Athletes of the Week March 22

Candace Britt

“Almost heaven, West Virginia.” Candace Britt, 37, is the mountain momma who began running in the mornings 10 years ago with no background in high school or college. Candace, now from Selbyville, was the first woman finisher in the Shamrock Shuffle 10-Miler March 17, running 1:21:21, which is an 8:08 mile pace. “I now work as an accountant but still get up early to do my running,” Candace said. “I’m running about 55 miles a week, with a little speed work and tempo running thrown in. Right now, I’m doing marathon training.” Candace’s coach Natalie Lutz said, “Her marathon training comprises approximately 45 to 55 miles per week with speed workouts, recovery runs and long runs, which sometimes include miles at marathon pace to prepare her body to hit her goal paces during the marathon. I can’t say enough about Candace! She is so motivated and driven, and she is a true delight to coach. I’m super excited to see what she can achieve at Coastal Delaware Marathon this April 14.”

Quade Cummings 

A runner and wrestler who’s just 14 years old, Quade will be heading to Caesar Rodney as a freshman this fall. Quade is a three-sport athlete at Postlethwait Middle School. He runs cross country and spring track, and he’s a member of the wrestling team. When not competing for his school, he also competes in many of the Seashore Striders events. Quade finished his middle school wrestling season a perfect 14-0, winning the Steve Stewart Middle School Classic at 106 pounds. He also wrestles for the Henlopen Hammers Wrestling Club, where he won championships in seven open tournaments last winter. Quade achieved MAWA All-American status last spring after finishing seventh at the Eastern Nationals. “Quade is a kid who does all the right things all the time,” said Benny Mitchell, his wrestling club coach. “That is what has led to his success.” Quade hopes to compete for a spot on the varsity wrestling team. He is a longtime friend of Cape’s freshman state champion Austin Guerrieri. Quade ran 20:49 at Sunday’s Shamrock Shuffle 5K to place second overall. 

Tayler Flaherty

After scoring 18 goals in 2023, Tayler Flaherty, a senior on the Sussex Academy girls' soccer team, opened the 2024 season with a goal in the Seahawks' 4-0 victory over Cape. Tayler said the goal was special to her because her first goal in her freshman year came against the Vikings as well. This fall, Tayler will suit up for Alvernia University near Reading, Pa. Following in the footsteps of her mom, who played collegiately at the University of Maryland, she said she fell in love during her visits to the Division III school. Flaherty began playing soccer at 4 and said she finds peace and happiness when she's on the pitch. She credits the sport for allowing her to meet some of her closest friends, some of whom she still plays with today. The senior plays club ball for the highly competitive Shore FC in Cambridge, Md., after learning the game at River Soccer Club. Her favorite subject is anatomy, and she will study nursing at Alvernia. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends and family, especially her dogs. She said the key to her success is always having a positive mindset.

Sarah Naar 

Sarah is a freshman and a formidable force in the attack zone for the Massachusetts Maritime Academy women's lacrosse team. Sarah has always been a big, strong player with soft hands who can shoot and make deft passes. She missed her senior season at Cape due to a preseason foot injury. Sarah has played and started in five games for MMA, and has 18 goals and three assists for 21 points. MMA fields 15 varsity athletic teams (seven men's, seven women's, one coed) competing in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference at the NCAA Division III level. Head coach Mikayla Correia said, “Sarah is the type of athlete any coach wants on their team. She goes out there every day because she loves the game, and her quiet work ethic permeates throughout our team. She's off to a strong start as a dominant scorer this year despite an injury early on. We are lucky that a talented kid from Delaware wanted to be a marine engineer!”