Run With Santa 5K: Last-place Alberto Castillo wins the race
The 16th annual Run With Santa – he’s slow – 5K at Cape Henlopen State Park was won by 90-year-old Alberto Castillo, who set multiple records as the first 90-year-old to complete a Seashore Striders 5K or longer event. The time doesn’t matter to Alberto, an international economist who speaks five languages and is just a gracious/loquacious personality type loved by all in the extended running community.
“Athlete of the Week,” Tim Bamforth suggested. “I’ll get his picture.”
There were 120 runners assembled at the fishing pier, known by locals as the Army dock, on a balmy Saturday morning with lots of young kids from H.O. Brittingham and Shields who were first-time 5K runners.
The Seashore Striders youth brigade with tons of racing experience were also there in uniforms, ready to throw down.
And there were a few Santas and several dogs, from failed fosters to designer doodles.
The top three spots in the race went to the sub-masters racers, all 39 years old, led by Martin Rodriguez in 18:09, Jason Belinkie in 19:21 and Gavin Furlong in 20:05.
John Costello, 60, won the male masters in 20:23.
Sarah Richards, 37, of Kennett Square, Pa., was the overall female winner in 20:59.
Lori Holdworth, 60, the Beacon Lunch Lady with a college degree, won the female masters in 24:42.
Seashore Strider Nolan Furlong, 8, ran 22:52 to place eighth overall, while Shiloh O’Grady, 12, and Lily Noonan, 13, ran 24:27 to dominate the microbopper age group. The next Seashore Striders event is the Race Into the New Year 5K on Friday, Dec. 31.
