Fire Fightin’ 5K attracts field of 271 runners
The 11th annual Rehoboth Beach Fire Fightin’ 5K Run/Walk took place Aug. 17, in front of Station 86 in Rehoboth Beach, the Nation’s Summer Capital.
There were face painters, sprinklers connected to fire hoses, a fast and flat course, tech T-shirts, cool awards, and lots of locals and visitors showing their support for the hardworking Station 86 team. There were 11 states represented, from Delaware to Oregon, with the largest group being from Delaware with 141 runners. There were 48 young runners under age 18 competing, with most in the 9U and 10-13 age groups. One of the highlights again for me as the race director is seeing the crowd of runners looking up at the huge American flag hanging from the ladder truck over Rehoboth Avenue. Following the kids’ dash around Station 86, the 5K race course took runners and walkers down Rehoboth Avenue to Lake to Oak and onto the iconic Rehoboth Boardwalk for the turnaround just past the historic Funland amusement park.
Matt Sparacino, 46, of Harrington, a regular competitor, captured the male overall title in a time of 18:09, while 38-year-old Lindsay Susi of Lincoln University won the female overall title and a second-place overall finish in 18:30. Mark Walchinsky, 46, of Alexandria, Va., won the male masters in a time of 18:57, while 64-year-old Margaret Colvin ran 24:29 to win the female masters.
“It was nice to have so many come out to support the fire company, and we thank all the sponsors and volunteers for all their support of the event,” said organizer Chatham Marsch.
The fire company handles as many as 50 calls a day and 3,000 calls a year. In July alone, there were 115 fire calls and 565 emergency medical services calls, while already in 2025 there have been 496 fire calls and 2,812 EMS calls.
XC Finish Line
The Lake Forest Invite will again kick off the Henlopen Conference cross country schedule Saturday, Sept. 6, with most of the conference teams on the line. Coaches in the Henlopen Conference are reminded that if they are hosting a home meet, it should be 3.11 miles. I will again direct the Sussex County and Henlopen Conference championships.
Looking over the website4sports schedules, Sandhill Fields will host a tri-meet with Cape, Sussex Tech and St. Mark’s Tuesday, Sept. 16. Sussex Academy will host a tri-meet with Indian River and Seaford Wednesday, Sept. 17, also at Sandhill Fields.
Boardwalk Swim
Can you swim a mile? The third annual Boardwalk Mile Swim is set to take place this Sunday morning in Rehoboth Beach — if the ocean calms down from the effects of Hurricane Erin. The safety team, led by Rehoboth Beach Patrol guards Bryan Bowles and Nico Caceres, will make the call based on several factors regarding the participants and their age range. The race will begin at 8 a.m. and follow the length of the Boardwalk. Registration is still open at seashorestriders.com to register or donate to the event. If the race is postponed, it will be held at 8 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 31. Sussex Tech and Delaware graduate Ben Bamforth spent a year as assistant director of operations at the University of South Carolina and recently moved into a new role, adding some coaching and also handling the external duties of team operations. Ben will be assisting head coach Tim Hall directing some of the best sprinters in the country in Gamecock Nation.
