The 13th annual Dogfish Dash 8K is coming up at the end of the month. The event has attracted 3,040 participants and will kick off at 9 a.m. from the Dogfish brewery in Milton. This is the largest 8K race in the state and one of the largest events in general among all distances. Runners from 28 states, led by Delaware with 1,244 entries, are participating as well as a runner from New South Wales, Australia.
Here’s a breakdown of where runners are traveling from: Delaware, 1,244; Pennsylvania, 584; Maryland, 550; New Jersey, 197; New York, 191; Virginia, 165; District of Columbia, 83; Florida, 19; Connecticut, 18; Massachusetts, 14; West Virginia, 11; Texas, 9; North Carolina, 9; Ohio, 7; Colorado, 5; Wisconsin, 4; California, 3; Tennessee, 3; Georgia, 3; Rhode Island, 3; Alaska, 2; Michigan, 2; Hawaii, 2; Indiana, 1; Minnesota, 1; Missouri, 1; South Carolina, 1; Australia, 1.
A pair of 11-year-old in Julie Daniello of the Seashore Striders and Zoe Morawski are the youngest female runners, while Jamie Wollard at 80 and Stella Castillo at 83 are the oldest female runners. On the male side, a pair of 8-year-olds in Kyle Jayme and Cameron Bryant are the youngest runners, while Dr. Lee Masser at 82 and Alberto Castillo at 86 are the oldest.
The Dash is known as an off-centered road race through Historic Milton that starts and finishes at the Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. The event is a benefit for The Nature Conservancy Delaware Chapter.
Since 2007, the Dogfish Dash has generated more than $644,500 for the The Nature Conservancy. Here is a look at the breakdown by year: 2017 - $145,000; 2016 - $100,000; 2015 - $120,000; 2014 - $75,000; 2013 - $51,600; 2012 - $38,500; 2011 - $33,500; 2010 - $26,000; 2009 - $25,000; 2008 - $20,000; 2007 - $10,000. The Dogfish Dashers will be running for nature.
E-Beth
Elizabeth Melson, known to her friends as E-Beth, has arrived to high school competition and placed herself in the mix. Melson, my No. 1 miler from last year’s Beacon Middle team, is a straight-up gutsy competitor with speed at the end of a race. Some young kids are talented but do not know how to race, and others may not be as talented, but they understand how to race, when to make moves and when to hold back. E-Beth is young with a bright future; she knows how to race and has talent to go with it.
An opening 23:23 for 11th at the Lake Forest Invitational got her started, while she also turned in a more impressive 22:38 for 14th at the White Clay Invite on the Newark hills. On Sept. 19, the freshman runner finished third overall at the Cape versus Sussex Academy dual meet.
With a training partner in fellow freshman Mia Nuebling, another talented runner out of Mariner Middle, both will continue to improve. They have been a nice addition to Matt Lindell’s cross country program at Cape Henlopen.
Remembering Betty
The 11th Run for Betty Gooch 5K will kick off a weekend of racing in the Cape Region Friday, Sept. 28, at Shields Elementary School, with the kids’ Dolphin Dash going off at 5 p.m. and the 5K beginning at 5:30 p.m. Betty would say, “Let’s get excited,” and the proceeds will go to an educational scholarship for a Sussex County senior.
On Saturday, Sept. 29, at Hopkins Farm, get ready for the second annual Udderly Fun Moo-Run - The Ultimate Farm 5K. The race will start at 9 a.m. from the Hopkins Creamery.
The weekend concludes with the Dogfish Dash.
For more information, visit seashorestriders.com.
Striders at Holy Cross Invite
The Striders traveled north to take part in the Holy Cross Invitational in Camden Sept. 15, with the JV race broken up into third and fourth grade, and another for fifth and sixth grade. The varsity race was for seventh and eighth grade.
In the third/fourth girls’ race, it was Emi Swope leading the Striders, while on the boys’ side it was Eli Oliver with the top team place. In the fifth- and sixth-grade girls’ race, Lily Noonan finished fifth to lead the Striders, while Blake Fitzgerald led the boys.
Faith Mitchell led the team in the varsity girls’ race over the 2.2-mile course, while Justin Fricia led the boys for the Striders. Congratulations to all the finishers.
