Martin Rodriguez wins Rehoboth Marathon and Half Marathon

Martin Rodriguez of Selbyville ran 2:43:02 to win the virtual Rehoboth Marathon, averaging 6:13 per mile on a point-to-point course with a 17 mph tailwind. Martin won by 41 minutes over the next finisher. Local Elizabeth Gerritt of Lewes was 15th in 4:22:44, while Jason Langley of Milford ran 4:27:50 to finish 18th. Recent Cape graduate Melanie McCloy of Lewes ran 4:28:22 to finish 19th. McCloy, 21, was once a part of a nationally ranked two-mile relay team at Beacon Middle School with teammates Logan Shuttleworth, Zoe Callard and Olivia Brozefsky. Kathy Kay of Lewes ran 4:33:14 for 20th, while Ryan Peters of Team RISE ran 7:41:21, good for 49th. Taylor Domann rounded out the local field in 50th with a time of 7:41:21.

Rehoboth Beach Virtual Half-Marathon

Martin Rodriguez of Selbyville doubled up to also win the half-marathon in 1:21:15, while Mike Sewell of Lewes was second in 1:32:26. Paul Timmons, racing for The Firm of Rehoboth Beach, finished seventh overall in 1:43:47, while Israel Colon of Rehoboth Beach ran 1:48:24. Tim Young of Rehoboth ran 1:48:39 for 11th place, while Tony Varrato of Georgetown ran 1:54:29. Richard Morgante of Rehoboth Beach ran 1:59:24, while Eugenija King of Nassau ran 2:04:15. Holly Adkins of Laurel ran 2:08:13, while Sandra and Steve Spangler of Rehoboth Beach teamed up to run 2:21:59. Race organizer Marybeth Evans Hutton and husband Bobby, along with sidekick Linda Schwartz-Chi, all finished together in 2:29:53. Sally Dunlop of Bethany Beach ran 2:39:36, while Kelly Pettyjohn of Georgetown ran 2:57:34. Esther Kernosh of Lewes ran 3:13:06, while Ryan Peters of Lewes ran 3:17:27. Marie Kuhlman of Seaford ran 3:28:13, while Diane Rogers of Millsboro ran 3:28:13. Bill Brooks and Bob Hughes teamed up to run 4:02:39, and what a great achievement this is for my friend Bob.

Track meets to become reality

The Cape Henlopen indoor track & field team has been practicing outside in the cool weather since mid-December with no competitive meets on the schedule. Just this week, a plan that I wrote for Cape to host home meets was approved by the Division of Public Health, and if all goes well with the other teams, Cape could run against five different competitors for five straight weeks leading up to the already-approved Delaware State Indoor (held outdoors) State Championships in early March. The Cape meets could begin as early as the week of Jan. 25. The 15 indoor events are as follows:  55 meters, 55-meter hurdles, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 1,600 meters, 3,200 meters, 4-by-200-meter relay, 4-by-400-meter relay, 4-by-800-meter relay, long jump, triple jump, high jump, pole vault and shot put. Athletes will be allowed two spectators to watch the meet from the bleachers, and all athletes will be masked during each event, as of press time. I am asking DPH to look into the requirement to wear a mask during distance races because I feel the athletes should be allowed to lower it after the start to make breathing safer. During cross country and in my fall road races, masks were not required while racing. For some of my track athletes, it has been almost two years since they have competed in a track & field event, and let’s just say, it’s time to do it safely.