Cape track boys lose to Middletown by two points

Bill Henry Buckaloo, Don Don Mitchell  and Johnny Hopkins were waiting for the results of the boys’ Division I mile relay on Saturday afternoon, eager to set the fire trucks in motion to intercept the Cape track bus on the way down Route 1 from Dover. 

Cape entered the last of 18 events leading Middletown 106-98, with Salesianum and Caesar Rodney also in contention. Middletown won the event and 10 points, while Cape placed ninth for no points. 

The final tally for the state title contest was Middletown 108, Cape Henlopen 106, Salesianum 104 and Caesar Rodney 100.

Over two crazy days and 18 events, with points awarded to the top eight places, the top four teams grabbed 418 points out of 702.

Cape last won a DI boys’ state championship in 1986 under the late coach Bill Degnan. The Vikings last won the DII title in 2002 under coach Pat Pollock. 

Cape’s 4-by-400-meter team (mile relay) ran a fast 3:29.96, using drop-down distance guys Cardin Benjamin, Andrew Radka, Jamar Beasley and Navin Duffy. Never in the history of that race in a DI final had nine teams gone under 3:30. Each Cape runner ran under 53 seconds. 

Looking back over 18 events and 164 places awarded points, it’s easy to find just three points that would have put the championship trophy in the bus. 

Individual state champions for the Cape boys were Robert Redden in the 110-meter high hurdles, 15:03; Will DiPaolo in the pole vault, 13-feet-7-inches; and Jason Baker in the 3,200m, 9:12, a division record. 

Kevin Howard of Middletown, overcome by heat, wobbled and crashed short of the finish line in the 3,200 but got back up unassisted and fought across the line for seventh place in 10:03.32, grabbing two team points. Cape’s Nick Petito placed eighth in 10:06.85. Flip that script, and the final results change.    

Another event for forensic analysis searching for lost points was the high jump. The order of finish was Cameron Ervin of Polytech, Daniel Davis of Middletown and Stephen Hart of Cape. All cleared 6-feet-4-inches, and the places were awarded according to fewest misses on heights cleared.

Saint Mark’s won the DII boys’ meet with 108 points, followed by Tatnall with 89 and Laurel with 82. Sussex Academy placed eighth with 26.5 points. Elias Elzey of Laurel won the DII hurdles in 14.92, the fastest time of the day. Elzey also won the 300-meter hurdles in 39.54. 

Padua won the girls’ Division I title with 170 points, followed by Middletown with 104.5. Cape placed fourth with 57.83 points. Paige Ballinger of Padua won the 3,200 in 11:09.15. Anna Bockius of Padua won the 1,600, 4:49.95, and 800, 2:15.13. 

The girls’ Division II title went to Tatnall with 181 points, followed by Saint Mark’s with 135.5, and Archmere, 55. Sussex Academy placed 14th with 13 points. Katya Geyer of Sussex Academy won the DII high jump, clearing 5-feet-2-inches. 

The boys’ unified team results included Caesar Rodney with 49 points, Cape Henlopen 48, and Indian River 30. 

The girls' unified results were Smyrna with 88, Cape Henlopen 38, and Appoquinimink 21.  

Mixed unified team results were Cape Henlopen with 20, Smyrna 14, and Caesar Rodney 14.

Additional  results from the state championship meet will appear in the Friday edition of the Cape Gazette.