Jonathan Whitehead, 33, of Camden Wyoming won the overall title in 17:22 at the eighth annual Mispillion Art League 5K, winning the Nov. 1 race by more than two minutes. Eric Gibbs, 33, of Felton was second in 19:49, while 24-year-old Alexis Cruz-Martinez was third in 20:11, 21-year-old Gilbert Cruz-Martinez finished fourth in 20:33 and 48-year-old Robert Hicks of Milford wrapped up the top five and won the masters title in 21:35.

On the female side, Jamie Hicks, 47, of Milford won the overall title in 22:03. She was followed by 33-year-old Kathryn Cushen of Marietta, Ga., in 22:16, 12-year-old Leah Tyree of Houston in 23:18 for third, 38-year-old Heather Hillenbrand of Akron, Ohio, in 24:18 for fourth and 48-year-old Joanne Hastings of Harrington in 24:42 for fifth and the masters title.

The Mispillion Art League is connected to the Milford community with a goal to continue its mission of providing community-wide access to a quality visual arts program. The art league welcomes artists, aspiring artists and anyone who loves art and believes in its power to enrich all members of the community. For more information, go to mispillionarts.org.

Conference stats

Just to make it interesting, I assigned the top 20 boys in the Henlopen Conference bib numbers based on their personal-best times this season. If the top 20 boys equalled their best time of the season, then bib numbers one through 20 would cross the finish line in numerical order. I knew the chances were slim that would happen. Here is a look at the order of finishers by bib number: 3, 1, 2, 7, 9, 6, 8, 5, 10, 14, 4, 15, 18, 11, 13, 17, 22, 16, 45, 20. What this means is that a few runners ran very well to place inside the top 20.

Brayden Gerardi of Lake Forest finished 19th and was not in the top 20 lining up, while Jonathan Bush of Caesar Rodney ran five places higher than expected. Cape’s Andrew Radka and Dylan Harp and CR’s Evan Easton all placed higher than the predicted pre-race place. Eleven boys placed better than expected, while nine placed the same or worse. What it means? Not much, but I thought it would be interesting to look at after the race, and I know my buddy Kenny Riedel would appreciate it. As far as the top 20 list that I have kept all season, there was no boy or girl who improved their personal best at the conference championships. And I’m not surprised, as Killens Pond is a challenging course that is not one of the fastest around.

Marathon to middle school

Peyton Marcozzi of Rehoboth Beach ran 4:51:14 at the New York City Marathon. Gary Espinas of Rehoboth Beach ran 5:38:00 at the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. Eleven runners from Lewes took part at Marine Corps as well: Spencer Pavia, 3:23:12; Beau Croll, 3:56:43; Marc Russell, 4:41:39; Samantha Coveleski, 4:49:34; Jacki Dmiterchik, 4:49:34; Troy Ralston, 5:11:58; William Mcternan, 5:49:26; Thomas Darisse, 6:14:09; and James Demartino, 6:59:07.

Locally here at the beach, the Seashore Striders and the Rehoboth Beach Running Company are a month away from their annual marathon and half-marathon that will turn the first weekend in December into what will appear to look like the Fourth of July.  The marathon and half are expected to sell out at 3,400 participants. Hotels will be full, restaurants will be full, thousands of spectators and family members will be in town to support the event.

Emily Hilton just missed the Cape middle school course record Nov. 3, as she ran 11:59 at the 3K distance, just off her personal best of 11:56. The course record of 11:55 is held by Cape freshman Bree Turhune, who was running for Mariner at the time. Thomas Bonk of Beacon won the boys’ race in 11:32. Fred Thomas boys topped Beacon easily 24-35, while the Beacon girls, coming off a statewide DAAD invite win, beat Fred Thomas 19-36. Ben Bamforth finished second at the Hilton Head Half in 1:32 and competed with his South Carolina coaching staff.