 1970.
Over the years the course distance has changed several times due to road construction. Traditionally starting at noon, moved to 10:00 a.m. in 1980, and moved to 9:00 a.m. in 1989. The race was billed "for serious runners only" and the quality of winners backed this claim. Women first appeared in the Schaefer race in 1970 when Nina Kuscik of New York finished in 72nd place. That year the race had 148 entries, topping the 100 mark for the first time. Race Director, John Priolo changed the race name in 1974 to the John J. Kelley Road Race, as an expression of gratitude for the veteran runner's many road racing accomplishments.
In 1977 the race attracted 204 runners, sending the entry list over 200 for the first time. When John Priolo moved to Florida, Anthony Sabilia and John Dempsey took over as race co-directors and in 1989 they passed the reins to Way Hedding. In 2003 Jessie Kelley's name was added to the the race title following her death in 2003. In 2012 the race drew 758 official entries. Selected by New England Runner Magazine "2012 Race of the Year". "One of New England's top 80 Best of the Best Road Races" New England Runner 2006-2018. 2016 Connecticut Cup Championship Race.
Race distance was changed to a Half Marathon in 2017 and drew over 1,000 entries.
Third leg of the Kelley's Pace Shoreline Trifecta.
The 2020 Kelley Half Marathon was changed to a virtual event due to State of Connecticut Covid-19 Restrictions which were in place at that time.
We are planning on a live race for 2021, Official Race Start at 8:00 am, Course will close at Noon!
Beach Manager Dave Sugrue and his very capable Staff will be on hand to insure that everything runs smoothly at the beach.
2021 Results: Overall / Age Group / Searchable (712 finishers)
2020 Results at: roadracerunner.com or athlinks.com
2019 Results: Half / Early Start / Combined / Age Group / Searchable
2018 Results: Overall / Age Group / Team / Searchable (633 finishers)
2017 Results at: athlinks.com
1997 - 2016 11.6 Mile Run Results:
2016 Results at: athlinks.com / SNERRO (479)
2015 Results: Overall / Age Group / Searchable 498 finishers
2014 Results at: athlinks.com
2013 Results: Overall / Age Group / Searchable 455 finishers
2012 Results at snerro.com: Overall / Age Group / Searchable
2011 Results at snerro.com: Overall / Age / athlinks
2010 Results at snerro.com: Overall / Age Group / Searchable - 284 -
2009 Results at: athlinks.com
2008 Results at: athlinks.com
2007 Results at: athlinks.com
2006 Results at: athlinks.com
2005 Results at: athlinks.com
2004 Results at: hitekracing.com or athlinks.com
2003 Results at: hitekracing.com or athlinks.com
2002 Results at: hitekracing.com or athlinks.com
2001 Results at: hitekracing.com or athlinks.com
2000 Results at: hitekracing.com or athlinks.com
1999 Results at: hitekracing.com or athlinks.com
1998 Results at: hitekracing.com or athlinks.com (354)
1997 Results at: ResultSafe or athlinks.com (325)
* * * 1963 - 2018 OCEAN BEACH KELLEY WINNERS * * * MALE FEMALE 1963 John J. Kelley 54:51 1964 John J. Kelley 57:13 1965 Ambrose Burfoot 60:42 1966 Ambrose Burfoot 57:05 1967 Ambrose Burfoot 56:45 1968 James Keefe 57:31 1969 Ambrose Burfoot 58:31 1970 Norman Higgins 55:12 Nina Kuscik 77:30 1971 Ambrose Burfoot 57:10 1972 John Vitale 55:14 Kathy McIntyre 73:42 1973 Thomas Fleming 56:24 Barbara Wynne 85:36 1974 Morgan Fennell 56:55 Mary Mapelli 77:48 1975 Justin Gibbins 60:56 Marilyn Bevins 86:17 1976 Ambrose Burfoot 58:09 Ann Dunham 84:32 1977 John Vitale 61:36 Lauri Pedrinan 75:36 1978 Ambrose Burfoot 58:58 Carolyn Bravakis 73:19 1979 Thomas Grundy 60:41 Robin Ladis 67:37 1980 Paul Friedman 57:09 Katie McDonald 74:52 1981 John Vitale 58:32 Deede Garvey 74:09 1982 James Flynn 58:10 Jane Welzel 67:15 1983 Odis Sanders 57:46 Jane Welzel 69:11 1984 Gary Nixon 58:59 Agnes Ruane 69:21 1985 Gary Nixon 57:33 Agnes Ruane 66:57 1986 Wayne Jacobs 59:52 Kathy McIntyre 73:47 1987 Wayne Jacobs 57:32 Carla Brown 70:55 1988 Joe Banas 64:45 Mary-Lynn Pastizzo 70:39 1989 Wayne Jacobs 60:07 Mary-Lynn Pastizzo 72:50 1990 Spyros Barres 60:40 Kelly Pinckney 74:08 1991 Kevin Grant 58:59 Kelly Pinckney 71:30 1992 Spyros Barres 62:21 Mary-Lynn Pastizzo 69:59 1993 Glen Guillemette 59:46 Heather Dawson 70:55 1994 Glen Guillemette 60:00 Kim Goff 68:48 1995 Uri Romaniuk 63:05 Heather Bessette 70:22 1996 Eric Woronick 61:52 Heather Bessette 71:04 1997 Glen Guillemette 61:08 Heather Bessette 74:22 1998 Peter Oviatt 62:28 Kerry Arsenault 70:58 1999 Jeff Novak 62:34 Kerry Arsenault 72:43 2000 Brad Malay 63:56 Heather Bessette 72:15 2001 Ben Smith 64:29 Melissa Perkins-Banas 72:15 2002 Greg Wenneborg 61:30 Maura Danahy 74:21 2003 Gavin Coombs 60:55 Carolyn Verdon 75:58 2004 Chadwick Brown 62:20 Kerry Arsenault 68:35 2005 Brendan Brown 64:18 Melissa Perkins-Banas 75:25 2006 Gavin Coombs 61:59 Melissa Perkins-Banas 74:25 2007 Eric Blake 63:18 Melissa Perkins-Banas 75:52 2008 Mark Olivier 64:16 Tara Cardi 75:19 2009 Samuel Alexander 63:02 Laura Brustolon 74:47 2010 Kevin Oneil 63:47 Laura Brustolon 73:20 2011 Michael Conway 60:46 Laura Brustolon 71:34 2012 Michael Leduc 64:26 Laura Brustolon 70:18 2013 Everett Hackett 59:36 Kristina Dearborn 70:25 2014 Michael Conway 60:34 Laura Brustolon 70:00 2015 Everett Hackett 60:01 Sybil Shapiro 73:37 2016 William Sanders 62:13 Kirstin Rudd 74:23 2017 was first year for half marathon 2017 Everett Hackett 1:09:11 Brianna Demers 1:24:08 2018 William Sanders 1:02:13 Kirstin Rudd 1:14:23
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