The Freehold Area Running Club's 21st Annual Summer Race Series got under way last Wednesday night with Manuel Arpi picking up the first win of 2008. Erica Weitz finished sixth overall and won the women's race.

Arpi toured the 5K course within Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Manalapan in 18:33. Finishing second was Manalapan's Bob Andrews of the Shore Athletic Club (19:55). Third place went to John Behrens (19:58).

Weitz, who starred at Marlboro High School and will be entering her junior year at the University of Central Florida this fall, clocked 20:30.37 in taking the women's race. Kendyl Seawright was second (21:15) and Anne Werkely was third (21:46).

The overall top 10 were: Arpi, Andrews, Behrens, Bill Pane (20:13), Andrew Pozen (20:28), Weitz, Andrew Berkowitz (20:30.88), Bill Armonando (20:48), Alex Pape (20:58) and Tom Long (21:10).

Age group winners in the first race of the year were: male 14 & under, Dallas Stokes (25:33), and female 14 & under, Kerry Dyke (23:24); male 15-19, Pozen, and female 15-19, Allie Moskal (24:00.18); male 20-29, Pape, and female 20-29, Sara Amitrani (22:21); male 30-39, Jason Mondinski (27:05), and female 30-39, Eva Panko (21:52.66); male 40-49, Armonando, and female 40-49, Aileen Allen (29:22); male 50-59, Pane, and female 50-59, Pam Spadola (24:31); male 60-69, Walter Mc- Gowan (25:18); and male 70+, Ralph Garfield (24:56).

John Fredericks won the racewalking division in 23:44. Finishing first for the women was Cheryl Paladino (37:46).

In the accompanying kids' races, Alex Chang, 12, won the mile run. Brianne Roche, 13, won the girls' mile run.

Austin Change, 10, was first in the half-mile run, and Nicole Scitz, 13, was the first girl to the finish line. Change and Scitz ran one-two.

The Summer Race Series will continue Wednesday nights through July 30. The 5K starts at 6:45 and the kids' races at 6 p.m. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. Call (732) 431-2627 or log on to www.farcnj.com for more information on the series or other FARC events.