Athletes inspire determination to be our best

The Cape Region is home to talented athletes in many sports, and recently two athletes with roots in Rehoboth Beach have risen to national attention: runner Cindy Conant and golfer Sawyer Brockstedt.

Conant is well known at local races, the winner of more women's overall and masters championships than any other female runner in the past 20 years. Conant drew national attention when USA Track & Field named her National 2017 Road Runner of the Year in the 55-59 age group.

Conant says she has not yet reached her peak, and her results are proof. In 2002, her Boston Marathon time was 3:50:24; in 2015, she finished third in her age group in 3:07:24 – 13 years older and a remarkable 43 minutes faster.

She now plans to beat the American women's 10-mile record for her age group, just a few seconds faster than her personal best.

Also drawing national attention is Sawyer Brockstedt, whose day in the sun came at Augusta National Golf Club, where she tied for fourth in the national Drive, Chip and Putt Championships. A fifth-grader at Rehoboth Elementary School, Sawyer has been swinging a club since she was 5, and she loves golf the same way Conant loves running.

Like Conant, her drive comes from a desire to be the best she can be.

After recently three-putting every hole and shooting an uncharacteristic 87, she said she spent four hours on a practice green, focusing on every putt. "The next day I was fine," she said.

She admits she also likes to compete with Pop Pop Pete Brockstedt and dad Chase, a 3-handicap golfer. "They make me want to get better 'cause I want to beat them," she said.

Asked what happens on days she just doesn't feel like golfing, she said, "I don't have those days. I just want to play golf all the time."

Congratulations to two remarkable athletes whose drive and determination serve to inspire all of us to love what we do and do what we love.