Cape Region running events canceled or postponed

As race director of the Seashore Striders, I live in the Cape Region where there are more running events, based on our state’s population, than anywhere else in the country. I was hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, just like every other business owner, as four events in March, three events in April and another so far in May are all affected. A few thousand runners and several thousand dollars to charities came to a screeching halt. Here is an event-by-event breakdown of what it means to the Seashore Striders events. 

March 14 - 13th St. Patrick’s Day 5K in Denton, Md., canceled until 2021 

March 15 - 14th Shamrock Shuffle 5K/15K in Rehoboth Beach, canceled until 2021

March 22 - 17th Tim Kennard 10-mile/5K in Salisbury, Md., canceled until 2021

March 28 - 2nd Run for Coach Nic 5K in Georgetown, canceled until 2021

March 29 - 10th Pumped For Pets 5K, 10K, 15K in Stevensville, Md., moved to Sunday, May 3

April 11 - Inaugural Post 28 VFW 5K in Millsboro, postponed/date TBA

April 17 - 18th Delmarva Dash from Newark to Lewes, postponed/date TBA

April 26 - 3rd DQ Dash 5K for Fireworks in Lewes, postponed/date TBA

May 9 - 11th Seashore Classic ½ Marathon & 5K, postponed to Oct. 4. 

Please keep checking our website (seashorestriders.com) and our Facebook page, as it seems things are changing daily. 

Races2Run events

April 11 - Bunny Palooza 10K/5K in Bethany Beach, canceled 

April 25 - 2nd Flight of the Phoenix 5K in Dewey Beach, canceled 

May 3 - 4th Dewey Revelation Beer on the Run 4-Miler in Rehoboth Beach, canceled 

May 8 - Arena’s 5th Running of the Goat 5K in Milford, postponed 

May 10 - 4th SPF at the Beach for Melanoma 5K in Rehoboth Beach, postponed.

Cape track and field

I thought this week I would reach out to a few of the Cape track and field athletes to get their perspective on how this shutdown has affected their life, their goals and their day-to-day schedules.

I decided to contact senior pole vaulter Bryan Ciabattoni, sophomore long sprinter and jumper Tia Jarvis, and senior distance runner and pole vaulter Olivia Brozefsky to get inside their heads a bit and see what they are thinking and feeling. I have to say that I was impressed with the answers. Even in one of the lowest coaching times in my last 30 years, it is still very rewarding to know athletes like Bryan, Tia and Olivia.   

Tia Jarvis

“Personally, I think after coming off of a successful indoor season, I was motivated to attack the spring competition!” said the Henlopen Conference Indoor 400-meter champion.  

“Running the fastest I ever have run, intense training every day and simply doing what I love with my teammates is how my spring was going. However, it was all very overwhelming and upsetting once announced that not only mine, but so many other athletes’ day-to-day routine would be put to a screeching halt because of the virus. That being said, I could choose to focus on the negatives during this pandemic, but it is important to use this time to your advantage. Use this time to become a better athlete, person, and outwork your competitors. As an athlete, I believe most would agree when I say it is better to stay ready than have to get ready!” 

Bryan Ciabattoni

“It’s pretty upsetting that I’m probably not going to have the chance to come back after my indoor state track meet,” said Ciabattoni, who no-heighted in the pole vault event. “But, this season I couldn’t have asked for more. This year I tried a new event and worked really hard toward it. Even though my last meet did not go as planned, my whole season was very good individually and as a team. It was great to see the team succeed and come together as a whole. Over the past couple years, this program has grown and become one of Cape’s most successful teams for boys’ and girls’ sports. I’m very thankful to have a coaching staff that is so supportive of change, and have given myself and my fellow teammates the environment to grow as athletes and young adults. I’m sad that I may not have a last outdoor season, but am very excited to see where Cape’s track programs go in the future.” 

Olivia Brozefsky

“Well, it kinda sucks to not have the opportunity to better myself in my last year when I am so close to getting a personal best in the pole vault,” said Brozefsky. “It’s just annoying because I’m so close, but I understand this is a really big issue in the country. We have a very strong team this year with a lot of potential, so I’m hoping that this all gets better soon and we can get back on the track and back to business.”

Shamrock Virtual 5K & 10-Miler

The Seashore Striders gave participants the option of taking part in the Shamrock Shuffle Virtual 5K & 10-Miler last weekend when the race was shut down due to the nationwide coronavirus outbreak. Mike Sewell of Lewes captured the 10-miler in 1:04:51, while Dani LeGates of Lewes won her first race in a time of 1:55:37. Karen Eller of Newark won the female masters championship in a time of 2:09:36.

In the 5K event, Woody Disharoon of Laurel won the 5K male championship in 28:53, while Jane Boyd of Lewes won the female championship in a time of 30:12. Jules Woodall of Lewes won the male masters in 30:03, while Deb Rementer of Rehoboth Beach won the female masters in 35:48.

Complete results can be found at seashorestriders.com.