Friscia wins tough race at Brandywine Creek State Park

Beacon eighth-grader Justin Friscia won the boys’ varsity division of the Ursuline/St. Edmond’s Invitational Oct. 12 at the tough Brandywine Creek State Park course in Wilmington. Friscia ran a time of 14:09 on the 2.3-mile course. The course is similar to the high school 5,000-meter course with the difference being that they eliminated the straight flats on the middle school course and kept all the hills. In my 29th season of coaching youth cross country, the Brandywine Middle School course is the toughest I have ever seen.

“Justin is having his best cross country season of his young career, and we feel he is the best middle runner in the state,” said Seashore Striders assistant coach Derek Shockro. 

In the same varsity boys’ race, Strider Alexander Arnold was fifth in 15:19, Mason Morrone was 15th in 16:13, Steven Hart finished 26th in 17:51 and Brayden Trout was 30th in 18:46.

In the fourth- and fifth-grade girls’ race, the Striders put four runners in the top 13, as Shiloh O’Grady took third in 7:14, only seven seconds behind the winner from St. Ann at 7:07 for the 1.05-mile course. Allison Ortiz finished fifth in 7:23, while Mia Thompson was 11th in 7:37, Emmi Swope was 13th in 7:40, Ainsley Fitzgerald was 25th in 8:26, and Addison Manley was 37th in 9:18.

In the third- and fourth-grade boys’ race, Chris Friscia was third in 6:48, only 13 seconds off the win. Brady Sherman was sixth in 6:59, Finley Sherman was 27th in 7:46 and Grant Sherman was 56th in 9:16.

In the fifth- and sixth-grade boys’ race, it was Blake Fitzgerald finishing second in 6:16, only seven seconds off the win. Bennett Brumbley was 12th in 6:40.

Mariner XC wins two

Mariner cross country doubled down for two wins over visiting Seaford Oct. 14, with the boys dispatching the Blue Jays 22-39 and the unbeaten girls running up a perfect score of 15-50. Jia Han Xie placed second in the boys’ race, setting a personal best of 12:16 for the 3K course at the University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean and Environment. Jackson Isaacs placed third in 12:50, while Merric Mumford ran 13:07 for fourth. Jeremiah Hayes ran a huge personal best of 13:13 to cross the line sixth, and Jay’Lier Long followed him home to take seventh in 13:30. Connor Pencek (eighth, 13:32) and Christian Fuscellaro (ninth, 14:23) also scored for Mariner.

In the girls’ race, Mariner swept the top 12 places and rode a 13:15 first-place showing from Ali Stevenson to victory. Brooke Terhune broke the tape in 13:21 for second, while Sara Dawson cracked the 14-minute barrier for the first time with a 13:58 clocking. Also logging varsity points were Olivia Burkentine (fourth, 14:18), Anna Kucharik (fifth, 14:43), Mollie Skipper (sixth, 16:00), and Lillian Fisher (seventh, 16:01). The boys sit at 3-2 on the season, while the girls are now 5-0 and have won 17 straight dual meets dating back to 2017.

Striders to host invitational

The Seashore Striders Youth Cross Country Invitational will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, at the UD College of Earth, Ocean and Environment in Lewes. The races will begin with a 1K for the 5-and-under runners, a 2K (1.24 miles) for the 6-8-year-olds, a 3K (1.86 miles) for the 9-10 and 11-12 runners, and a 4K (2.48 miles) for the 13-14-year-olds. Awards will be presented to the top 10 finishers in each race. Registration will start at 10 a.m. and a course walk is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. The format is an open race, meaning that runners do not have to be associated with a team to compete; the meet is open to all. Come out and support the future of cross country.

Sea Witch celebrates 30 years

The Sea Witch Fall 5K Classic, one of the most popular downstate races, will be held at 9 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 27, from Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach. The 5,000-meter course winds through north Rehoboth Beach with an open division, clydesdale and filly divisions, and a 1-mile fright walk. Custom Halloween awards are presented to the top three finishers in five-year age groups. Long-sleeved cotton T-shirts are guaranteed to the first 400 registered runners. There will be an early pickup at the chamber of commerce visitor center at Grove Park from 3 to 5 p.m., Saturday.

Register now at seashorestriders.com.

Bethel Trail Run

Are you looking for a beautiful course and delicious post-race spread? The Mariner’s Bethel Trail Run 7-Miler & 5K is your ticket, as the 18th annual event will be held at Camp Barnes at 1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 20. The races go through Assawoman Wildlife Refuge. My favorite thing is the pumpkin soup that my lady friends in the kitchen always put aside for me. Registration will open at 11 a.m. and online registration is still open through Saturday at 6 p.m. at seashorestriders.com.  See you at Camp Barnes.