Spring season is all about participation across all age groups

Cool Runnings - I snapped a photo of marathon runner Jodi Johnson and thought the 23-year-old out of Seaford looked so cool while breaking a three-hour mark in 2:54:16. Jodi placed fourth of 44 runners in his age group and 11th out of 758 total runners, averaging 6:39 per mile. “I coached him when he was at Sussex Tech,” said masters runner Martin Rodriguez. “Great runner and really nice kid.” Lots of muppets I know also know Jodi, and he received a ringing endorsement from all of them. Jodi was the 2025 Rehoboth Beach Patrol Lifeguard of the Year. He has been on RBP for three years.  

Pacing People - Pacers of racers don’t pay an entry fee, but that’s not why they do it. Gavin Furlong is an assistant cross country coach at Sussex Academy. He has overcome medical adversity and is as cool as an April ocean. He floats through the flora and fauna of the state park trail system. His pacing sign read 3:25. He ran 3:24. Blake Stillman, 17, of Georgetown, wearing No. 277, ran with Furlong most of the way, clocking a final time of 3:38, which is the same time I ran in the Lewes Marathon in 1978. Sesame Street by the Sea is a running place with lots of local history.

Dr. Frederick, I presume - I once had Cape secretary Nancy Taylor page me saying, “Dr. Dave Frederick, please come to the office. You have a phone call.” Nancy was in on the joke and knew I was just doing it just to annoy people, and it worked. During the half-marathon, I captured a photo of my great-niece Dr. Madi Frederick (audiologist), who is former Cape coach Mike Frederick’s oldest daughter. Madi just accepted a job at A.I. DuPont Hospital, and I placed Dr. Frederick’s picture in this column just to annoy Gazette editors who want to avoid column saturation of Frederick faces.  

Marauding mongo - I’m not sure how many years Ronnie Allen was a lieutenant on the Rehoboth Beach Patrol, but I just know that over 30 summers, I never saw him wet. I also know he has coached more seasons across more sports than any guy I know. He was a baller on the 1971 Milford boys’ basketball team of Dan McGinniss that won a state championship. He is a member of the Milford Football Hall of Fame and Delaware Afro American Hall of Fame. Ronnie is the volunteer JV goalie coach for Cape girls’ lacrosse. Mongo is a nickname because Ron looks like Alex Karras – Mongo in “Blazing Saddles” – a former football player, wrestler and actor. Connection: My brother Tom was in Detroit Lions camp with Karras in 1962. 

Adios, amigo - Mike Smith, a top-of-the-line reporter (Coastal Point) and lobbyist and competitive age-group runner, won the 65-69 age group in the 5K edition of the CoDel Running Festival. Mike came to find me at Fredman Bend to say adios. His wife sold the house and was moving to Myrtle Beach and invited Mike to go with her. “I’ve run my last race in Delaware and will miss all my friends, even you, Fredman,” Mike said. And that's the way life goes: People walk into your life, then run out with an age-group trophy, never to be seen again.  

Snippets - The 14-0 Salisbury women's lacrosse team will host St. Mary’s of Maryland April 18, for Morgan’s Message Day. It’s Sea Gulls versus Seahawks. The women of St. Mary’s are 4-9. Grace Tooten (Cape), a junior, has started all 13 games for St. Mary’s, collecting 13 ground balls and seven caused turnovers. The University of Delaware High School Invitational for track & field was held April 11. Check out de.milesplit.com for complete results. Will DiPaolo of Cape won the pole vault in 14-feet-6-inches. Douglas Simpson of Cape was third in 12-0 and Tripp Gannon placed fourth in 11-0. Jason Baker (4:26) and Riley Stazzone (4:28) were third and fifth, respectively, in the 1,600 meters. Cape girls’ basketball coach Ron Dukes goes to girls’ lacrosse games and track meets, and I don’t know where else. It’s not like I’m tracking him, but that is just smart and nice that he actually cares about the kids he coaches outside basketball. Go on now, git!