Already sweaty runners stepped to starting line at Dam Mill 5K
Runners were already sweaty as they stepped to the starting line July 23 for the 7:30 a.m. start of the 39th annual Dam Mill 5K in Millsboro.
“It’s a shady course. We had lots of water and felt conditions were safe,” said Race Director Tim Bamforth. “I know two other races over the weekend were canceled.”
An oddity of sorts was that 14 of the top 20 finishers were masters runners, 40 and over, and 10 of those were over 50 years old.
Caleb Bradley, 20, won his first race of the summer series with a clocking of 18:39. Brett Parker, 16, of Laurel was second in 18:54.
Paul Montini, 54, was third overall and masters winner in 19:59, just ahead of John Costello, 61, in 20:19.
Cindy Conant, 61, was overall women’s winner in 21:11.
Susan Dunn, 45, won the female masters race in 22:26, followed by Julie Sapper, 49, in 22:33.
The teenage boppers and micro boppers who got up early and elected to run 5 km in the high heat were Aaron Tikiob, 14, 22:33; Aydan Vanderwende, 18, 22:49; Ryan Moody, 14, 23:30; Ethan Thompson, 12, 23:38; Bennett Brumbley, 14, 24:13; Will Parker, 14, 25:48; Emma Thompson, 13, 25:58; Aydin Jones, 12, 26:02; Taegan Forester, 12, 28:54; Max Chesney, 11, 29:18; Grace Chesney, 14, 32:11; Brady Quillen, 10, 34:06; and Dayton Bailey, 19, 40:24.
Jack Noel, the oldest runner in the field at 83, crossed the finish line in 59:12 and queried, “Is it still Saturday?”
Noel missed his post-race induction and plaque presentation into the Dam Mill Hall of Fame because he vanished like a rabbit in a top hat off to perform his Magic Jack the Magician Act either at a kids’ party or senior center.
