John Becker wins Highway One Companies 5K in 16:13
Colten Morris, 19, turned left on Dickinson Avenue in Dewey Beach chasing 42-year-old John Becker of Philly to the finish chute. But in saltwater Sussex, he couldn’t reel in the fleet-footed masters runner who broke the Races2Run victory banner to win the May 31 Highway One Companies 5K in 16:13 ahead of Morris in 16:17.
Morris had placed second in the Masser 5-Miler the day before, losing to Nick Cruz by 12 seconds. A pair of second places in 24 hours by 16 seconds total time.
The Highway One 5K featured a fast field of runners, as the top 14 broke 20 minutes, including women’s winner Natalie Lutz, 39, of Hockessin in 19:05.
A total of 208 runners completed the new Rusty Rudder course.
The race honored the late Doug White, the undisputed dean of Delaware running. Doug‘s family was honored before the Memorial Day race, and several family members participated.
The top 58 runners broke eight minutes per mile, an indication of pandemic training ... or the benefits of under-training? Running races are data driven; there is an early indication that runners are coming out of the pandemic faster than when they were self-sequestered.
The next Races2Run beach race is the third annual SoDel Cares 5K Saturday, June 12, at Thompson Island Brewing Company on Route 1 in Rehoboth Beach.
Races2Run will also host the inaugural St. Vincent House of Transformation 5K Run/Walk at 8:30 a.m., Sunday, June 6, at Sandhill Fields, Sand Hill Road, Georgetown.
