Strong showing for Seashore Striders at youth nationals

The Seashore Striders traveled west for the Cross Country Coaches National Youth Championships Nov. 17-18, in Louisville, Ky., with 41 athletes and a party of supporters totaling up to 111. It was the 29th straight trip for the Striders dating back to their first trip in 1990. On the girls’ side of the action, two-time All-American Lorelai Freese finished fourth overall among the 7-year-olds. Shiloh O’Grady reached the podium and ran a nice race for 19th in her age group, racing the 3K in 13:35, while first-year runner Allison Ortiz, 8, earned a 28th-place finish in the 2K in 9:06. Making up the 6-8-year-old Striders team with Ortiz were Mia Thompson, Emmi Swope, Erin Noonan and Claudia Stazzone. The team finished fifth overall in the field of 20.

Seashore Striders girls’ finishers by place are:

Fourth - Lorelai Freese - 9:24 (2K Sub-Bantam 7)                                        

19th - Shiloh O’Grady - 13:35 (3K Bantam 9)

28th - Allison Ortiz - 9:06 (2K Sub-Bantam 8)

28th - Olivia Montini - 16:13 (4K Youth 14)

28th - Maddie Kuennon - 20:34 (5K Young Women)

29th - Faith Mitchell - 12:13 (3K Midget 12)

31st - Lily Noonan - 13:01 (3K Midget 11)

33rd - Emily Trout - 20:49 (5K Intermediate)

35th - Micayla Cannon - 22:56 (5K Young Women)

37th - Mia Nuebling - 16:39 (4K Youth 14)

38th - Elizabeth Melson - 14:40 (4K Youth 13)

42nd - Mia Thompson - 9:24 (2K Sub-Bantam 8)

43rd - Emmi Swope - 9:26 (2K Sub-Bantam 8)

49th - Erin Noonan - 9:40 (2K Sub-Bantam 8)

54th - Devin Hundley - 16:55 (4K Youth 13)

55th - Gabrielle Cannon - 17:21 (4K Youth 14)

61st - Claudia Stazzone - 10:09 (2K Sub-Bantam 8)

67th - Kassidy Willey - 18:17 (4K Youth 14)

67th - Brianna Thompson - 17:08 (4K Youth 13)

72nd - Katie Kuhlman - 17:17 (4K Youth 13)

80th - Jorja Willey - 17:31 (4K Youth 13)

89th - Lainey Shockro - 17:49 (4K Youth 13).

The Seashore Striders boys were equally impressive in the meet, as they were led off by an exciting boys’ 17-18 race, where Austen Cave (Delmar High School) led the race from start to the 2.8-mile mark, but was edged at the end by two seconds for the national title. Cave ran a good time of 15:32, which is one of his top three times. It was the highest place since Luke Burton won the individual title a few years back in the 9-10 age group.  

“I pushed the pace the whole way and just did not have a big enough kick left at the end,” said Cave. “It was a good race.”

Seashore Striders boys’ finishers by place are:

Second - Austen Cave - 15:32 (5K Young Men)

Eighth - Cody Kuhlman - 4:08 (1K Race of America)

14th - Caughnery Freese - 11:03 (3K Midget)

41st - Chris Friscia - 8:47 (2K Sub-Bantam)

42nd - Blake Fitzgerald - 12:24 (3K Bantam)

43rd - Riley Stazzone - 12:31 (3K Bantam)

44th - Ryan Morrow - 17:29 (5K Young Men)

68th - Lawson Waley - 12:50 (3K Bantam)

71st - Brooks Whaley - 9:27 (2K Sub-Bantam)

83rd - Michael Thompson - 13:40 (3K Bantam)

85th - Justin Friscia - 14:57 (4K Youth)

92nd - Bennett Brumbley - 11:56 (3K Midget)

108th - Eli Oliver - 13:22 (3K Bantam)

118th - Jakob Hayes - 15:23 (4K Youth)

145th - Alexander Arnold - 15:49 (4K Youth)

150th - Ryan Baker - 15:52 (4K Youth)

179th - Tristin Willey - 15:00 (3K Bantam)

228th - Stephen Hart - 13:28 (4K Midget)

248th - Braden Trout - 13:51 (3K Midget).

Jack Vassalotti takes on Route 66

Local runner Jack Vassalotti headed to Tulsa, Okla., last weekend and competed in the Route 66 5K and Half-Marathon. Jack ran the 5K, where he finished fifth in his age group among 1,800 runners in 32:24. He then returned to the roads the next day to place 19th in his age group among 4,480 finishers in the half marathon in a time of 2:32:52. The full marathon had almost 1,400 finishers as well, and Jack was the only runner from Delaware in any race. Congratulations to Jack for representing the state of Delaware. “A well-organized event in a fun city,” said Jack.

Upcoming Races

The ninth annual Pumpkin Pie 5K will be held Saturday, Nov. 24, in Rehoboth Beach, beginning at Grove Park at 9 a.m. Pick up your shirt and number early Friday at the park from 3 to 5 p.m. and sleep an extra 30 minutes on race day. Arrive early and park on Rehoboth Avenue. Race-day pickup and registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. Race medals are presented to the top three finishers in 16 age groups from 9 & under to 80 & over. Go to seashorestriders.com for more information.

The 25th Turkey Trot 5K will be held Sunday, Nov. 25, at Sea Colony Fitness Center in Bethany Beach, also beginning at 9 a.m., with race-day registration and packet pickup beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The inaugural Mispillion Art League 5K will be held Saturday, Dec. 1, in Milford, beginning at 10 a.m. in the city park next to Arena’s and the River Walk. Part of the course is a wooded path on Milford’s Goat Island. This is an out-and-back course. The event will offer an early pickup from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 30, at the art league on Walnut Street and at the Park Place Restaurant from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Race-day registration and pickup will begin at 8:30 a.m. Go to seashorestriders.com for more information.

The third annual Santa Cause 5K & Fun Run will be held at noon, Sunday, Dec. 2, in Dewey Beach. It will benefit Children & Families First. The race will begin at the Starboard Restaurant. Go to races2run.com for more information.

The Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon is just around the corner, as runners are finishing their last long run two weeks outside of race day Saturday, Dec. 8, at 7 a.m. Look for a marathon preview complete with history facts and viewing locations in next week’s column. Over and out!