Vikings Track Club competes in Virginia Beach

The Vikings Track Club traveled south four hours to the Virginia Beach Sports Complex March 17 to take part in the Adidas Track & Field Nationals on one of the fastest 200-meter ovals in the country. Cape middle distance runner Ben Clifton, a senior running for the club, was 19th in a field of 20 elite runners in the 800-meter championship. Clifton ran 2:01.61 in his section of the event. The team of Clifton, freshman Jamar Beasley, junior Jayden Messick and senior Joey DeGregory finished sixth in the championship section of the mile relay with a time of 3:38.27. The top five teams all broke the 3:30 mark, with the winning team, the Bulldogs Track Club, crossing the line in 3:21.78. Sophomore Bernard Jones also competed in the long jump, where he finished sixth of eight jumpers in a leap of 20-feet-1 ½-inches. In the girls’ mile relay National Elite Division, the Vikings team of sophomore Anejah Johnson-Grace, freshman Maile Godwin, senior Maddie Gazze and senior Kennedy Johnson finished 30th of 35 teams in a time of 4:24.53.

The Leps threesome

At the 18th Shamrock Shuffle 5K held March 17 at Cape Henlopen State Park, the threesome Leps family of Lewes – dad Stephen, daughter Ruby and son Whit – all finished in the top 11. Stephen, 49, finished fourth overall and won the masters division in 23:10, while Ruby, 9, won the overall female title in 23:19 and Whit, 12, won the 10-13 division in 26:54. 

Double dose of G-Town 5K

This weekend, two young student-athletes will host 5K events. On Saturday, March 23 at Sandhill Fields, junior Harrison Dabbs will be the organizer of the Sandhill Fun Run. All proceeds will be donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. On Sunday, March 24, at Sussex Academy, junior Bri Sordi will organize the Heart & Soles 5K, with all proceeds going to the American Heart Association. Both will be out-and-back courses. The Sandhill event races on grass and a cinder trail, while the Sussex Academy race is on pavement and a paved trail. For Saturday’s event, go to races2run.com. For Sunday’s event. go to seashorestriders.com.  Good stuff and great charity efforts by great kids.

Blue Ribbon Gavin Furlong

Join local Gavin Furlong and support the second annual Blue Ribbon Run-A-Thon Saturday, March 23, to raise awareness for colorectal cancer. Furlong, a coach with the Seashore Striders and Sussex Academy, organized the event. In partnership with Beebe Healthcare, all funds raised will go toward educating our local community on the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer, and the importance of regular screenings. Anyone interested can make a donation to the cause or join in on the action. Runners and walkers will start at 8 a.m. and will do 5K loops until 4 p.m., beginning at Cape Henlopen State Park’s main beach parking area and Hawk Watch pavilion.

The pavilion will serve as the start/finish line, as well as home base during the event. Participants will receive one point for each lap they complete of the 5K course, and time on the course does not matter, only the number of laps completed during the day. Run or walk a lap, take a break with friends at the pavilion, then head back out. The schedule and pace are up to the participants. There will be real-time scoring at the pavilion so everyone can keep an eye on how they or their team are doing. The individuals and teams with the most points at the end of day are the winners.

There will be prizes for the top three men, women and teams. Race shirts are available for all participants, and there will be plenty of food and drink at the Hawk Watch pavilion provided by our incredible sponsors. All proceeds will go to the Beebe Medical Foundation, funding public health programs focused on colorectal cancer awareness. To read more about the event, search Blue Ribbon Run-A-Thon.