Shamrock Shuffle 5K/15K was 'Cool Runnings' on the trails

The 10th annual Shamrock Shuffle 5K/15K staged March 19 behind Tanger Outlets then onto the Junction and Breakwater Trail was ice cold uncomfortable, but was better when runners were “in the weeds” on the leeward side of the northbound winds.

Ryan Meade, representing the Cape Leo Club, drove the lead cart and somehow came in behind 5K winner Paul Montini, who won his first strider race in 19:15.

“I thought he was a 15K runner,” Meade said, looking perplexed before driving off in search of the 15K leader.

Makayla Bucci, 15, was the top female and second overall runner with a time of 21:43. Rounding out the top six were Antonio Bowe in 21:49, John Blackford in 22:16, Ed Hood in 22:46 and Fred Best in 25:04.

Fred Best, 41, the principal at Mariner Middle School, was paced by Cape assistant track coach Ryan Wilson and seemed not to comprehend that running 25:04 in his first 5K is considered really good in running circles.

“If Fred wears a jogging suit to work on Monday then we’ll know he’s hooked," said Race Director Tim Bamforth.

Relentlessly nice guy Joey Andrisani, 33, of Wilmington was the 15K winner in a time of 56:54. Sara Ellis, 31, of Newark was the women’s winner in 1:01.

Other top times were Mike Sewell in 59:18, Lynn Danner in 1:01:18, Matt Littlejohn in 1:02:51, Jocelyn Neill in 1:06:42, Robert Syphard in 1:07:38, Griffin Sava in 1:08:27, Breck Vanderwende in 1:09:50 and Sean Connor in 1:09:51.

The next local Seashore Striders race is the 22nd annual April Fools Prediction Challenge at 10 a.m., at the Cape Henlopen State Park Fishing Pier.