Rehoboth Marathon & Half sell out at 1,900 participants

For the first time since the event began back in 2008, the popular Rehoboth Beach Marathon and Half-Marathon have sold out with 1,900 participants expected in the Nation’s Summer Capital on Saturday, Dec. 8.   Both races will begin together at 7 a.m., at the Bandstand, looking down Rehoboth Avenue with the Atlantic as a backdrop.

“We have a beautiful fast and flat course where participants get to enjoy the ocean, the trails and the state park all in the same race,” said organizer Mary Beth Evans of the Rehoboth Beach Running Company. Sponsorship coordinator Amy Lindzey added, “The cancellation of the New York City Marathon in early November definitely boosted our numbers to our sellout totals.”

The race will head down Rehoboth Avenue to Fifth Street before a right turn heads the runners toward North Shores and Cape Henlopen State Park at Gordons Pond. After looping the park, the race will head back toward Grove Park and the 5-mile mark before leaving Rehoboth Beach and heading north to Lewes by way of the Junction and Breakwater Trail. Three miles later, the course drops into the Hawkseye development, where the half-marathoner will turn around and head for home, while the marathon group continues onto Gills Neck Road heading toward Lewes. Runners will cross the drawbridge and take Cape Henlopen Drive into Cape Henlopen State Park for a 4-mile loop on the bike trail. The course takes in Lewes Beach before hooking up with Gills Neck Road, the 20-mile point, and following Gills Neck to the trail through Hawkseye and back to Rehoboth Avenue. Once the half and full marathons get on Rehoboth Avenue, runners will remain on the left side of the road for the final half-mile, finishing on Lake Avenue next to the Rehoboth Beach Running Company.

There are 18 opportunities for runners to get water along the course, and 10 groups will be needed to work the stops. For any organizations such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, school groups or businesses looking to build office morale and do some community service together,  a water stop would be a great opportunity. The Seashore Striders are also searching for those musically inclined who would like to volunteer their talent along the course.  Runners love music, and it is a great addition to the event. Contact Race Director Tim Bamforth of the Seashore Striders at tim@seashorestrider.com to volunteer for a water stop or music.

Blake Hundley wins regional title to lead 17 Striders to nationals

Ten-year-old Blake Hundley of Bethany Beach won the individual title for the Seashore Striders at last Sunday’s Regional Cross Country Championships at Killens Pond State Park.  Hundley averaged 6 minutes a mile to race to a time of 11:09 for the 1.86-mile, 3,000-meter course.  Ben Bamforth, running in the youth division, finished third overall and blazed through a PR opening mile of 5:17 on his way to a 4,000 meter PR of 14:10.  Logan Shuttleworth ran to a fifth-place finish on the midget 3,000-meter course in 12:10, while little bro Ethan was 11th in the primary boys' race in 9:15.  First-year runner Lainey Shockro was eighth in the primary girls' race in 10:15 for 2,000 meters, while Devin Hundley was 13th in 11:09.  Lindsay Rambo was 11th in 13:33 in the 3,000-meter bantam girls' race, followed by teammates Emma Barthelmess in 14:09 for 26th, Sky Dunmyer in 14:21 for 28th, and Emily Lamb in 15:19 for 39th.  Cameron Hill was 27th in the midget race in 12:35, followed by Daniel Brown in 29th at 12:40.  Brock Diaz was 38th in 13:20, while Jake Caldwell was 54th in 14:55.  In the girls' midget race, Strider Elizabeth DePrince was 21st in 19:34 for the 4,000-meter distance, followed by Cailey Thornburg in 22nd with a 19:40.  Zoe Kelly was 25th in 20:58. Seth DePrince was 24th in the youth boys' race in 15:19, followed by Carter Hill in 26th in 15:27. Lohgan Kline was 44th in 16:27, Hunter Steelman was 49th in 16:40 and Spencer Czerwinski was 73rd in 19:43. A group of 36 athletes and parents will fly to Indianapolis, Ind., Thursday, Nov. 29, compete Saturday, Dec. 1, and return Sunday, Dec. 2. It will be the 22nd straight trip to the national championships dating back to the first trip when two high school gals named Suzannah Martin from Cape and Sally Beth Johnson from Sussex Central competed in Portland, Ore., in 1990.

MacElrevey duo leads Sussex County runners at states

Austin MacElrevey, a junior from Cape Henlopen, led the Sussex County runners at last Saturday’s state championships at tough Brandywine Creek State Park with a time of 17:31 for seventh overall in the D1 race. Sam Hete of Sussex Tech was 17th in 17:59 to lead his Tech team. Sussex Tech was sixth overall in the team race with 170 points, while Cape was eighth overall with 245 points on the boys' side. For the girls, it was Cape’s Madison MacElrevey finishing 19th in 21:50 leading the Sussex County runners, while Bethany Killmon was 30th in 22:56 leading her Sussex Tech team. Sussex Tech was ninth with 234 points, while Cape was 11th with 240 points. The full state meet results can be found at N5CTA.com.

Upcoming races

9 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 18, Sea Witch Fall 5K Classic (makeup Sandy race), Grove Park, Rehoboth Beach.

9 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 24, Pumpkin Pie 5K, Grove Park, Rehoboth Beach.

9 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 25,  Sea Colony Turkey Trot 5K, Bethany Beach.