Run for JJ Memorial 5K brings community together
A field of 300 runners and walkers turned out July 29 for the 15th annual Run for JJ Memorial 5K in Rehoboth Beach, named after the late JJ Stein with proceeds going to a foundation created in his name. This year, more than $7,000 was raised through sponsors of the event, while more than $100,000 has been raised since its establishment. The event not only brings together the participants, but also several individual families donate money to the foundation. In addition, New Balance presented two pairs of $75 running shoes, Grotto Pizza prepared a post-race breakfast, and Crabby Dick’s supplied the breakfast goods. The Giant gave watermelons, while Surf Bagel supplied the bagels. Cake Break, Snyder’s Candy, The Point, Inclind and Masser Systems made up the rest of the sponsors of the event. The Rehoboth Beach Patrol crew covered the course support; JJ Stein was a former guard and a member of the 1990 4-by-100 soft sand national championship relay team, which went on to place second in the world championships in Germany.
“People have been so generous to our event, and the community support has been great,” said father Jay Stein.
After 5,000 meters of running and racing, it was race regular Enos Benbow, 30, of Georgetown winning easily in a time of 17:30, while 43-year-old Mike Sewell of Camden was second in 18:35. Rounding out the top three was 32-year-old Matt Dunn of Trappe, Md., in a time of 18:45. Forty-one-year old Brian Davis of Rockville, Md., won the masters in 19:21.
Lillian McCormick, 23, kept her winning streak alive by winning another overall title in 20:07. Second place went to Bridget Danner of Rehoboth Beach in 20:35, while Breanna Ullrich, 16, of Frederick, Md., was third in 21:22. Mardiny Ung of Elizabethtown, Pa., won the masters in 23:18.
In the 5K walk, it was Wayne Kursh of Team Races2Run completing the distance in 40:10 to average under 13 minutes a mile, while Jim Lyons was second in 43:56. Andrea Grynberg was third in 50:34.
In the Clydesdale division, which served as the Delaware State Championship, Randall Calvert was crowned state champion in 20:06, while Evan Calvert was second in 20:17. Mark Nicholson of Ellicott City, Md., was third in 23:20.
In the filly division, Billie Jo Chiarelli won the title in 26:23, while Teri Moore of Milton was second in 29:39. Alicia Marchioni of Minneapolis, Minn., was third in 30:36.
London lads
Every evening I have been glued to the tube watching the action in London, and although I am not a real fan of gymnastics or swimming, I am a fan of watching our young athletes dedicate their whole lives to a sport and achieve success like winning an Olympic medal. Being a track & field nut, I have been waiting patiently for the opening day, when my interest will be in the men’s long jump and the men’s 1,500 meters. In the long jump, the Cape tie to the event is through U.S. trials; third-place finisher was George Kitchens, a graduate of Clemson University and teammate of local Kai Maull, a former Clemson All-American in the event. “George came to Clemson, and we were training partners for a few years,” said Maull. “George is one of those guys who has worked so hard and has not forgotten his dream, and now he is living it. I am so happy for him and wish him well.” The other tie to the Cape area is through last week’s road race, the Run for JJ 5K, where 23-year-old Matt Centrowitz is the No. 1 miler for the United States. Matt got his start as a 9-year-old in Rehoboth Beach in 1998, racing local Evan Mock of the Seashore Striders to the line in the 9 & under age group. Matt went on to run for Broadneck High in Annapolis, Md., where he ran 4:04 and 8:58; head of the PE department at Broadneck is my former boss at Timeout Sports and Seashore Striders coach Bruce Springer. I became good friends with dad Matt Sr., who coaches at American University and is the former American record holder in the 5,000 meters, and I continue to stay in touch with him. The dangerous gift little Matt has is that he can close a mile with 51-second 400-meter speed, which can put him stride for stride with anyone in the world.
Upcoming races
7:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 4, 29th Dam Mill 5K Run, Cupola Park, Millsboro.
8 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 5, 4th Outlet Liquors 5K, Rusty Rudder, Dewey Beach.
8 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 11, 10th Highway One Group 10K/5K, Rusty Rudder, Dewey Beach.
8:30 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 12, 3rd Free to Breathe Lung Cancer 5K and 1 Mile Walk, Cape High, Lewes.
