Tighter Security Doesn't Hinder Success of NJ Marathon

The 2013 New Jersey Marathon went off without a hitch Sunday morning with over 11,000 participants in the half marathon and full marathon.

Race Director Joe Gigas said there were more than 3,000 full marathon participants, a number that has grown over the last few years.

Top Marlboro marathon participants:

(Men)

• 484: Marcel LeGrand, 3:39:59
• 853: Dror Lichtenberg, 3:55:50
• 1071: Eric Feld, 4:07:00
• 1330: Joseph Conoshenti, 4:22:02
• 1464: Chandrasekhar Para, 4:28:15
• 1920: Lok Wong, 4:59:15

(Women)

• 308: Jennifer Wajngold, 3:28:53
• 1002: Kerry Grimaldi, 4:02:05

Top Colts Neck marathon participants: 

(Men)

• 542: Alexander Stolarz, 3:43:38
• 689: Adam Stivala, 3:50:13
• 844: Joseph Neidermeyer, 3:55:26
• 2001: Robert Black, 5:09:30

Oz Pearlman, 30, of New York, won the marathon for the third time with a time of 2:28:23. Finishing behind Pearlman was Eddie Valentine, 33, of Arlington, VA, with a time of 2:36:35.

The top finishing female, Elizabeth Drews, 43, of Warren, finished with a time of  3:00:11.

"It was a great day, and we had great weather," Gigas said. "We had a small army of 1,400 volunteers putting it all together."

That number does not count the number of paid law enforcement officers in place for this year's race, which featured tighter security because of last month's tragedy at the Boston Marathon.

Spectators were not allowed to bring bags of any type to the starting line at Monmouth Park or the finish line at the Great Lawn in Long Branch.

"We turned a few people back, but for the most part, people listened and it was an easy move to this type of security," Gigas said.

For full race results, click here.