Record number of racers showing up for summer series
The 22nd annual Father's Day 5K run was held June 17 in Rehoboth Beach as the fifth stop on the Seashore Striders Summer Series. The race attracted 405 finishers for a new series record in the 22-year history of the race. The event was also the final stop in the weekend Triple Crown Miniseries.
Enos Benbow captured all three events as the overall male champion, finishing up with a 16:21 on Father's Day. Mike Sewell captured the masters in 17:48 for fifth place overall. Emily Ritter, 19, who just finished her freshman year at Rider University, won the overall female title in 19:32 - the same time she ran to win the Blue-Gold 5K a week earlier in Lewes. Christine Lloyd of Newtown, Pa., won the female masters in a time of 20:28, which is one of the top 10 masters times in the past five years in the series.
The Father's Day 5K always attracts a family crowd that includes grandfathers down to grandsons and granddaughters taking part in the popular event.
One example is 80-year-old Alberto Castillo of Rehoboth Beach, who led the way with the largest family at the event with nearly 20 relatives on the starting line. Dan Sponaugle, who graduated from Cape in 1985, brought his family, as 11-year-old Amanda, 15-year-old Rebecca and wife Christine all took part. Dan ran just over 28 minutes to wear the title as the fastest in his family, while I, on the other hand, wear the title of having the fastest PR at 15:50 and being the slowest now in my family. Special thanks to the Rehoboth Ale House for hosting the post-race gathering, as well as sponsors Giant, New Balance, Cake Break, Snyder’s Candy, Surf Bagel, The Point and Rita’s.
Triple Crown Miniseries
The Georgetown Library 5K last Friday evening in Georgetown is in its ninth year and kicked off the Triple Crown Miniseries for the Seashore Striders. A total of 11 runners took on the challenge, completing three 5K races in 36 hours in three separate towns. Here is the list and age from youngest to oldest:
Female - 1. Chelsea Lecates, 16, 1:12:02; 2. Gail Semans, 54, 1:25:10; 3. Georgette O’Cone, 64, 1:29:03; 4. Lainey Shockro, 6, 1:37:27; 5. Betty Ridenour, 46, 1:39:21.
Male - 1. Enos Benbow, 30, 50:42; 2. Carl Kondrach, 40, 1:04:06; 3. Roger Reed, 48, 1:17:46; 4. Herb Semans, 57, 1:24:09; 5. Dr. Lee Masser, 76, 1:40:03; 6. Alberto Castillo, 80, 2:13:00.
It's interesting that six runners ran their fastest at the opening Friday evening event, while five runners (Benbow, Semans, Ridenour, Masser, Castillo) waited until the final race to turn in their best performance. Congratulations to all the Triple Crown finishers.
Upcoming races
Saturday, June 23, 8th Jungle Jim’s 5K Splash, 7:30 a.m., Jungle Jim’s Adventure Park, Rehoboth Beach
Sunday, June 24, 17th Bill Degnan Memorial 5K, 7:30 a.m., Cape Henlopen High School, Lewes
Saturday, June 30, 22nd Beach Paper 5K Run & Walk, 7:30 a.m., Grove Park, Rehoboth Beach
Sunday, July 1, 22nd Dave Reynolds Swim/Run Biathlon, 8 a.m., Rehoboth Beach Patrol Headquarters, Rehoboth Beach
Sunday, July 1, 10th Rusty Rudder 5K, 8 a.m., Rusty Rudder, Dewey Beach.
