More than 3,000 finishers in two days and four events emerged on the Cape Region April 11-12, as the CoDel Running Festival, produced by Focus Multisports of Bethany Beach, was held in Dewey Beach on Saturday and Rehoboth Beach on Sunday.

Andrey Zhuravlev, 15, of Kennett Square, Pa., won the 5K in 17:08.7 to kick off the weekend, while Keely Arndt of Camden Wyoming won the female title in 19:21.8. Martin Rodriguez of Selbyville won the male masters title in 18:56.4, while Christy Gunville of Arlington, Va., won the female masters division in 22:59.9.

In the 9K, it was Austin Gee of Harrisburg, Pa., winning the male overall title in 35:16.5, while Gabriella Mangino of Ossining, N.Y., won the overall female title in 37:41.6. Craig Steinberg of Rehoboth Beach won the male masters title in 38:09.4, while Aimee Morgan of Magnolia won the female masters race in 38:42.5.

Ian Drake, 16, of Newark won the half-marathon title in 1:17:20.0, while Rodriguez won the male masters title in 1:25:06.4. Sofia LoVuolo of Marshfield, Mass., won the female title in 1:28:59.2, while Heather Hanks of Gainesville, Va., won the female masters division in 1:37:02.6.

In the featured marathon event, Benjamin Behm of Birdsboro, Pa., won the race in 2:36:33.4. Behm caught the leader in the last four miles. Kyle Bisutti of Baltimore won the male masters race in 3:01:21.8, while Elizabeth Hauger of Linwood, N.J., won the overall female title in 3:08:43.6, and Karen Feller of Lawnside, N.J., won the female masters race in 3:18:44.4.

Middle school wrap

The Fred Thomas, Beacon and Red Lion middle school track & field teams came together at Legends Stadium April 15, for three separate dual meets. With boys and girls combined, it was six meets to score.

When the dust settled nearly three hours after the first race, it was the Fred Thomas boys and the Beacon girls coming away victorious. Fred Thomas scored 67 to Beacon’s 42 to win the boys’ meet, while Beacon scored 70 to Fred Thomas’ score of 39 to win the girls’ meet. Both Cape boys’ teams easily beat Red Lion 102-7 and 96-11, while both Cape girls’ teams also won big with identical scores of 107-2.

Highlighting the action for the Beacon girls was Addison Wilson winning the 200-meter dash in 26.6, the 100-meter dash in 12.9, the long jump in 15-feet-9-inches and the triple jump in 33-6 for a huge 40-point day. Eva Csaszar won the 1,600 in 6:23.0 and the 800 in 2:51.0 for 10 points. Beacon won 10 of the 13 events.  

The boys’ meet was fun to watch with some impressive performances from the opening gun. Elijah Cain won the 55-meter hurdles in 8.5 seconds and then doubled back to win the 800 in 2:22.0. Jace Reddix won the 100 meters in 11.7 and returned to win the 400 meters in 55.7 and the 200 meters in 26.0. The 400-meter dash was one of the best races of the day, with Fred Thomas sprinter Griffin Sender finishing a close second in 56.2.

Beacon won five of the eight track events, while Fred Thomas won all five field events, which was the difference in the meet. 

Henry Neufeld of Fred Thomas won the 1,600 in 5:39.0, while teammate Elijauh Whaley hit the 40-foot mark to win the shot put. He also won the triple in 35-1. Another fine performance and a new Fred Thomas school record was set in the high jump with Duke Spath clearing 5-8. Fred Thomas won both sprint relays, taking the 400 in a school-record time of 48.3 and the 800 in 1:51.4. Both Fred Thomas and Beacon, as well as Mariner, will compete in the Jim Blades Invitational this Friday night at Lake Forest.

Side Note - Beacon and Cape alumni Tia Jarvis was introduced before the 400 meters, an event in which she excelled and broke the 60-second mark. Jarvis was a standout long jumper, long sprinter and captured the 300-meter hurdle conference championship her senior year at Cape. Mariner and Cape alumna Katie Kuhlman was introduced before the 800. Kuhlman is the Cape record holder in the 1,600 meters at 5:15 and a cross country record holder as well. Jarvis will graduate this spring from Delaware State, while Kuhlman is a junior on the track & field and cross country teams at the University of Delaware.