Athletes of Week April 25
JoAnn Outten Kenton
JoAnn, 54, was the overall female winner of the Boston Marathon Handcycle Division in the race contested April 21. Here’s her story: “Winning the Boston Marathon today was the result of more than 16 years of grit, pain and perseverance. On Nov. 7, 2008, while working as an athletic trainer, a sideline injury shattered my right hip. After years of surgeries and setbacks, I made the life-changing decision to amputate my leg on Aug. 8, 2022. In March 2023, I received my first handcycle. In April 2024, I broke my wrist and needed surgery, losing valuable training time. I recovered and went on to complete my first marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon, in October 2024. This journey has never been about what I lost. It has always been about what I found: faith, strength, determination and a finish line that once seemed impossible – and the will to keep going beyond it.” JoAnn is an athletic trainer at Polytech High School.
Mark Walchinsky
Mark, a 46-year-old masters runner from Alexandra, Va., and part-time Bethany resident, was confident in a shoulder-shrugging way that he had a chance to win the male masters division at the April 19 Bunny Palooza 5K. “If I’m in race shape, I can run in the mid-17s, but not today,” Mark said. “I’ll run in the 18s and see what that gets me.” Mark ran 18:34 to win the overall male masters title. Mark came from the sport of competitive bicycle racing and started running in 2009. He became a member of the DC Road Runners Club. In an interview for the DC Road Runners newsletter, Mark said, “My tip is to turn running/fitness into a lifestyle. Running needs to become more than just exercise. You need to run for reasons other than looking good or staying healthy. I recommend you do it for competition, camaraderie or personal challenges.” Mark is now considered an elite master, and he is a member of the Shadow Project Track Club. Mark was overall winner at the recent Lewes Open Space 5K and masters champion at the Oy Vey 5K.
Bri Windish
A senior honors and AP student on the Cape softball team, Bri has delivered this season for the Vikings in the outfield as well as at the dish. "Bri has played both right and left field but has locked down the left-field spot the last five games," said Cape head coach Mike Tkach. "She has provided senior leadership in the outfield, and her speed and athleticism have contributed on defense as well as running the bases on offense." She has gone 14-31 (.452 BA), leads the team with four triples and has two homers, one inside the park. She has driven in 14 RBIs and scored 13 runs in 10 games. She also has stolen four bases. When not on the diamond for the Vikings, Bri plays with the Delaware Express 18 U travel squad. She is also an advocate for Morgan’s Message in the Cape community. Bri will attend and play for East Stroudsburg after graduation. In her spare time she can be found playing with her red fox lab or listening to music, as long as it's country.
Malachi Woods
A third baseman on the Cape baseball squad, this senior has been a vacuum at the hot corner this season and has turned up his offense in the last two games, going 2-for-3 against Sussex Tech and Caravel Academy. He is batting .350 so far this season. "Malachi has been one of the hardest-working guys we’ve had in the off-season," said Vikings head coach Ben Evick. "He put in a lot of time preparing for this year, and it’s paying off. He’s always one of the first guys to the field and one of the last to leave. He is a leader through his hard work every day. Last week he really got locked in on offense, and we’re excited to see this week and the rest of the season." In his spare time, Malachi loves fishing and hunting, and working out at The Factory. Malachi will attend and play baseball at Rowan College of South Jersey’s Cumberland Campus in the fall.
