The Seashore Striders youth cross country team made its 35th trip in a row to the Cross Country Coaches National Youth Championships Nov. 22, heading to Knoxville, Tenn., with six athletes. The Striders have been going to the national championships since 1990, when Suzannah Martin Frederick and Sally Beth Johnson made the first trip to Mt. Hood in Portland, Ore.
“We have had much larger teams in the past, but this year we had a small but hard-working group,” said coach Dan MacElrevey. “These six kids left it on the course and put a good effort in on a tough, muddy course.”
The Striders had two top 25 youth All-American finishers in second-year qualifier Nolan Peet and first-year qualifier Chloe Cawthern. Peet, who finished third at the 2024 championships as a 6-year-old, managed to take fourth among sub-bantam 7-year-olds, racing the 2K in a personal-best time of 8:40, a full minute faster than last year. Racing in the bantam 9-year-old division, Cawthern finished 22nd in a good time of 13:25 for the 3,000-meter course.
Lilly Peet ran in the 10-year-old bantam division, clocking a time of 15:43 for the 3K, while sister Annie ran 16:03 in the 12-year-old midget division. Manning Bean raced in the 10-year-old bantam division, running 14:11, while Dane Cawthern raced in the 10-year-old bantam division, running 16:00 for the 3K course.
Nike Southeast Regional
A large group of runners representing Cape Henlopen took part in the Nike Southeast Regional Championships in Cary, N.C. Claudia Stazzone led the girls in 232nd place in 21:55, while Natalie Schneider was 253rd in 22:22. Shiloh O’Grady was 271st in 22:53, while Logan Crotty finished 274th in 22:59. On the boys’ side of the action, Riley Stazzone led the pack in 162nd place in 16:32, followed by Andrew Radka in 204th in 17:07. Nick Petito finished 221st in 17:19, while Dylan Harp was 226th in 17:25. Brayden Redd finished 248th in 17:54.
Other finishers in races outside the championship include Jude Peacock in 18:20, Reece Kuklish in 18:23, Brandt Kuklish in 18:33, Owen Barron in 18:41, Jude Bastian in 19:06 and Jude Sydell in 19:54.
Finish chute
Sussex Tech and University of Delaware graduate Roxanne Ramirez ran her third marathon in Philadelphia last weekend, putting in her best effort so far with an official time of 2:54:07, finishing 19th overall and fifth in her 25-29 age group.
“The most challenging training block yet, but wouldn’t change the lessons learned,” said Rox. “So proud of this race, running with pure presence, making new friends and doing it all for the love of the sport.”
Another impressive Philly result came from local Cape graduate Andrew Minni, who ran an impressive 2:50:49 to finish 71st of more than 1,700 in his 25-29 age group. Minni did not run track or cross country in middle or high school, making it even more impressive.
