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Kelly J. Fritchman 5K attracts deep field of fast friends

Dewey guards (l-r) Sam McMillon, Mike Czerwinski, Grant Daniels and Gerald Capano - not regular runners - cruise the 5K in 21 minutes and change. BY DAVE FREDERICK
Dave Frederick
July 15, 2014
The field takes off at the start of the Kelly J. Fritchman 5K. BY DAVE FREDERICK
Race winner Josh Hayman approaches the finish. BY DAVE FREDERICK
Lindsay Prettyman, a former Delaware star, wins the women's race in 17:52. BY DAVE FREDERICK
Karen Sposato of Milton points to a photograph of herself and Kelly Fritchman. Sposato finished the race in 21:55. BY DAVE FREDERICK
Brogan Evick gets his first race number pinned on by his dad Ben. BY DAVE FREDERICK
Dr. Matt Wiggins, former Cape football and wrestling standout, Swarthmore McCabe scholar and Vanderbilt Medical School graduate, runs the 5K. BY DAVE FREDERICK
Luke Burton and Jacki Coveleski run the 5K together. BY DAVE FREDERIK
Todd Fritchman runs the 5K. BY DAVE FREDERICK

The fifth Kelly J. Fritchman Memorial 5K run in Lewes July 12 attracted a friendly field of 289 runners, most of whom seemed to know each other.

Kelly died from complications from cystic fibrosis but pushed her athleticism to its limits, including swimming for the University of Delaware. Kelly was married to and had two children with Dewey Beach Patrol Capt. Todd Fritchman.

Proceeds from the race go toward funding the Kelly J. Fritchman scholarship at UD.

Josh Hayman, 21, of Bear won the race in 17:41. He was chased to the line by Gabe Lloyd, 16, of Dover in 17:51 and Delaware star runner Lindsay Prettyman in 17:52.

The next seven runners to round out the top 10 were Andrew Rogan 18:41, Chris Stanley 18:58, Robert Martin 19:13, Matt Keller 19:42, Ryan Cannon 19:57, John Blackford 20:20 and Lewis Fedele 20:18.

The race attracted a large contingent of beach lifeguards, mostly from Dewey and the state parks with several old-school guards from the friendly days of the Rehoboth Beach Patrol.

There were a bunch of kids who broke 25 minutes including girls Lindsay Rambo, 11, 24:19; Marissa Washburn, 10, 24:24; Ally Manifold, 12, 24:36; and Mackenzie Speed, 10, 24:42.

The boys' youngest group of 10-13 was highlighted by the Jones gang of Hunter Jones, 10, 24:51; Nathan Jones, 13, 26:16; and Joey Jones, 11, 26.22.

The Coveleski clan saw Max finish in 20:49, Hank in 21:11, Pete in 21:24, Jacki in 22:24, Staci in 27:34 and Joe in 32:06.

Tommy Coveleski, 59, just weeks past serious cancer surgery, walked with friends Jeff and Juli Giles, Dennis Walters and Pat Zolper in about 56 minutes.

Brogan Evick, 9, ran his first 5K in 32:06.

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