06/09/2026
A heartfelt THANK YOU to all who participated, competed, volunteered, officiated, spectated and cheered, and to our amazing sponsors who help make The BELLA MILE possible each year!!!
The 2026 BELLA MILE did NOT disappoint! Despite being on the warmer side, we had an incredible day of racing with one WORLD Record, three AMERICAN Records, and two meet records being set at CBA in Lincroft, NJ!!!
65-year-old Rick Lee of Bayville, NJ, added to the list of his storied accomplishments by breaking the Outdoor 1500m WR for AG 65-69 en-route to attempting the Mile WR. Rick went through the 1500m in 4:36.34 to break the WR by 2.7 seconds! He missed the Mile WR by 0.6, but shattered the American Record by 7.5 seconds to finish in 4:57.03!!!
85-year-old Michael Cook of Princeton, NJ, obliterated the American Record AG 85-89 of 8:13.49 by finishing the Mile in a blazing 8:09.8!!!
Shona Obrien of Philadelphia Runner Track Club won the Female Open Elite heat in 5:01.80, erasing the meet mark of 5:01.95 set by Anna Shields of Connecticut in 2024.
Niko Ferrante of Monmouth University crossed the finish in 4:21.1, winning the Male Open Elite heat, breaking the meet record set in 2024 by Michael Gomes of New York in 4:21.7.
The youngest competitor was 9 and the oldest 85! We had mothers & daughters, fathers & sons, couples, families, all competing--some in the same race!
Proceeds provide scholarships to female athletes who plan to continue to complete in Track & Field or Cross Country in College. This year's recipients will be announced on June 22nd!
Special thanks to our supporters:
Main Event Sponsor: Hargis Custom Homes, LLC
Photography Sponsor: Executive Abstract Title Agency (Photos by Derek Cassella)
Prize Sponsor: LMNT
Tank Top Sponsors:
Bella N Motion
Brielle Cyclery
Pool Scouts of Monmouth County
Active Chiropractic, Dr. Mike Gearinger, Toms River
Raymond Roncin, DMD, Toms River
In Loving Memory of Michael Adam Snow
RACE PHOTOS (by Derek Cassella) can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/mobile/folders/11LNbW1vujrmcikNnDvb45bk0VHxXX7vy/1s1SDHIWImtHum6koRRAm9MS2By6iD9Hc?sort=13&direction=a
With gratitude,
Dianne
Dianne DeOliveira
Race Director/Bella Mile
President/Bella N Motion
