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Muse and Cruz control Friday night Georgetown Library 5K

June 20, 2022

The 18th annual Friday night Georgetown Library 5K was so hot at the start June 17, the chilled watermelons were sweating. 

Sensible striders stayed home, and dark clouds billowed over Pine Street, which became Thunder Road minutes before Tim Bamforth said, “Runners set.” 

Only 37 runners toed the starting line, but the front of the field was lightning-fast. 

Muse and Cruz, Tyler and Nick, are two of the fastest runners on the Delmarva Peninsula. Muse is whippet quick, while Nick Cruz ain’t slow, but prefers a longer grinding distance. 

Enos “Double Clutch” Benbow, who crossed over into the master category at 40, drives a big-rig truck for a living, which cuts into his training.

Muse, 28, was out like a waterspout in the first mile and led post to paddock in an easy time of 16:01. Cruz, 26, was second in 16:50. 

Benbow was male masters champion in 20:45.

Arina Varrato, 16, a Sussex Tech runner, was first female in 22:40. Tanya Karaman, 52, won the women’s masters title in 24:26.

“It was a hot race, but a breeze started moving air around, so it wasn’t that bad,” Bamforth said. “You have to be aware of the heat and remind runners to hydrate. There are some people who don’t like to slow down at water stops.”

Bennett Brumbley, 14, was fourth in 21:31, while Gustavo Mazariegos was fifth in 21:57. 

The men’s 70-and-over top three were Jules Woodall, 74, in 32:48; Tim Abbott, 76, in 33:42; and Jim Batts, 80, in 35:57.

The Georgetown Library 5K was part of the Seashore Striders Triple Crown race weekend that also included the Sangria Stampede 5K June 18 at Hudson Fields and the Father’s Day 5K June 19 at Wilmington Avenue and the Rehoboth Boardwalk.   

 

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