Share: 
Running

Saxton, Larkin capture titles at Dave Reynolds Biathlon

Winners of the 34th annual Dave Reynolds biathlon are Sean Saxton, left, and Ava Larkin. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Tim Bamforth
July 11, 2025

The 34th version of the Dave Reynolds Biathlon was held in Rehoboth Beach July 6, following the fireworks display July 5. The ocean current was running south, which put the start at Deauville Beach just north of the Henlopen Hotel. The Rehoboth Beach Patrol guards, led by Bryan Bowles in the water, lined a half-mile of beach to provide safety for the two waves of swimmers.

Sean Saxton, the 2023 champion, came out of the surf in 10:05 with the lead early, putting him in the driver’s seat heading into the 5K run. Close behind was the 2024 champion Alexander Geiersbach about 30 seconds back.

Saxton, who also won the title in 2018 and 2021, easily ran away with the male title with a 17:45 5K split to hit the finish in 28:18.

“The Dave Reynolds means a lot to me as it was my second ever multi-sport event nine years ago in 2016,” Saxton said. “I had never swam like that before in the ocean, and it inspired me to join the Dover High School swim team going into my senior year. After the Dave Reynolds in 2016, I took it upon myself to learn how to lap swim and flipturn. Also, I have become good friends with Xander, and he has pushed me every year to bring my A game and to level up my swim. This race cultivated my drive to improve continually year after year.”

Saxton has major races on the horizon: the Michigan 70.3 and the Waco 70.3 in September/October, and the 70.3 world championships in Marbella, Spain, in November.

Geiersbach, who won the event in 2019, 2022 and 2024, hung on for second in 30:40. August Carlozzi of New Jersey was third in 31:22, while Quinn Murphy of Wilmington was fourth in 32:04. Matt Dunn of Trappe, Md., rounded out the top five in 32:11 to win the masters title.

Ava Larkin of Virginia won her first Dave Reynolds title with an 11:20 swim, a quick 24-second transition and a 21:49 5K run for a total time of 33:33. Ellie Keck of Pennsylvania was second in 35:37, while Lexie Planinsek of Lewes was third in 36:09. Former Rehoboth Beach Patrol guard Madeline Tonn of Pennsylvania grabbed fourth place in 36:29, while Amanda Ballard of Middletown was timed in 36:34 to round out the top five finishers. Paula Pels of Bethesda, Md., finished 10th to capture the female masters title in 39:13.

In the team division, there were 24 coed teams, 14 male teams and 10 female teams. Team Surfgimp of Coleman Woodard and Liam Dennehy won the male team division in 30:15, while Team S’mores Cookies of Brandt Kuklish and Lily Touw won the coed division in 32:10.

Team Bockius/Sweeney of Allie Sweeney and Anna Bockius won the female team division in 32:48. Bockius is the daughter of longtime RPB guard and former Dover High standout distance runner Troy Bockius, always a top five biathlon finisher in his prime. Anna, a multi-Delaware state champion at Padua, breezed through the 5K course in an impressive 18:53.

A 2-mile memory walk and a youth mini biathlon were also held before the main event.

Proceeds of the event will benefit the Dave Reynolds Scholarship.

Seashore 5-Miler

One of the oldest races in the state at 42 years, the Seashore 5-Miler has a new location this year, as the race will be held at Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach. The event will begin at 7:30 a.m., Sunday, July 13, and travel down Henlopen Avenue, Ocean Drive and into Cape Henlopen State Park before turning around at the 2.5-mile mark on the Gordons Pond Trail. Registration is at seashorestriders.com.

 

The Reynolds family on the deck of the new station are (l-r) Mark Reynolds, Summer Reynolds, Cora Reynolds, Shayne Reynolds, Jim Reynolds, Alex Reynolds, Ashlee Reynolds, Jo Ann Reynolds, Jenny Matta, Cole Matta and Dan Matta.
Ringing the daily bell are Dave Reynolds’ mother Joanne Reynolds and his widow Jen Reynolds Matta.
Local Seashore Strider Rich Tikob joined with Jim Weber to compete in the team competition.
The open male division hits the surf at the start.
The open female division and team competitors take off at the start.
Josh Walker leaves the surf and sprints to the transition area. He placed seventh overall with a time of 32:39.6.
Male winner Sean Saxton leaves the surf to start the run.
Keaton Burke of Dagsboro leaves the surf and runs to a sixth-place finish with a time of 32:23.2.
Rowan Odonoghue exits the surf and runs to ninth place with a time of 38:54.8.
Lily Touw exits the surf after the swim.
Female overall winner Ava Larkin leads a group out of the surf.
Female winner Ava Larkin exits the surf and runs to the transition area.
Cape swimmer Isla Touw leaves the surf after the swimming leg of the biathlon.
Female overall winner Ava Larkin crosses the finish line in 33.33.5.
Elle Keck from Palmyra, Pa., takes second with a time of 35.37.2
Elle Keck of Palmyra, Pa., sprints from the surf.
Willet Cole, 15, of Lewes runs from the Atlantic and proceeds to run to a seventh-place finish in 38.38.8.
Adam Lawler changes in the transition area.
Cooper Adams, right, takes first, just ahead of Eliza Evans in the kids’ biathlon.
Tim Bamforth gives instructions to the biathlon participants.
Quinn Murphy of Wilmington places fourth overall in 32.04.9.
Cape grad Julia Saleur places 16th with a time of 40.25.5.
Amanda Ballard of Middletown finishes fifth with a time of 36.34.5.
Chris Graham of Rehoboth Beach places ninth in 33.41.6.
Sean Saxton crosses the finish line in first place.
Middletown’s Alexander Geiersbach takes second place with a time of 30.40.7.

Most Popular

Most Popular