Cape track & field teams gear up for first event

The Vikings will kick off the 2022 season next Friday with the teams traveling to the Cambridge Invitational to be held at Cambridge-South Dorchester High School. Both teams are coming off a Henlopen Conference indoor championship last month and are looking forward to getting things started this spring. “We are hoping to keep the momentum going with the program and have the same amount of success this spring,” said coach Ellis Gaulden, who was named Delaware Indoor Track Coach of the Year last week. Both teams are loaded with underclassmen who are new to the sport and learning the ropes daily. The majority of teams at the meet will be from the Snow Hill indoor circuit, which includes all the Wicomico League teams. Lake Forest and Sussex Academy are also scheduled to participate. Snow Hill timer and organizer David Dodson does a great job at producing track & field meets, and Cape is looking forward to a first-class event and a different competition look with Maryland teams. Good luck, Vikings!

Ryan Baker

Cape distance ace Ryan Baker achieved a milestone that I know no runner from the Henlopen Conference and few in the state have ever achieved. Baker participated with his distance teammates in a scheduled 2-mile time trial this week and threw down a time of 9:44, just under 10 seconds off his all-time, personal-best outdoors record of 9:35, set at last year’s Henlopen Conference Championships, which is the Cape school record. Baker averaged back-to-back 4:52 miles, which is pretty amazing when you think of doing it at practice. Baker ran 9:29 indoors this season, which is the indoor school record and his all-time personal best. “Ryan is one of the most focused and tough runners that I have known in all my years as a runner,” said local runner and girls’ coach Martin Rodriguez. “What he did in that 2-mile time trial proves my point. Amazing.”

Middle school track

Beacon and Mariner will kick off the spring season Wednesday, March 23, with a five-team meet at Legends Stadium at Cape Henlopen High School. Milford, Georgetown and Millsboro will also take part in the  meet. I have been in touch with both coaches, head coach Jim Sumstine at Mariner and assistant coach Jen Cawthern at Beacon, and both tell me they have a high number of athletes out for their teams and some very talented kids. The past two middle school seasons have been canceled due to the pandemic, so middle school athletes are eager to get back to running, jumping and throwing.  

Tim Kennard 10-Miler & 5K

The popular Tim Kennard 10-Miler and 5K will return to the streets of Salisbury, Md., Sunday, March 20, after a two-year layoff. Registration is just under 400 as of Thursday, and organizer Harlon Eagle is hoping for more. “I think by Sunday we will be getting close to the 500 mark,” he said. “We are hoping for great weather and hoping to produce a great event for our runners.” The race will begin at Salisbury Bible Fellowship Church, 1500 Court Plaza Lane, at 8:30 a.m. Packet pickup will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the EVO Public House, 201 E. Vine St. Registration is still open at seashorestriders.com.