Hundreds run from waterpark afraid to get wet
Hundreds of runners gathered inside a water park then raced to their cars to avoid getting wet. The 13th annual Jungle Jim’s 5K June 24 was scheduled to start at 7:30, but it was pushed back to 7:50 because that was all the time it took for a serious front to blow through like a waterspout and clear the skies.
“Everyone has weather apps on their phones, and you don’t have to be a meteorologist to see what’s coming and the clear skies behind it,” said Race Director Tim Bamforth. “We got lucky. I’m glad the runners weren’t out on the course during the downpour.”
Austen Cave, 16, of Delmar, came back from a week at cross country camp and got after it, blitzing the course in 16:30. But Austen wasn’t done with the finish line. George Goodridge, 7, a member of the Salisbury group Athletes Serving Athletes, stood up from his buggy, his lower leg braces helping to support him, and walked across the finish line hand-in-hand with Cave. There was obviously a personal connection. About a dozen teams from ASA competed in the race.
Dr. Eve Hoffman, 30, an orthopaedic surgeon, who previously won the Jungle Jim’s 5K as a college student, listed her home as Rehoboth Beach and was the overall women’s winner in 20:35.
Bobby Hutton, 53, won the male masters race in 19:29, while Meryl Ludwig won the women’s masters competition in 22:27.
There is a complete expanded list of race results by age group at www.seashorestiders.com.
The seldom-seen mother/son age-group winning combination shows Joey Andrisani, 34, winning the 30-34 male division while his mother Mary Andrisani, 65, won the female 65-69 age group in 29:29.
The male 14-19 group was super competitive, with the first six runners 16 or younger all running under 21 minutes, which is about a 6:40 pace.
The Rebele twins, 16, Connor and Andrew, from North Brunswick, N.J., went 1-2, running 18:33 and 18:42. DJ Farren was right on their tails in 18:56.
Bennett Brumbley, 9, of Laurel dominated the 9-and-under category, running 21:47, and planned to “jog” the Bill Degnan 5K the following day. “My mom said if I ran faster than 27 minutes she’s taking my Xbox away,” Bennett said.
Brent Van Scyoc, 51, continues to dominate his 50-54 age group, running 21:15. He was followed by David Tikiob in 22:39, Doug Ludwig in 22:56 and Dave Farren in 25:18.
Jules Woodall, 69, won his age group in 26:01, but when he moves up to age 70, he’ll have to deal with Tim Abbott, 71, out of Georgetown, who ran 24:47.
Jim Batts from Millsboro, 75, won the 75-79 age group in 28:20.
The next Seashore Striders events are Independence Day weekend, with the Beach Paper Firecracker 5K July 1 at Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach and the July 2 Dave Reynolds Swim/Run Biathlon starting on the Boardwalk.
