Athletes of the Week Oct. 1

Natalie Lutz

This 39-year-old running medical speech pathologist and Team USA duathlete from Hockessin was the first woman and second overall at the Crushin’ Cancer 5K Sept. 26 at Paradise Grill in a fast time of 18:49. That is 6:02 mile pace. Natalie is currently training for the Boston Marathon, scheduled for Monday, Oct. 11. She owns a personal best 5K of 18:42, which was set Aug. 21 at the West Chester Daybreak 5K. Her personal best times include a 5:36 mile, 1:29 half marathon and 3:24 marathon. “My training is a mixture of speed, tempo and long runs with allocated rest days,” Natalie said. Natalie has been married to Matthew for 13 years. They have two children – Jackson, 7, and Viviana, 3. Natalie went to McKean High School and UD. She ran cross country and track and played basketball in high school. She ran cross country two years at UD. 

Elaina Millaway

A freshman for the Delmarva Christian volleyball team, this honor roll student is making the opposing coaches stand and take notice in her first year of interscholastic play. She recently posted 15 kills and 18 digs against a very strong Dover squad. "I was really happy with my performance against Dover," she said. "It was my best match of the year." She is averaging 11 kills and 15 digs per match. "Packaged in her small little frame is a player who is coachable, humble and a very hard worker," said Royals head coach Jim Berger. "She is a tremendous athlete." When not on the court for the Royals, she plays for the Premier volleyball travel team and the Sand Sharks beach volleyball squad. She is a member of the DCHS Spirit Club, and in her spare time, she loves caring for her two pet cows and sheep.

Lily Noonan

This 13-year-old, nicknamed the Lilinator, won her first middle school cross country race Sept. 27 at Brown Branch Park in Milford, running 2.16 miles in 15:24. Noonan is a straight-A eighth-grader at Beacon who led her team to a season-opening win. Lily has three national championships to her credit with her Seashore Striders club that grabbed seven of the top 10 places in the race. Lily is an Academic Challenge and Advanced Placement student. Lily has run 21 minutes on the roads for a 5K and can hurdle, triple jump, high jump and dance an Irish jig with the best of them, placing 15th last year at the Irish Dance Nationals.  

Riley Stazzone

This Beacon eighth-grader won the boys’ race Sept. 27 in 13:35, his first overall win after opening up with a 5:40 mile. Riley has competed in nationals with his Seashore Striders club team and has qualified three times. Riley is an Academic Challenge student for math and English, and a member of the Beacon Honor Society. Riley is also on the Lewes Yacht Club sailing team and a member of the Troop 1 Boy Scouts. When Riley is not studying, sailing or competing in the pinewood derby competition, you can find him winning cross country races for his Beacon Middle team.