Masser 5-Miler kicks off Striders Summer Racing Series

The 25th annual Masser 5-Miler will kick off the 28th Seashore Striders Summer Racing Series Sunday, May 27, at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes. The series began in 1990 and continues today with hundreds of new runners taking part each year.

Registration will be open through Saturday, May 26, and will close at 6 p.m. Race-day registration will begin at 6:30 a.m., Sunday, at Cape Henlopen High School, 1250 Kings Highway, Lewes, where there is plenty of available parking.

The sleepwalker option is to stay in bed, but make a contribution to a great cause – the Seashore Striders Youth XC team.

Custom lighthouse awards will be presented to the top three male and female finishers in age groups. Awards will also be presented in various Clydesdale/Filly weight and age categories.

“The Masser 5-Miler is a favorite among locals and a kickoff to the summer racing season,” said Strider Dave Mushrush.

JWJ 5K & 2M Walk

The annual JWJ 5K, better known as the Justin's Beach House Memorial Day Weekend 5K Run & 2-mile Walk will take place in Bethany Beach at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, May 26. The popular holiday weekend event will attract nearly 1,000 participants to loop the town of Bethany for the 3.1-mile run course and 2-mile walk course. It’s a quality event in a running-friendly town, and the JWJ organization does a great job with the awards, post-race, sponsors, and volunteers. If you have not experienced the event, it is one to try. The Seashore Striders will be setting the course and the start and finish timing for the event. Arrive early, as parking is always a challenge in the small town, but biking or walking to the start is encouraged. See you at the race.

Middleton gets the double

Very few track and field athletes can rise to the occasion on state meet day in two different seasons and get the job done. Ce’yra Middleton, a Cape junior thrower, did just that when she won the girls’ indoor shot put state championship back in February in Landover, Md., and the outdoor shot put title May 22 at Dover High School.

Ce’yra is coached by Cape assistant and throwing coach Rob Perciful, a longtime track coach in Delaware with more than 40 years under his belt. In both cases, Middleton was not the No. 1-ranked thrower, but on both occasions she walked away with the gold medal with a toss of 38-feet-5-inches. A super student, a super strong athlete, and a super success story. Congratulations to our Cape state champion! 

Run for Doug

On Saturday, June 2, at 7:30 a.m. from Irish Eyes, join the Striders and Masser Systems Inc. for the second annual Doug Strong 5K, the second of the Seashore Striders Summer Racing Series. It’s a beautiful 5K run through the Lewes in memory of Doug White. Doug passed away in December 2016; he was a husband, a father, and everyone's friend. We will honor Doug through this event, and his legacy lives on with running and racing in Delaware.

Register at seashorestriders.com and honor a great running man.

Cape Tri to be held June 10

The Cape Triathlon will be held Sunday, June 10, at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, and there is still time to register for the event. It will consist of “tri and du” divisions with the tri including a quarter-mile swim, 10-mile bike and 5K run, and the du including a 2-mile run, 10-mile bike and 5K run. The divisions for the event include open, clyde, athena and novice.

The Seashore Striders will present a special award to anyone who completes the 2018 Tri/Bi/Tri Challenge consisting of the Cape Triathlon June 10, Dave Reynolds Biathlon July 1 and Dewey Beach Triathlon Sept. 15.

Athletes must complete the whole event, not a relay, and must be preregistered for the final event by Aug. 1 so awards can be ordered.

Visit seashorestriders.com for information and to get registered for the Cape Triathlon.

Ally Diehl wins the basketball

Third-grader Ally Diehl received a surprise visit recently as Cape basketball stars Ian Robertson and Randy Rickards presented her with the signed basketball from the Jump Rope for Heart program. Back in January, the 1,000-point scorers signed the ball in front of the whole student body and announced that the student who raised the most money would win the ball. Ally is a huge fan of Ian and Randy, and she raised more than $500 to take home the prize. Congratulations to Ally, and to Ian and Randy who were part of a memory this little athlete will never forget.