Taking the ‘Goofy Challenge’
Maria Sarluca spent this past weekend at Disney World in Florida and while it was an adventure it was hardly a vacation.
The 35-year old health & physical education teacher at Brick Memorial High School was among some 50,000 runners who participated in the entertainment complex’s annual marathon weekend. Sarluca has made this an annual event on her calendar but she did not just run in the 26.2 mile event on Sunday. The former high school and college field hockey standout was among the 7000 who took part in what is called the “Goofy Challenge.”
On Saturday Maria ran a 13.1 mile half marathon and 24 hours later completed the full marathon which takes runners through all four Disney Theme Parks, starting and finishing at Epcot. That’s 39.3 miles over two days in hot, humid conditions.
It was the 9th time Sarluca completed the “Goofy Challenge” and she has the medals to prove it. Maria was accompanied by her father Ed, who is a longtime broadcast member of our Shore Sports Network and one of the area’s foremost Disney experts.
His son Ed is the basketball coach at Brick Memorial and last night his Mustangs collected a big Class A South victory by topping Southern 47-41 in overtime for their fifth straight victory. It looks like the division’s basketball race could be as wild and open as what took place on the football field this past fall.
While he is gainfully employed as Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy attended a retirement party in his honor this past Saturday night. Fellow police officers and friends gathered at La Bove Grande in Lakehurst to celebrate Mastronardy’s 40 plus year career with the Toms River Police Department which ended two weeks ago.
Badge #132 was officially retired as the former police chief made the move to the Sheriff’s Department, taking over on January 1st and moving his office from Oak Avenue to Hooper Avenue. Mastronardy will be a dynamic addition to the department and his experience as police chief in Toms River will serve him and the county well in his new position.
Mitch Little has replaced him as Toms River Police Chief after being appointed to that position by the town council.
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