Pagano runs through cow fields to win 5K
Tim Pagano, 39, of Lewes raced through Hopkins Farm like he was being chased by the cows, as he was the first one to the finish line in a time of 17:39 in the fifth annual Lace Up for Ag Literacy 5K. The race was hosted by Hopkins Farm, produced by the Seashore Striders team and benefited the Delaware Farm Bureau Foundation.
Young Quade Cummings of Milford was next across the pasture in second in an 18:24 performance, while Rick Hughes, 55, of Columbia, Md., grabbed the third position in 20:25 to also take home the masters championship.
Cape cross country runner Owen Beitzel of Milton ran in a cow costume to hit the line in 20:44, while Levi James of Millsboro wrapped up the top five finishers in 22:17.
Young 11-year-old Josephine Rickenback of Parksville, Md., won the overall female title in 22:20, while sister Erin Rickenback was second in 22:53. Manning Bean, 10, of Milton finished in 24:46 for third, while Maci Carter of Harrington ran 24:52 for fourth and Hannah Oybkhan wrapped up the top five in 25:46.
Tabitha Palkewicz won the female masters title in 25:15.
Former track standout for me in the 1990s at Cape Henlopen, Amy Hopkins, has made several improvements to the farm and continues to turn it into a family-friendly farm experience. Fall festivals have been held throughout the month of October with good crowds. Amy plans to bring some cows back to the farm, which drew a nice reaction when it was announced at the start of the race.
Big numbers at Sea Witch
The fifth annual Sea Witch Classic Half Marathon scheduled for 8 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 25, at Cape Henlopen State Park has over 200 registered, while the 35th annual Sea Witch 5K at 9 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 26, at Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach is almost to 450 registered. Registered participants are encouraged to come to Irish Eyes in Lewes from 4 to 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24, to pick up packets for either event. Stay and enjoy dinner at Irish Eyes. A second 5K pickup will be held from 3 to 5 p.m., Oct. 25, at Grove Park.
Have some fun and dress up to run in the races at Sea Witch. Race-day pickup and last-chance registration will begin 90 minutes before the start of both the 5K and the half-marathon.
Carol Everhart, the founder and legend of the Sea Witch Festival, has been working with me for 35 years supporting the 5K race that is now consistently over 500 participants.
In 1990, we had 93 participants. As I recall, Carol started the race with her trademark laugh, since I didn’t have a starting gun back then.
The Friends of Cape Henlopen will be supporting the Sea Witch Half Marathon with three water stops that runners can pass seven times.
The costume parade at the 5K will begin at 8:45 a.m., and will parade around the park from the small pavilion to the large pavilion.
Finish chute
All three Cape middle schools as well as Sussex Academy middle school will compete in the DAAD Middle School Championships Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Killens Pond State Park. More than 40 teams are expected to compete.
The Coaches Youth XC Regionals will be held Sunday, Nov. 2, in Media, Pa. Any young runner in elementary or middle school is eligible to compete.
Have you ever raced around Goat Island in Milford? Give the Milford Art League 5K a try Saturday, Nov. 1.
Last weekend featured a cool double day Oct. 19, with 177 coming out to Camp Barnes for the unique 5K and 10K, as well as three walk distances and a kids’ color run. Did I mention some of the best home-cooked food at any race I produce?
The weekend wrapped up with the Easterseals Walk With Me at beautiful Baywood Greens in Long Neck. A small running field of 43 turned out for the race, which was won by Mike Sewell and Mardiny Ung in 19:48 and 24:07, respectively.
Between middle school cross country, high school cross country and road races, the Striders produced seven events in the last seven days!
