By John Spinelli
LINCROFT – A new champion was crowned in the Monmouth Mile Aug. 29 at Christian Brothers Academy’s new George Sheehan Stadium.
Brick Township’s Damien Dilcher, who ended his collegiate career at Iona this spring, pulled off an upset while competing against professionals like Puma-sponsored Eric Holt, a recent competitor at the U.S. Olympic trials.
Dilcher won the mile event with a time of 3:55.57. During the race, he stayed back in the group for the first two laps before making a move in the last 400 meters.
“I felt amazing during the race,” he said after crossing the finish line. Dilcher raised his hands in celebration for the last five meters before breaking the tape.
Dilcher graduated from Brick Memorial High School in 2018. Although he had some success there, the media often overlooked him, a pattern that continued during much of his collegiate career at Iona University. That all changed this spring, though, when he finished fifth in the 1,500-meter and was named a collegiate All-American.
“Unfortunately, I never won a Meet of Champions title. I had won sectionals and Group 3 in track, but New Jersey was always so deep, it was harder than any other race I’ve run, even on a national stage,” Dilcher said.
He ran the Monmouth Mile unsponsored, but with a new personal record of 3:55, odds are high he’ll sign a professional deal in the coming days.
“It’s honestly a blessing,” he said. “As a kid, all I ever wanted was to be a professional athlete. To be in a position where I can make money doing what I love is something I’m so grateful for.”
After family and friends, he credits his success at the Monmouth Mile to his college coach.
“I’ve worked very hard to be in this position but couldn’t have done it alone,” Dilcher said. “I credit Joe Pienta (Iona’s head distance coach) for pretty much all my success or I wouldn’t be in this position.” He also thanked Ryan Choi and Michael Conlon at Finish Line PT in New Rochelle, New York, for keeping him healthy.
The night of miles also featured other events, including the Women’s 1-mile, an Emerging Elite Men’s 1-mile, the Elite Men’s 800-meter and community events like kids’ races.
In the Elite Men’s 800-meter, Villanova alum and Adidas pro Josh Hoey ran a blazing 1:44.84, earning a qualifying standard for the 2025 World Athletic Championships and a new record for New Jersey.
In the women’s mile, another “unattached” runner, University of Colorado alum Micaela DeGenero, just edged Brooks Beast’s Kayley DeLay to win by less than a second in 4:29.66.
In the Mixed 1-Mile Community run, Shore AC went one-two, with Michael Zurzolo crossing the line at 4:23.47 and Kyle Spector at 4:30.24. The top two female runners were Shannon Chiappone and Liliah Gordon, both finishing in under 5 minutes.
In the “Emerging Elite” professional mile, Middletown’s Brian Hill earned third place with 4:11; not too far back was Jackson’s Ryan Rafferty in 4:26.
Travis Mahoney, an Old Bridge High School and Temple University graduate, founded the event in 2018 to bring together elite runners from the Jersey Shore and beyond; 2024 marked the fifth year of the Monmouth Mile. The race was sponsored by Diadora, an Italian sportswear and footwear company, and The Outpost Running & Walking Co., a new store in Little Silver that offers apparel, footwear and accessories for athletes. It is owned by former Holmdel High School, Villanova University and Monmouth University runner Craig Segal.
The article originally appeared in the September 5 – September 11, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
