Cape runners compete in NXR Southeast Regional
A handful of local runners traveled south to the NXR Southeast Regional in Cary, N.C., Nov. 23, to compete with hundreds of high school runners from across the Southeast region.
The Cape Henlopen striders, running under Henlopen XC, brought several runners to the meet. Five ran in the invitational 5K, while top runner Jason Baker competed in the championship boys’ 5K race. Senior Ally Miller also competed in the invitational girls’ race.
Baker finished 59th in a good time of 15:42. The race was won by Keegan Smith of Smokey Mountain Pro in a time of 14:23. Eight runners broke the 15-minute mark, while 102 runners broke the 16-minute mark.
In the invitational event, junior Andrew Radka finished 51st in 16:21, while senior Cardin Benjamin finished 185th in 17:08. Junior Brayden Redd was 218th in 17:18, while freshman Nick Petito finished 228th in 17:20. Josh Cohen finished 342nd in 17:53.
Miller finished 182nd in 23:21 in the girls’ event. Freshman Claudia Stazzone ran in the girls’ Rising Star event, finishing 62nd in a time of 21:31, while freshman Shiloh O’Grady finished 94th in a time of 22:33.
Peets shine in Kentucky
The Seashore Striders took five runners to Lexington, Ky., last weekend racing in the 2024 Cross Country Coaches National Youth Championships held at Masterson Station Park. More than 3,000 athletes competed in the meet. It was the 34th national championships in a row that the Seashore Striders have been a part of.
Leading the purple and gold was 6-year-old Nolan Peet, who finished 104th overall in a field of 195 runners and third among the 6-year-olds in the 6-8 boys’ division. In his first national championship, Nolan was racing in 35th at the 1K mark and 50 seconds ahead of the eventual national champion. However, he had some trouble on the final 400-meter hill to the finish. Nolan hung on to finish third in 9:39, with the second-place finisher only a second ahead.
“Nolan ran a gutsy race going out hard with the 8-year-olds,” said coach Dan MacElrevey. “He had a little trouble on the final hill and a few kids got by him, but third in the country is not too bad. He has a bright future in the sport.”
Nine-year-old sister Lillian ran her best race of the season in a personal-best time of 14:10 in the 9-10 girls’ 3K race. She finished 119th in the field of 199 runners overall and 46th among the 9-year-olds in her first nationals appearance. As Lillian was heading to the warmup area, her little brother Nolan was finished and recovering. As they crossed paths, Nolan gave her some pre-race advice. “It’s not going to be easy,” Nolan told his sister.
Eleven-year-old Rehoboth Beach runner Angie Everett, in her first nationals race, finished 256th overall in the field of 265 runners in the 11-12 Midget Division with a time of 16:00, while Salisbury 14-year-old Lindsay Ford finished 141st in the field of 182 runners in the 13-14 Youth Girls Division with a time of 18:24 for the 4K distance.
Fred Thomas Middle runner Jude Peacock, racing in the 13-14 Youth Boys Division, finished 72nd overall and 39th among 13-year-olds in a time of 14:59 for the 4K distance.
Note: In 2006, Nolan and Lillian’s parents, Steve and Marybeth Peet, were among a large group of Seashore Striders that traveled to Iowa for the national championships, making Nolan and Lillian the first next-generation Striders.
Turkey trots
Thanksgiving is the most popular time of the year for road races. The Cape Region has five local races, including two that were held on Thanksgiving Day. The 1925 Eagle Foundation Turkey Trot 5K will be held at 8:30 a.m., Friday, Nov. 29, at Rehoboth Beach Country Club. The 15th annual Pumpkin Pie 5K is set for 9 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 30, at Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach, while the 21st Sea Colony Turkey Trot 5K will head out from the Sea Colony Fitness Center at 9 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 30. Happy Turkey Day!
