Cape boys battle CR for indoor track title

After six hours and 13 events, the team title for the boys’ indoor track meet in Snow Hill, Md., came down to the mile relay, the final event of the meet. Caesar Rodney held a slight lead over Cape Henlopen by two points, so the Vikings had to finish two places ahead of the Riders to win the meet. The cards did not fall Cape’s way, as the Riders won the mile relay in dominating fashion while the Vikings finished fifth, giving the team title to Caesar Rodney with 64 points. Kent Island scored 59.5 for second and Cape was third with 59 points. J.M. Bennett with 57 points and Smyrna with 56 points rounded out the top five teams in the meet. In one of the closest meets over the past few years, only eight points separated the top five teams. Sussex Central was a distant sixth with 32 points in its first year of indoor track.

Cape crowned one champion in the meet, as Josiah Miller threw 47-feet-4-inches for a season-best toss in the shot put. Miller just missed his outdoor personal best from last spring. Vaulter Bryan Ciabattoni cleared 12 feet to take second in the pole vault, while Giovanni Bendfeldt was fourth in 11-6.

The 3,200-meter relay team finished third in a time of 8:58.8 for a season-best time, while Daniel Adili-Khams finished fourth in the 3,200 meters in a season best of 10:50.5. Julian Callaway was fourth in the 800 meters in 2:10.6.

David Smith II was fifth in the 800 meters in a time of 2:12.2, while Ryan Baker was fifth in the 3,200 meters in 10:51.3. Cape’s 1,600-meter relay team finished fifth in a season-best time of 3:48.8.

Sam Epstein was sixth in the 1,600 meters in a time of 5:00.4, while Lance Kauffman was sixth in the 3,200 meters in 10:56.0. Karnell Wise was seventh in the high jump at 5-6, while Bendfeldt was eighth in the shot put in 34-10.

“The boys competed well, and it was exciting to have the meet come down to the last event,” said coach Ellis Gaulden. “We had a DQ in the mile and lost five points, and that came back to haunt us at the end of the meet when we could have used that five points.”

The Smyrna girls had little trouble winning the girls’ team title, as they scored 102.5 points over 13 events to easily top North Caroline in second with 65 points and Kent Island in third with 63 points. Cape Henlopen finished fourth with 62 points, while Sussex Academy rounded out the top five teams with 42 points. Second through fourth place were only three points apart, showing how close the weekly meets are with more than 20 teams.

Cape senior Olivia Brozefsky led the way by anchoring the first-place 3,200-meter relay team with freshman Katie Kuhlman, sophomore Elizabeth Melson and junior Taylor Johnson to a time of 10:25.1. Brozefsky also finished second in the pole vault in 9-0, and third in the 1,600 in 5:41.6. Brozefsky finished her day teaming up with Kuhlman, Johnson and sophomore Arrianna Dabney in the 1,600 relay to finish in 4:37.6 for seventh overall.

Sophomore Tia Jarvis won the 300 in 43.1 and returned to anchor the 800-meter relay, teaming with senior Sawyer Walker, freshman Maggie Brown and freshman Janya Currie in 1:57.4 for eighth place. Johnson returned to finish third in the 800 meters in a season-best time of 2:38.5, while Kuhlman returned in the 1,600 to run her first indoor mile in 5:47.1, good for fifth place. Mia Nuebling was sixth in the 3,200 run in 13:01.5. Walker finished third in the high jump in a season best of 4-10, while Ny’Ashja Brown was third in the shot put with a toss of 32-3.

“The girls competed well today and continue to be one of the top three teams each week among over 20 teams,” said coach Gilbert Maull. “We have some real quality freshmen and sophomores who are stepping up and being competitive against the older, more experienced athletes, which is nice to see.”

The Cape indoor track & field teams will break for the holiday, with the boys returning to Snow Hill Thursday, Jan. 2, while the girls will return to Snow Hill Wednesday, Jan. 8.

Surfin’ Snowman 5-Miler

Join Focus Multisport for the seventh annual Surfin' Snowman as runners take to the streets of downtown Bethany Beach for this twilight event. The race benefits the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company, Justin's Beach House, and Contractors for a Cause. Long-sleeved tech shirts and glow wear are guaranteed to those who preregister before Wednesday, Dec. 25. Custom awards for overall, masters and age-group winners.

Race Into the New Year

The 17th annual Race Into the New Year 5K will be held at noon, Tuesday, Dec. 31, from the Bandstand in Rehoboth Beach. Race-day registration begins at 10:30 a.m. The event will kick off with a dash for kids 12 & under on the Boardwalk, followed by a 5K race that will also start on the Boardwalk and travel to North Shores and back. Preregistration is $25 through Sunday, Dec. 29, at seashorestriders.com. Race-day registration is $30. Long-sleeved shirts are guaranteed to the first 200 runners to register.

Awards for overall, masters and age-group winners. Bring your horns and wear your New Year’s Day hats to welcome 2020 with the Seashore Striders.

Merry Christmas to all my running and racing readers!