LEFT: And they’re off, as the SSG Jorge Oliveira Memorial 5K Race kicks off in front of the VFW Post 132 on Belgrove Drive Saturday morning. RIGHT: Former Kearny High runner Johnny Vega, now a resident of Lyndhurst, kicks away from runnerup Paul Sorace in the final strides to win the Oliveira Memorial Run in Kearny Saturday.
KEARNY –
Jorge Oliveira was a member of the United States National Guard, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant. The resident of Newark was a fixture at the Veterans of Foreign War Post 1302 on Belgrove Drive in Kearny, before he was tragically killed in Afghanistan on Oct. 19, 2011.
“He was a member of the Sheriff’s Department in Essex County,” said retired Sgt. Major Jennifer Long, the commander of VFW Post 1302. “We wanted to do something to honor him and his memory.”
So the VFW Post organized a mile walk and a 5K run in Oliveira’s memory last Saturday morning and the run brought almost 200 running enthusiasts to the front of the VFW Post, which served as both the starting and finish line.
“It’s absolutely a great feeling to have an event like this,” said Commander Long. “We wanted to get at least 100 runners and we’re over 100. I put in a request to get perfect weather and it worked out.”
The winner of the race was 21-year-old Johnny Vega of Lyndhurst, a runner at Bloomfield College who once ran for the Kearny High School track and field team. Vega crossed the line in 17 minutes, 42 seconds, about 200 yards ahead of runner up Paul Sorace, who ran the race in honor of his brother who was a member of the United States Marine Corps.
Vega didn’t know whether he had a chance to win the event. He went out with the first group and never looked back.
“It’s hard to train in the summer, because it’s always so hot,” said Vega, who graduated from Kearny in 2012. “The weather today helped a lot. I was just hoping to break 18 minutes and I did that. I just started off well and kept going.”
Vega said that he wanted to run in the Kearny 5K because of the spirit of the race.
“It’s for a great cause and I’m glad to be able to support something like this in my hometown,” Vega said. “It’s great to see all the people here, hear the people on the course cheering. I was hoping to finish in the top five, so it was great to come out and get a win. It’s very humbling. It felt great to be able to win.”
Vega’s little sister, 11-year-old Arianna Perez, also competed in the race and handled herself well. She’s definitely a runner to watch.
A lot of Kearny residents came out to take part in the race, like the Rykowskis, namely Rich and Annette.
Rich Rykowski said that he competes in “about 15-to-20” 5K road races during the year, so it was convenient for him to have a race in his backyard.
“I think this was the first one in Kearny that I can remember,” Rykowski said. “It’s an exciting day and a great cause. It’s a beautiful day. I was really looking forward to it, considering it was in Kearny. It wasn’t bad at all.”
Annette Rykowski echoed those sentiments.
“It’s really exciting,” Rykowski said. “I love the energy that’s here and it’s right here in Kearny. This was the first one in Kearny and I think there should be more.” Retired Kearny firefighter John Donovan was another competitor.
“It’s such a great cause and it’s nice to see Kearny have a 5K,” Donovan said. “It brings everyone out and hopefully, this one will grow.”
Mike Tague, whose father, Mike Sr. was a past commander of the VFW Post 1302, was also glad to be able to compete in the race.
Clockwise from top l.: Little Mikaela Ricardo is all smiles as she is held closely by Lisa Adao at the Jorge Oliveira Memorial 5K Run Saturday in Kearny. From l., John Donovan, Jimmy Livingston and Mike Tague get together before the race. More than 150 people participated in the 5K Run and the Mile Walk sponsored by the VFW Post 132 in Kearny, including 11-year-old Arianna Perez finished strong.
“I’m a veteran of the (U.S.) Navy, so I wanted to support the race,” Tague said. “It’s great that the race is right in our backyard. I want to support races like this here.”
Kearny High graduate Jimmy Livingston, a former standout football player and wrestler at Kearny, is a member of the United States Marine Corps Reserves, based out of Fort Dix and still has five years service remaining.
“I always want to support the military in any way I can,” said Livingston, the nephew of Tague. “This man (Oliveira) gave the ultimate sacrifice, so it’s great that they chose to honor him. The VFW does great things.”
All three finished the race, with Donovan and Livingston finishing strong, almost hitting the finish line simultaneously. Tague was unfortunately a bit behind the other two.
“It really was a great day,” Livingston said.
After the race, several volunteers provided a BBQ for the runners. Water was distributed by the 7-11 on Schuyler Ave. and Belleville Turnpike. Several other sponsors were involved with the race.
“We’re trying to modernize the VFW,” Long said. “We want to do more events outside, getting the community involved.”
Long said that the VFW had an Octoberfest last year and will sponsor a Welcome Home event for the military on Sept. 26.
“We’re trying to revitalize the post,” Long said. “We received wonderful support for the race, with the Kearny police and fire departments coming together to help us. The entire community was hugely supportive. It really was a great day.”
“It was great to have this race for all different levels,” Vega said.
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Jim Hague | Observer Sports Writer
Sports Writer Jim Hague was with The Observer for 20+ years — and his name is one of the most recognizable in all of sports journalism. The St. Peter’s Prep and Marquette alum kicked off his journalism career post Marquette at the Daily Record, where he remained until 1985. Following shorts stints at two other newspapers, in September 1986, he joined the now-closed Hudson Dispatch, where he remained until 1991, when its doors were finally shut.
It was during his tenure at The Dispatch that Hague’s name and reputation as one of country’s hardest-working sports reporters grew. He won several New Jersey Press Association and North Jersey Press Club Awards in that timeframe.
In 1991, he became a columnist for The Hudson Reporter chain of newspapers — and he remains with them to this day.
In addition to his work at The Observer and The Hudson Reporter, Hague is also an Associated Press stringer, where he covers Seton Hall University men’s basketball, New York Red Bulls soccer and occasionally, New Jersey Devils hockey.
He’s also doing work at The Morristown Daily Record, the very newspaper where his journalism career began.
During his career, he also worked for Dorf Feature Services, which provided material for the Star-Ledger. While there, he covered the New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets.
Hague is also known for his announcing work — and he’s done PA work for Rutgers Newark and NJIT.
Hague is the author of the book “Braddock: The Rise of the Cinderella Man.”