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The 22nd Bill Degnan 5K brings tears and smiles

Angel Cox wins Faith in Human Spirit scholarship
One hundred runners head out on the streets of Lewes as part of the Bill Degnan 5K. DAVE FREDERICK PHOTOS
Dave Frederick
June 29, 2017
Rob Percival and Angel Cox before the Bill Degnan race.
Easing on down the road at the Bill Degnan 5K.
Patrick Boettcher wins the Bill Degnan 5K.
Olivia Montini is the overall women’s winner.
Jackie Quigley wins the women’s masters race.
Erin Boettcher runs the course in a time of 26:13.
Nathan Loucks clocks a time of 26:22.
Molly Sewell runs the race in a time of 28:15 to win the women’s 40-44 age group.
Griffin Joseph crosses the finish line in 28:36.
Great-nieces of Bill Degnan and grandchildren of Grandmom Rose.
John Blackford runs 19:48 to capture the 40-44 age group.
They are all Sussex County related (l-r) Griffin Joseph, Nathan Loucks, Jamie Hill Loucks and Megan Davidson.

Once a year for the last 22 years, friends have come together to cry some and laugh a little before running a 5K to remember the life of teacher and track coach Bill Degnan, who died from myocarditis at the young age of 43.

Each year, a scholarship and sometimes two are given out in Bill’s memory. It’s called the Faith in Human Spirit Award. Forty-four scholarships totaling over $12,000 have been given out in Bill’s memory. The 2017 winner, Angel Cox, was in attendance and an honorary starter for the June 25 race.

The 5K was won by former University of Delaware runner Patrick Boettcher of Newark in a time of 17:46. Rounding out the top 10 were Martin Rodriguez in 18:05, Mike Sewell in 18:37, D.J. Farren in 18:43, Paul Montini in 19:20, John Best in 19:39, Chris Stanley in 19:42, John Blackford in 19:48, Tom Hallinan in 20:48 and Breck Vanderwende in 21:07.

Olivia Montini was the overall women’s winner in 21:52. Following Olivia atop the women’s leaderboard were Mikayla Cannon in 23:01, Jackie Quigley in 23:22, Tanya Brown in 24:08, Margaret Colvin in 24:17, Karen Johnston in 24:44, Maria Calla in 24:54, Becky Montini in 25:15, Erin Boettcher in 26:13 and Lisa Orem in 26:41.

The next Seashore Striders events are the Beach Paper 5K at Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, July 1, and the 27th annual Dave Reynolds Rehoboth Biathlon, Sunday, July 2, starting at 8 a.m., off Baltimore Avenue and the Boardwalk.

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