Let Me Run kids swell the numbers at Santa 5K
The 17th annual Run with Santa 5K attracted a costumed crowd and a record 234 runners.
“That’s the most we’ve ever had,” said Seashore Striders Race Director Tim Bamforth. “Usually the week after the Rehoboth Marathon, the numbers just drop off. We had three schools represented here today: H.O. Brittingham, Lord Baltimore and North Georgetown. They are all part of the Let Me Run group, and the Run with Santa is the best way for them to end their fall season.”
The race started at the base of the Cape Henlopen State Park fishing pier known, locally as the Army dock, and ran up to Fort Miles, where big inactive ghost guns are still searching for German submarines.
The first nine runners were all first-place champions in the open, masters and age-group categories.
Martin Rodriguez, 40, scooted out and back in 18:11.6, followed by Ulises Castaneda, 25, in 19:08.
Shauna Hanley, 42, of Oakton, Va., was the overall women’s winner in 21:36, followed by Kelsey Oliphant, 30, in 22:20.
Mike Sewell, 53, won the male masters title in 19:39, while Mary Kessler, 73, was female masters champion in 25:32.
Mason Marrone, 17, was third overall and won the 14-19 age group in 19:28.
John Costello, 61, fifth overall, won the 60-69 division in 20:02.
Chris Flood, 41, a Cape Gazette reporter running his first 5K in 10 years, placed sixth overall and won the 40-49 age group in 20:02, which is a 6:39 mile pace.
Ariana Adili-Khams, 17, won the 14-19 women's age group with a time of 25:36, while her dad Afshin Adili-Khams, 51, won the men’s 50-59 division in 23:31. David Adili-Khams, 14, ran 24:16, which was good for third in the 14-19 category.
Notes: The 19th annual Race Into the New Year 5K and Kids Dash is noon, Saturday, Dec. 31. The race starts and finishes on the Boardwalk at Rehoboth Avenue. The 12th annual Hair of the Dog 5K is New Year's Day in Bethany Beach. Go to races2run.com for information. Race starts at 10 a.m at Garfield Parkway and Atlantic Avenue.
