The final 2024 event for the Seashore Striders was held at noon, Dec. 31, in the Nation’s Summer Capital of Rehoboth Beach, as the 20th Race Into the New Year 5K field headed north on the Boardwalk for the out-and-back course. A new record number of 416 participants registered for the event, with 381 finishing in front of the excited and cheering crowd that filled the Boardwalk at Rehoboth Avenue. This year’s record numbers beat last year’s record total of 404 participants. The event began with 25 young dashers under the age of 9 racing 200 meters down the boards and back to complete the quarter-mile kids’ dash. Finishing kids were presented with a medal by the Seashore Striders team.

The starting field of 416 then lined up, and horns sounded, bells rang and shouts of Happy New Year filled the air as the Striders sent the field heading to North Shores. First back across the finish line was 20-year-old Denly Lindeman of Minneapolis, Minn., in a time of 17:22.8. Almost a minute back was Liam Steyn, 14, of Newtown, Pa., running 18:11.2 for second place. Steyn was fifth last year in 18:36. Chris Kirchner, 30, of Lancaster, Pa., finished third and won the male 30-34 division in 18:31.5, while Mike Uelses, 58, of Stockertown, Pa., was fourth for the second year in a row and good enough for the male masters title with a time of 18:33.3, just five ticks slower than his 2023 performance. Neil Wright-Elliott of Frederick, Md., ran 18:52.3 to round out the top five finishers. The first local was 35-year-old Brian Mack in a time of 19:06.1, good for sixth place overall.

On the female side of the action, it was Eleanor Lindeman of Minneapolis in 20:39.3 who took the win, while Jaimie Wright of State College, Pa., in 21:04.3 was good enough for the female masters title as well as second overall. Zuleyka Martinez of Harrington in 21:14.1 took third, while Lauryn Leech of Newark was fourth in 21:27.2. Soraya Craun of Springfield, Va., in 22:05.1 wrapped up the top five female runners.

The 100x12 Challenge

Just under 56 runners and walkers took part in the Striders 100x12 challenge through the 12 months of 2024. The goal was to complete 100 miles per month by running, walking, swimming or rowing, with a $5 entry fee and a $10 donation per month. If you come up short and do not reach 100 miles, you must go online and make an additional donation. The four charities for the 2024 challenge chosen last January are: Cape Community Fund, Sussex County Land Trust, Cape Henlopen Food Basket and Grass Roots Rescue. The total income before expenses was $6,165. Looking at the final month, Andrew Williams of Felton tallied 305 for December, while Tracy Sipprelle of Jackson, Wyo., tallied 302 miles. Local Kathryn Stazzone of Lewes was just under the 300 mark with 293 miles, while Mary Kessler of Harbeson tallied 221. Jim Marvin of Laurel hit 205 miles for the month in the No. 5 position. The goal for 2025 is 100 participants.

HS Indoor Track

The high school indoor track season cranks back up after a two-week break as the Vikings girls head to the Ocean Breeze Invite Saturday, Jan. 4, in New York, while the Cape boys head to Alvernia University and the Golden Wolves Challenge Sunday, Jan. 5, in Reading, Pa. Sussex Central will head to Kutztown, Pa., Friday, Jan. 10, while Sussex Academy will head to Virginia Beach Jan. 4.

Ocean Breeze flashback - It was late in the meet going into the evening on the final Sunday in January 2021 at Ocean Breeze, and snow had been falling all day as I thought about driving home safely in the school vans and the relay that was coming up. We stacked up a rare indoor 4 x 800m relay team with Katie Kuhlman, Alexa Dougherty, Hannah Maney and Tia Jarvis. More than 100 teams were at the meet, and we were in the championship heat with some of the best private schools of Delaware and the East Coast. After the first two legs, we were 5-6 seconds back in third and fourth place, and on pace to take a shot at breaking the 10-minute mark indoors. Maney went after the leaders, and with a lap to go she took the lead on the backstretch. The place was loud and it was exciting. Little did Maney know that she had no anchor on the track to receive the baton.

Just a few minutes earlier, Jarvis was doing her striders on the outside lanes and unfortunately stepped off the edge of the track and twisted her ankle. As she was being looked at by the trainers, the Cape coaching staff was scrambling to get teammate E-Beth Melson from the bleachers to the track to fill in for the injured Jarvis. There was not enough time, and here came Maney around the final turn in the lead with no one to hand off to. I can still hear the announcer now…”With the lead going into the anchor leg, it’s Cape Henlopen from Delaware ... but wait ... Cape Henlopen does not have an anchor runner on the track – where is the Cape runner?” It was an unfortunate memory we will have forever, but one great 3 x 800m relay we ran in 7:33 at Ocean Breeze before we battled the snow for the ride home.