Dolphin Dash in memory of Betty Gooch this Friday at Shields

The annual Dolphin Dash 5K and Kiddie Run will kick off at 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 30, from Shields Elementary School in Lewes in memory of the late Betty Gooch. Betty was everyone's teacher and friend, and her legacy lives on in the school, in the church, and in the Gooch Family as we run and walk and remember Betty. A scholarship is also presented to a Sussex County student in memory of Betty every spring by the family.

Registration will begin at 4 p.m. for a $25 entry fee with the race looping Highland Acres and Blockhouse Pond before returning to Shields Elementary. Visit www.seashorestriders.com for more race information.

Milford girls, Sussex Tech boys sweep Tech Quad Meet

Four cross country teams met at Sussex Tech this past Wednesday afternoon under cloudy skies on a rain-soaked 5,000-meter course for the Sussex Tech Quad Meet featuring host Sussex Tech and visiting teams Cape Henlopen, Milford and Polytech. Approximately 160 runners took to the course in two races 30 minutes apart racing through fields, up a man-made hill three times, and through the single-track trails in the woods. On the girls’ side of the team action, Milford came away with three wins, 21-34 over Sussex Tech, 19-36 over Cape, and 16-39 over Polytech to sweep the action. Milford and Sussex Tech each put four runners in the top 10 as Milford was led by Deja Rodriguez-Santiago, who won the race in 21:26. Cape super frosh Olivia Brozefsky was second in 21:57. Sussex Tech was led by Alexis Singh in 22:30 for fourth place, while Emily Perry of Polytech was eighth in 23:10. Sussex Tech came away 2-1, while Cape came away 1-2. Polytech was winless, but only lost to Cape by a slim 27-29 margin.

On the boys’ side of the action, it was the Ravens from Sussex Tech grabbing six of the top 10 positions in the race to dominate the field led by Sussex Tech senior Ben Bamforth cruising to the line in 17:10. Cape's Greg Boyce charged in for second in 17:12, while Graham Spellman of Tech rounded out the top three in 17:28. Polytech grabbed two spots in the top 10 led by Bryan Perry who was fifth in 17:43. Milford was led by Emmanuel Beaucejour in eighth overall.

Sussex Tech came away 3-0 with wins over Cape 19-44, Milford 17-44, and Polytech 18-42. Milford came away 1-2, while Polytech was 2-1, and Cape was winless at 0-3.

Race Note - A pack of front-running girls, including Santiago of Milford and Brozefsky of Cape, went left into the woods at the 600-meter mark when they were supposed to go straight. The pack spent 20 extra seconds in the woods before they emerged back into the race well behind the leaders in 15th place. Both Santiago and Brozefsky went to work for the remaining 2.5 miles and caught and pulled away from the leaders, eventually finishing first and second in the race. It was a tough run they put together after some tough luck, and both should be commended, should be proud of their effort, and both should have learned a thing or two about knowing the course as a front runner like the back of your hand regardless of whether a parent, spectator, or cameraman with a glued head points you in the wrong direction.

Upcoming Events

• Friday, Sept. 30, Run for Betty Dolphin Dash 5K, 5:30 p.m., Shields Elementary, Lewes, www.seashorestriders.com
• Saturday, Oct. 1, Harry K Foundation Backpack 5K, 9 a.m., Rehoboth Beach, www.races2run.com
• Saturday, Oct. 1, 2nd Paradise Grill 5K, 12 p.m., Paradise Grill, Long Neck, www.seashorestriders.com
• Sunday, Oct. 2, inaugural Taste of Sposato Wine Run 5K, 9 a.m., Milton, www.races2run.com
• Saturday, Oct. 8, 6th Dewey Goes Pink 5K, 11:30 a.m., Dewey Beach, www.races2run.com
• Saturday, Oct. 15, inaugural Ashley Furio Memorial 5K for Children's Beach House, 9 a.m., Crooked Hammock, Lewes, www.races2run.com
• Sunday, Oct. 16, 3rd Herring Point 5K/10K, 9 a.m., Herring Point, Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes, www.seashorestriders.com.