Vikings compete in Henlopen Conference Championship
The Cape Vikings traveled to Snow Hill, Md., Jan. 21 to take part in the Henlopen Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships with a field of Cape, Sussex Tech, Caesar Rodney, Dover, Smyrna, Lake Forest and Seaford. Expected to lead the charge for the Vikings boys was distance runner Sam Nye in the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs, where he is ranked in the top five in each event.
“Sam is looking to go under 4:50 in the mile and qualify for the state championships,” said coach Matt Lindell.
Nye has run 4:52 and is currently ranked fourth behind Smyrna’s duo of Tosin Ibironke (4:43) and Adam Bailey (4:47), as well as Dover’s Nyjal Drayton (4:43).
In the longer 3,200-meter event, Nye is ranked second behind Ibironke, who has turned in a 10:28 this season.
Deandre Sheppard is ranked first in the high jump with a leap of 6 feet and is looking to come home with a conference title. “I’m hoping to go 6-feet-2-inches in the conference meet and win the high jump,” said Sheppard.
One of the strong events for the Vikings boys is the shot put where Raiquan Mosley has thrown over 42 feet and is ranked third behind Dover’s William Scott and Lake’s Traequan Hardy.
DaJonte Mackey will lead the Vikings girls, as the talented junior is currently third in the 55-meter hurdles at 9.20 seconds, while she also is third in the long jump at 16-feet-2-inches and sixth in the triple jump at 31-feet-6-inches. Mackey also leads off the 800-meter relay team, which is ranked fourth.
Freshman Vienna Iacona has run 7.69 in the 55 meters, which has her pegged for fifth place, while she will also compete in the 200 meters, the long jump and will anchor the 800-meter relay.
In the girls' shot put event, the Vikings have three throwers led by Ceyra Middleton, just a freshman, who has thrown over 32 feet this season and is ranked fourth overall. MacKenzie Parker is ranked seventh and Andy Brzoska is ranked eighth also for the Vikings.
Grace Brokaw will lead the Vikings pole vaulters and will also compete in the 3,200-meter relay and the 3,200-meter run, where she is ranked third with a personal best of 13:22.
Freshman Zoe Callard will run the 1,600 meters and hopes to break the six-minute barrier. She will also run the 800 meters, where she hopes to take a shot at the 2:40 barrier.
Callard will also lead off the 3,200-meter relay and will compete in the 1,600-meter relay.
Results of the meet will be in next week’s running column in the Cape Gazette.
Seashore Classic Half
Registration for the Seashore Classic Half Marathon and 5K Run opened recently, and the event will be held Sunday, April 17, in Lewes hosted by Irish Eyes Restaurant, and Tom and Charlene Jones. The race will be the opener for the annual Irish Eyes 6-Pack Series that will continue through the Father's Day 5K in Rehoboth Beach. Runners can go to www.seashorestriders.com to register for the event, giving them time to start their 12-week training program now.
Certified Running Nuts
A large group of Certified Running Nuts, led by founders Roxy Castillo and Joey Kwit out of New York City/Rehoboth Beach traveled to Key West, Fla., to take part in the 18th Key West Half Marathon Jan. 17 and whatever other running or non-running event the group ventured into.
Mike Sewell of Camden, a regular at the beach races, won the male masters in a time of 1:23:15. Matthew Cutrona of Wilmington won the 45-49 age group in 1:31:19, while David Landon of Bear was third in 1:32:44. Rick Hundley of Bethany was the 1:40 pacer and finished in 1:40:08, good for seventh in his age group. Mardiny Ung was third in the 45-49 group in 1:44:45, while Kim Geyer was 13th in 1:54:35. Georgette O’Cone was seventh in 2:50:39. In the 5K, Sharon Wright won the 70-74 division in 33:54, while Alberto Castillo was third in the 75 & Over in 49:21.
Full results can be found at www.splitsecondtiming.com.
Over & Out ... Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
