Locke

BY RICH BEVENSEE AND JIM LAMBERT Star-Ledger Staff NEW YORK --

Wendy Locke was stunned to find out she was the first New Jerseywoman to finish the 34th New York City Marathon yesterday. Locke, 42, a wife and mother from Rockaway Township, finished in 3 hours, 4minutes and 21 seconds in her seventh New York City Marathon and 15th marathonoverall.

She placed 18th among American women, 45th among women overall and554th in the race. Jobfair Information "I am very surprised to be the top New Jersey woman," Locke said. "It'sprobably one of the highest placings I've ever had. I hoped to come in underthree hours, but I'm happy with it. Considering how I placed, it definitelymakes it wonderful news."

Locke's personal best in New York is 3:01:59, which she ran in 2001, the sameyear she won the women's title at the Jersey Shore Marathon. She also loggedher personal best that year, running 2:52:57 at the Steamtown Marathon inScranton, Pa. Locke said she used last weekend's Safe Dating 5K, which she won in 19:35 inConvent Station, as a tuneup.