Fast friends and slower times at 23rd Bill Degnan 5K
Fast friends are slower than they were 23 years ago, but they still show up every year on a Sunday in June for the annual running of the Bill Degnan Faith in Human Spirit 5K.
Bill, a teacher and coach at Cape and Woodbridge, died 23 years ago at the age of 43 from an attack of myocarditis, a virus that destroys the lining of the heart.
The race attracted 98 runners and was won by 20-year-old Stewart Emory in a time of 16:02.3.
Olivia Montini, 13, from Huntingdon Valley, Pa., was the overall women’s winner in 21:16.
Chris Stanley won the male masters in 19:44, then jumped in his car, drove to Dewey and ran the Northbeach 5K in 22:29. Chris is another congenial, crazy runner cut in the mold of Mike Wardian.
Jackie Quigley won the women’s masters in 23:38.
Zach Simpler, the Degnan Faith in Human Spirit Award winner, ran 32:51.
Bennett Brumbley, 10, ran 20:55, while 9-year-old Gage Hall ran 25:57.
Bill’s longtime friends from the west side of Sussex County all walked in the 55-minute range and included Rich Karkoska, Rob Perciful, Vic Hrebian and Stephanie Perciful.
