Locals compete in Cherry Blossom 10-Miler

Last weekend was the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler in Washington, D.C., with a large group of locals making the trip over the bridge to join 24,520 runners through a beautiful course in the nation’s capital. Wesley Kipoo, Raymond Magut and Hillary Bor were the top three male runners, separated by two seconds and $2,500. Kipoo ran 45:54, which is 4:36 mile pace.

I would have loved to list the local runners and their finishing times, but the results do not allow users to search by state or city. My only choice would have been to look through 24,000 results, and Friday’s paper would arrive faster than I could finish.

There are a few names that did catch my eye when looking through the age-group results. Brian Fuller was fourth in the 35-39 age group. Brian, a regular Delaware beach racer out of Mechanicsburg, Pa., ran 51:28, averaging 5:09 per mile. Dewey Beach’s Mike Wardian won the 45-49 age group in 54:37, averaging 5:28 per mile. Cindy Conant, another beach regular, ran 1:07:55 to average 6:48 and win the 60-64 age group. Mike Sewell of Lewes won his age group in the 5K version of the Cherry Blossom. Congratulations to all local finishers.

Henlopen South action

The Sussex Academy boys ran past Indian River April 9 by an 89-56 score, while also easily topping Early School by a lopsided score of 118-8. The Indian River girls edged out Sussex Academy by a 76-68 score, while Sussex Academy beat Early School 92-43.

Some of the individual highlights on the boys’ side were the Seahawks sweeping all four relays for 20 points, while senior sprinter Ethan Bolades won the 100 meters in 11.2 and the 200 meters in 23.0, and took second in the long jump at 19-feet-7-inches. Distance runner Ryan Moody won the 1,600 in 4:55, the 800 meters in 2:13.6 and the 3,200 in 11:20. Alexander Arnold of Indian River was a double winner, capturing the 300-meter hurdles in 46.8 and the pole vault with a 10-foot jump. He also finished second in the 110-meter hurdles for 13 points.

On the girls’ side, Sussex Academy won three of the four relays, while the Indians won the 800 relay in 2:00.2. Sussex Academy’s Katya Geyer was the meet’s high scorer with 20 points after winning the 300-meter hurdles in 54.7, the long jump in 13-3, the triple jump in 31-4, and the high jump in 4-10. Elite distance runner Brynn Crandell of IR won the 1,600 in 5:20, the 800 in 2:35.4, and the 3,200 in 11:22. Sophomore sprinter Jayla Hudson of IR won the 100 meters in 13.2 and the 200 meters in 28.2.

Next up for Sussex Academy is the popular Keith Burgess Invitational Saturday, April 13. 

Henlopen North action

The Vikings traveled north to Smyrna April 9 for a tri-meet with the Eagles and Dover. Cape beat Dover 102-44, while also getting by Smyrna 92-54. The Cape girls easily beat Smyrna 107-38 and topped Dover 80-66.

The Cape boys put together a nice 3,200 relay to win in 8:28.1, while Smyrna was second in 8:51.1. Smyrna won the 800 relay in a quick 1:31.5, while Cape was second in 1:33.6. Smyrna also won the 400 relay in 43.9, while Cape ran 44.4 for second and Dover 44.8 for a close third. Dover won the 1,600 relay in 3:40.7, while Smyrna was second in 3:45.1 and Cape third in 3:52.2.

Cape thrower Sean Powers won the discus in 105-3, while Bailey Fletcher won the pole vault in 14-0, with Eddie Houck second in 13-0. Trey Johnson won the 100 meters in 11.2 and returned to win the 200 meters in 23.1, while Jason Baker ran 4:37.9 in the 1,600 meters. Cardin Benjamin won the 800 in 2:05, while Riley Stazzone ran a nice 3,200, winning in 10:35.7. Stephen Hart won the high jump at 6-1 and the triple jump at 42-9.

The Cape girls won all four relays against Smyrna, but only the 400 relay against Dover. Kennedy Johnson won the 100 meters, 200 meters and long jump in 15-7 for 15 points, while Harper Mamele had another nice high jump clearance of 5-1. Zoe Miller won the 3,200 in 13:12, while Jade Warrington won the shot in 27-10 against Dover. Anejah Johnson-Grace won the triple jump in 30-10, while Addison Bowman won the pole vault in 8-6. Ainsley Rineer won the discus in 73-3.

Boston Strong

The 128th Boston Marathon will take place Monday, April 15, with 54 runners from Delaware participating. Locals include Thomas Clark, 34, of Millsboro; Thomas Jensen, 60, Lewes; David Miller, 71, Lewes; Martin Rodriguez, 42, Selbyville; Bob Schahfer, 68, Bethany Beach; and Mike Sewell, 54, Lewes. Strider Tanya Karaman of Smyrna will also compete.

Middle school action

The Mariner boys topped Seaford April 10 by a score of 59-50 in a tri-meet with Woodbridge, which Mariner also won 66-43, going 2-0 on the day. On the girls’ side, Mariner beat Seaford 66-43 and Woodbridge 67-42.

Kristopher Ramos-Morales won the triple jump in 29-11. Samuel Schubert won the 200 meters in 25.7. Quinn Kluchnik won the 800 meters in 2:32.3. Dylan Harp won the 1,600 meters in 5:41.9. Allison Ortiz-Rivera won the 1,600 meters in 6:01, the long jump in 13-3 and the triple in 29-2. Natalie Horsey won the hurdles in 10.7 and high jump in 4-9 for a new Mariner school record. Tytiana Floyd won the 400 meters in 1:09.9. At Cape April 9, Beacon hosted Georgetown and Millsboro.

Finish chute

This weekend will bring the Coastal Delaware Running Festival with the featured marathon Sunday morning going from Rehoboth to Lewes and back. I will be in Lewes watching over a few water stops with the Cape honors students and the Grove Club.

Next on the 5K circuit are two races – one new and one celebrating 10 years. The inaugural Race for Open Space will be Saturday, April 20, beginning at Blockhouse Pond in George H.P. Smith Park at 9 a.m. The Open Space Alliance event is raising awareness to maintain the Fourth Street Preserve in its natural state with public access and walking trails. The race will benefit the Open Space Alliance fundraising effort.

The Oy Vey 5K will celebrate 10 years Sunday, April 21, on Holland Glade Road, starting at 9 a.m. from the Seaside Jewish Community. The race will benefit SJC educational programs. Organizer Alyssa Simon tells me she has 16 dishes of kugel ready for the runners. Hope you’re hungry!