After winning by more than six minutes last year, Ray Schneider posted a faster time in this year’s Long Beach Island Commemorative 18 Mile Run on Oct. 8. Still, the Montclair runner didn’t repeat as the winner.

Instead, the top position went to Rutherford’s William Brancato, who completed the trek from Holgate to Barnegat Light in a brisk 1 hour, 39 minutes, 16.97 seconds, more than three minutes ahead of West New York’s Kyle Milden, who finished the nearly straight course in 1:42:58.80. Schneider finished third in 1:43.21.03.

Brancato, who finished second in 2021, led the 520 finishers to the end line with a 5½ minute pace, about 13 seconds…