Delmarva Christian cross country teams improving
Sandhill Fields played host to the Delmarva Christian cross country team’s first and only home ESIAC quad meet of the year Sept. 25, and the boys’ team grabbed third place.
“It’s been going pretty well,” said senior Luke Montgomery. “The start's always a little rough, but from then, we have definitely improved, and we have just really been pushing and pushing. There's still some room for improvement, but right now we're in a pretty good place.”
Sophomore Wyatt Baker led the Royals, finishing in eighth overall, while senior Cole Parker gave Delmarva Christian two in the top 10 of the race against Salisbury Christian, Gunston School, Salisbury School and Worcester Prep. Juniors Trax Rogers and Carter Thurman placed 11th and 12th, respectively. Forrez Davis (Salisbury Christian), Eli Short (Salisbury School) and Nate Friedman (Worcester Prep), in that order, made up the top three.
Delmarva Christian is at a point in its season where it would like to have finished higher than third, but the squad is more focused on making sure it peaks for the Sussex County and ESIAC championships at the end of October.
“If you're focused on the field, you might get lost in other things, worried about all these people in front of you, but you should be really pushing yourself, thinking, ‘I'm here, but I can be here, and I'm going to push myself to here,’” Montgomery said. “I know I can be better, and I'm going to be better.”
The unusual humidity in late September was a factor in the race, but the Royals believe they made progress at the meet.
“It was definitely hard because of the humidity and stuff like that, but the guys are really coming together,” said coach Kim Royster. “They're learning how to work together, and they're kind of chunking in and pacing each other, and I'm really proud. Every meet, both the girls and the boys are getting faster.”
On the girls’ side, junior Grace Lucas nabbed 10th place and her classmate Meranda Marlowe took 11th place.
Up next for the Delmarva Christian runners is the Tidewater Classic Wednesday, Oct. 1, at Winter Place Park in Salisbury, Md. The girls are set to start at 3:45 p.m. and the boys an hour after.
Aaron Mushrush joined the sports team in Summer 2023 to help cover the emerging youth athletics scene in the Cape Region. After lettering in soccer and lacrosse at Sussex Tech, he played lacrosse at Division III Eastern University in St. David's, PA. Aaron coached lacrosse at Sussex Tech in 2009 and 2011. Post-collegiately, Mush played in the Eastern Shore Summer Lacrosse League for Blue Bird Tavern and Saltwater Lacrosse. He competed in several tournaments for the Shamrocks Lacrosse Club, which blossomed into the Maryland Lacrosse League (MDLL). Aaron interned at the Coastal Point before becoming assistant director at WMDT-TV 47 ABC in 2017 and eventually assignment editor in 2018.
