Shields students compete in bowling competition

My annual bowling tournament held at Shields Elementary School concluded this past week with all fourth- and fifth-graders participating in a five-frame tournament with a possible of 100 points. The top three in each class moved on to the finals. Fifth-grade Striker Tripp Gannon put on his teacher’s 1990 Brandy Townsend Midway Bowling Shirt for good luck and scored a 99 to take the lead into the finals for the fifth grade. Marcello Orsini bowled a 91 to lead the fourth grade to the finals. 

In the finals, it was Gannon who was unbeatable, scoring a 91 to win the championship, while Davion Conquest was second and Nashaya Pope finished third. For the fourth grade, Carter Staggs upset Orsini to win the championship, while Ozmeer Daisey finished third.

While I do this unit at school, I remember the days when I was a part of the Cape Bowling League at 22 years old in the old Midway Lanes. I was on a team with Jerry Dorneman and Bud Hitchens, and I would like to say they were a positive influence on me.

Shuffle Five & Dime brings out 200 runners

A perfect running day brought out the second highest numbers in the past 12 years for the annual Shamrock Shuffle 5K & 10-Miler, as 199 runners and walkers toed the line in Rehoboth Beach. The race took off from behind the popular Tanger Outlets at the trailhead of the Junction and Breakwater Trail, which is the popular connection from Lewes to Rehoboth Beach.

“This was a perfect day to run, and after the weather we have had, it was nice to have a decent crowd on a great course,” said Seashore Striders runner Martin Rodriguez.  

Scott Wallace, 39, of New Market, Md., pulled away from the field to capture the 10-miler in a time of 59:16 to average 5:56 per mile clip. Rodriguez, 37, of Selbyville was second overall in a time of 1:02:39 to win the 30-39 age group. Third place went to local Enos Benbow, 37, of Georgetown in a time of 1:03:46. Benbow’s performance was impressive due to the fact that he has been away from training and racing for almost two years now, as he has become a full-time truck driver. Marcus White, 40, of Lewes won the male masters in a time of 1:06:18 to finish fifth overall.

The male 30-39 age group was so competitive that Andy Gorlich of Milton finished eighth overall and did not place.

On the female side of the action, it was an easy win for 48-year-old masters runner Tanja Cutting of Rapid City, S.D., in a time of 1:09:22. Natalie Quigley, 22, of Georgetown was second in a time of 1:13:39 to win the 20-29 age group. Melody Peppard, 39, of Herndon, Va., won the 30-39 age group in a time of 1:19:41 to grab third overall, while Jackie Quigley, 51, of Georgetown captured the masters title in a time of 1:20:12.

In the 5K version of the event, the local Seashore Striders youth dominated the leaderboard, led by young 11-year-old Bennett Brumbley of Laurel in a winning time of 21:05. It was Brumbley’s first overall championship in a Seashore Striders event. Second place overall and top female went to teammate E-Beth Melson, 15, of Rehoboth Beach in a time of 22:04, while Striders runner Faith Mitchell, also sponsored by Team Venison, was third in 22:16, winning the 10-13 group.

John Blackford, 42, of Milton won the male masters in 23:30, while Lori Holdsworth of Lewes won the female masters in 23:43 finishing fifth overall. Runners enjoyed long-sleeved tech T-shirts, custom Shamrock awards, lots of costumes, festive kids at the water stops and a St. Patrick’s Day good time for all.

Tim Kennard 10 miler & Pumped 4 Pets 

There are two great races in the next two weeks that the Seashore Striders are involved in, as I will travel to Salisbury, Md., this weekend for the 16th annual Tim Kennard 10-Miler and 5K to be held at Salisbury University, beginning at 8:30 a.m., Sunday, March 24. A field of close to 500 runners is expected. Pre-race packet pick-up is Saturday, March 23, beginning at 11 a.m. in Salisbury. Go to timkennard.org for more information.

On Sunday, March 31, the ninth annual Pumped for Pets 5K, 10K, and 15K will be held in Stevensville, Md., beginning at 9 a.m. Registration will begin on race-day at 7:30 a.m. Go to getpumpedforpets.org for more information.

See you at the starting line for these two great events.