Doug Mock wins Dam Mill 5K in 16:59
The 38th annual Dam Mill 5K Run, contested at Cupola Park in Millsboro July 24, was a hometown homey-style affair attracting 152 runners, many of whom have known each other for decades.
Bruce Springer, former owner of Time Out Sports on Rehoboth Avenue and race mentor to Tim Bamforth, snuck out of his vacation house to visit the race and say hello to old friends.
“No running for me anymore,'' Bruce said. “My ankles and knees can’t take it. I do a lot of biking these days in places where there is no vehicle traffic.”
Doug Mock, 54, a former runner at Salisbury State who regularly ran in the 14-minute range in the early days of the racing series, won the event in 16:59.
“I was happy to break 17,” Mock said. “I’m still out there training sensibly and trying to stay relevant. I recently ran 2:47 in the Salisbury Marathon.”
Martin Rodriguez, 39, was second in 17:40, followed by Pierce Conlon, 32, who placed third.
Young guns Caleb Bradley, 19, ran 18:31 followed by Ian Hayes, 16, in 18:40. Hayes, a Woodbridge Blue Raider, is a three-sport fall season athlete who runs cross country, plays soccer and kicks for the football team.
Matti Sparacino, 43, won the male masters trophy with a time of 18:27. He was followed by Paul Montini, 53, in second in 18:44 and Mike Sewell, 52, in third in 19:33.
Olivia Montini, 16, was overall women’s winner in 18:49. She was followed by Natalie Lutz, 39, in 19:08 and Tiffany Banning, 17, in 20:32.
Susan Dunn, 44, won the female masters race in 22:41, followed by Lori Holdsworth, 60, in 23:33 and Jackie Quigley, 54, in 23:58.
The next Seashore Striders event is the 13th annual Race for Paws 5K Saturday, Aug. 7, at the Dewey Beach Lions Club on Mckinley Street.
Notables: Newly married JR Ward (23:50) and Jen Perry (25:49) ran their first race as husband and wife. They were married last week by Barbara Kursh of Races2Run. Karen Johnston, 57, won her age group in 26:12, while husband Brian Johnston, 65, won his age group in 22:32. The running lunch ladies of Cape were age group champions – Bill Holdsworth, 61, in 21:24, while Lori Holdsworth, 60, ran 23:33. David Hill, 70, of Denver, Colo., won his age group in 24:40, while his wife Jan Hill, 63, a race walker, did the heel-to-toe fast walk in 34:56. Jack Huxtable, 83, ran 31:10 to win the 80-and-over age group by 20 minutes over Jack Noel and Paul Kiefer. Huxtable, an Ivy League guy and former member of President Kennedy’s Peace Corps, is a retired diplomat and holder of several age group state records.
