Race into the New Year attracts a family crowd on winter break

Enos Benbow, the Seashore Striders Jamaican from Georgetown, worked the finish line at the 11th annual Dec. 31 Race into the New Year in Rehoboth as 30-year-old Bornfase Omurwa crossed first in 17:11.  “He ran the marathon, too," Benbow said.  "He’s pretty fast.” When it was mentioned that Omurwa was from Kingston, Benbow thought “countryman” until he heard Kingston, Pa.

Steven Eshelman, 20, from Lincoln, Delaware, not Nebraska, placed second in 17:38, followed by Patrick Boddicker, 17, in 17:44.

Cindy Conant, 52, from Kensington, Md., not Philadelphia, was the overall women’s winner in 19:38. Bethany Killmon, former Sussex Tech star from Bridgeville, now a freshman at Misericordia College, was second in 20:18 followed by Paula Pels, 46, in 20:27.

“The Race into the New Year brings out families together over the holidays and college kids home on vacation. It’s always a fun time," said Race Director Tim Bamforth. “Where else can you find fit people standing around a cold parking lot eating blueberry pancakes cooked by Catcher's in the early afternoon?”

Two hundred and thirty-four runners completed the race, with the top 25 breaking the magical 7-minute mile pace.

The next Seashore Striders race is the 10 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 12 Race with the Hawks at Saint Georges Technical High School.  The local connection is coaches J.D. and Kai Maull, forever Cape guys.