Katie Kuhlman sets new indoor record in 1,600 meters

Cape senior Katie “KK” Kuhlman has been the top distance runner since she arrived at the high school from Mariner Middle School. Her work ethic, her combination of endurance and speed, and her desire to be the best she can be have put her with the elite group of distance runners in the Henlopen Conference and state for the past four years. At the Ocean Breeze event Jan. 7, one of the nicest and fastest indoor 200-meter tracks in the United States, Katie beat a record she has been chasing for some time. The metric mile, better known as the 1,600 meters, went down, as Katie shattered the old record of 5:23.20 set by Shanel Dickens in 2012 by blazing around the oval eight times to cross the line in 5:15.68. Kuhlman already held the cross country record of 19:03, the indoor 1,000-meter record of 3:17.10 (set last year also at Ocean Breeze), and has a quarter-share of the indoor 4-by-400 relay record of 4:20.16 from 2020. Kuhlman had a previous indoor metric mile best of 5:33.49, which she set last year in Virginia Beach, and a previous outdoor best of 5:23.79, set last year at the Henlopen Conference Championships.

The outdoor school record is held by Ali Coning at 5:15.85, set in 2012, and it looks like it could be in jeopardy with the way Kuhlman is racing.

The boys’ 4-by-200 relay record was lowered at the Freedom Games at Ocean Breeze, as the Vikings ran 1:33:07 to finish sixth overall and qualify for the final. In the final, they finished sixth again in 1:35.20. Seniors Konner Knarr and Thomas Messick, and sophomores Brandon Woods and Jayden Messick made up the record-breaking team. Ja’on Harris, Daniel Saez, Konner Knarr and Thomas Messick held the old record of 1:35.25 set in 2022.

Strider Challenge

Hoping for 100 participants, the Strider Challenge now has almost 120 with more than $7,000 raised in a week. More than 10 states and one woman in South America are taking part in the 100-miles-per-month challenge. Participants are tracking their miles from running, walking, swimming, biking and rowing, with RunSignup generating a list of participants and mileage. The challenge is not too difficult, with only 3.4 miles required each day, but weather and missed days keep the challenge honest, and it does give you some accountability to get out the door. You know what they say, ”The hardest step is the first step out the door.” The four charities we will donate to at the end of the year are Beebe Medical Foundation, Sussex Family YMCA, Cape Henlopen Food Basket and Humane Animal Partners. Join us for the challenge and get healthy while you do it.

Snow Hill meet wrap

At the weekly Snow Hill track series Jan. 11, Milford finished third at 43.5 points to lead Henlopen Conference girls’ teams, while Dover finished third with 54 points to lead the conference boys’ teams. Capturing first-place finishes were the Sussex Academy girls’ 4-by-800 relay in 10:36.40, Sussex Academy’s Katya Geyer in the 3,200 meters in 11:54.62, Kasi Showers of Sussex Academy in the 400 in 1:05.18, Brett Parker of Sussex Academy in the 3,200 in 10:37.84, Sussex Central’s Tatiana Kelsic in the 55-meter dash in 7.56 and 300-meter dash in 44.10, Essence Briddle of Sussex Central in the 200-meter dash in 27.76, Timothy Wright of Sussex Central in the long jump at 22-feet-7-inches, Sussex Tech’s Yougendy Mauricette in the 55-meter hurdles in 7.77 and the 400 meters in 52.05, William Harrison of Sussex Central in the 200 in 23.33 and Kaylin Hall-Freeman of Sussex Central in the triple jump at 38-8.