Benbow wins Run for JJ 5K  as 300 circle The Acres

The 16th Run for JJ 5K held July 28 in Rehoboth sent 300 runners on a scenic “you can’t afford it" course that goes out of the city and into the town of Henlopen Acres then back along Surf Avenue finishing at Lake Gerar, home of the endangered albino mallard, otherwise knows as the domestic duck.

Enos Benbow, 31, the Georgetown Jamaican vegetarian and Salisbury University graduate, completed his three-race weekend with a victory in a time of 17:01. Enos celebrated with a banana nub and slice of watermelon.

Mitch Smith, 18, placed second in 17:07 followed by Jamie Ertel, 18, in 17:41.

Farrier Gathen, 30, was the women’s winner in 20:14 followed by Laura Fura 20:27 and Vanessa Ander 20:52.

“An hour before the race there were like 10 people here, and I thought it was going to be an off year, ” said Jay Stein, who started the Run for JJ to honor his son, a Rehoboth lifeguard and world traveler who died at age 30 after accidentally falling from a bridge.

Some notable performances from locals or regular runners included Luke Burton, 8, 25:12; John Best, 12, 21:20; Connor Lingo, 18, 19:48; Jim Brameyer, 34, 18:25; Janelle Boyer, 43, 25:29; Kim Burton, 44, 26:01; Mardiny Ung, 46, 22:51; Kim Geyer, 45, 23:09; Darin Slade, 47, 20:41; Karen Johnston, 50, 24:19; Charles MacIntire, 58, 24:07; Rick Poppleton, 60, 21:25; Larry Windsor, 61, 21:39.

The 30th Dam Mill 5K at Cupola Park in Millsboro will take place at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 3.