Georgia Bulldogs, newlyweds Eric and Lauren Westog win Beach Paper 5K
The 28th annual Beach Paper 5K, formerly known as the Firecracker 5K, was sweet as a Georgia peach June 30 in Rehoboth Beach, as newly married Eric and Lauren Westog, recent University of Georgia graduates, won the overall trophies and shared the victory circle. A total of 190 runners competed in the race, which was hotter than a cup of Royal Farms coffee.
Eric, from Dacula, Ga., a 14:14 SEC 5K runner, ran the fastest race of the summer by logging a time of 15:48. Coming in second in 16:25 was Will Bullock, an 18-year-old from Kennesaw Mountain High School in Georgia. Bullock ran a 9:25 3,200 meters in high school and is heading to Eastern Illinois University on a cross country and track scholarship.
Lauren Westog, with a recent degree in education, won the women’s race in 19:23, edging out masters runner Lisa Veneziano, a vacationing General Motors executive from Fenton, Mich., who ran 19:29.
“The Fourth of July weekend starts the summer races, with hot shots coming in from everywhere,” said Race Director Tim Bamforth. “The was a fast field, with the top 15 breaking 20 minutes, including the first two women. Cindy Conant ran 20:25 and is coming off injury or she would have broken 20 as well.”
Breaking 20 minutes after the Georgia boys were John O’Connor, 16:52; Martin Rodriguez, 17:36; Francisco Puac, 17:55; Mathew Cosby, 18:00; Joey Hawley, 18:06; Jon Zubrowski, 19:00; Mike Sewell, 19:05; Dustin Moscoso, 19:06; David Teklit, 19:11; Chris Stanley, 19:12; Benjamin Schreiber, 19:16; Lauren Westog, 19:23; and Lisa Veneziano, 19:29.
Some notable female age-group champions included “Tiger” Lily Noonan, 10, from Lewes, who won the 10-13 age group in 25:39, and Bethany Slawk from Colorado Springs, Colo., who won the 25-29 age group in 23:56. Susan Dunn from Laurel won the 40-44 age group in 21:47.
Full expanded results and age-group winners can be found at chronotrack.com.
The next Seashore Striders races are the 11th annual Race for the Ribbon in Rehoboth Saturday, July 14, and the 36th annual Seashore 5-Mile run Sunday, July 15, from Deauville Beach on Surf Avenue, just north of the Henlopen Hotel in Rehoboth Beach.
