Seashore Classic Half-Marathon heads up weekend

The Beacon girls' track & field team moved to 7-0 on the season as athletes are getting ready for the Jim Blades Invite Friday, April 12, at Lake Forest High School. At least 10 teams will be in the hunt for the team title, won by a good Chipman team on both the girls' and boys' side last year. A good effort was put in by the Beacon boys' team as they fell to Millsboro 66-43 this week, while the girls beat Millsboro for an 82-25 win. Ben Bamforth was the meet high scorer, winning the mile and triple jump with a new best of 33 feet and finishing third at 800 meters. Other event winners were Curtis Purnell, Dane Palmer and Richard Marchais. Purnell and Palmer have emerged as instant point scorers in just their sixth-grade year.  In the girls' meet, seventh-grader Logan Shuttleworth was the high scorer, winning the mile and triple jump, a field event she has won all season. Dajante Mackey won two events and anchored the winning 4-by-100 relay and tied the school record in the hurdles. Other event winners were Zoe Scott, Alia Marshall, Cerera Middleton and the relay teams of Annie Judge, Katie Frederick, Lerah Boyer and Katie Klabe. Sprinter Marshall and thrower Middleton are also just sixth-graders. Friday’s invite will be a test for both teams, as most of the teams from the Henlopen Conference should attend including Mariner Middle School under coach Julie Jackson. Mariner faced Chipman this week and has a sprint core that is improving each week as well as a good-looking set of distance runners.

Seashore Classic Half-Marathon this Sunday at Irish Eyes

The fourth annual Seashore Classic, a half-marathon event, a 5K run and a relay, will be held Sunday, April 14, starting and finishing at Irish Eyes in Lewes. The course will travel toward Lewes Beach and then to Cape Henlopen State Park and loop the park before returning to Lewes and making its way back to the Irish Eyes location. Preregistration packet pickup will be held the evening before, 5 to 8 p.m., Saturday, April 13, at Irish Eyes with the race taking off at 8 a.m. on Sunday. If you can complete a distance of 10 miles, you're good to go for a half-marathon. Nearly 200 participants have registered, and registration is still open. For more information, visit www.seashorestriders.com.

Cherry Blossom 10

A team of local runners traveled west to Washington, D.C., to take part in the huge Cherry Blossom 10-Miler as more than 17,000 took part in the 10-Miler and just over 2,000 participated in the 5K. The locals were led by Enos Benbow, 31, running 1:02:38; while 11-year-old Blake Hundley turned in his best and possibly the nation's best 10-mile time in his age group at 1:04:27. Former Sussex Central runner Chris Martin, 29, of Georgetown ran 1:06:31. Results can be found at www.cherryblossom.com.

Quest Fitness Mud Run

The word is out, the applications are circulating, and the online hits are picking up daily as local groups are gathering teams for the third annual Quest Fitness Mud Run scheduled for 9 a.m., Sunday, April 28, in Milton. Applications can be picked up at Quest Fitness or you can download an application at www.seashorestriders.com.

Upcoming Races

8 a.m., Sunday, April 14, 4th Seashore Classic Half Marathon & 5K, Irish Eyes, Lewes, www.seashorestriders.com.

8 a.m., Sunday, April 21, 1st Oy Vey 5K Run & Walk, Holland Glade Road, Rehoboth Beach, www.seashorestriders.com.

8 a.m., Saturday, April 27, Oxford Day 10K Run & 5K Walk, Oxford, Md., www.seashorestriders.com.

8:30 a.m., Saturday, April 27, Inaugural Big Fish Grill 5K, Rehoboth Beach, www.races2run.com.

9 a.m., Sunday, April 28, Quest Fitness Mud Run, The Farm, Milton, www.seashorestriders.com.

9 a.m., Sunday, April 28, Second Daffodil Dash for Autism 5K, Lewes, www.races2run.com.