Dogfish Dash draws nearly 1,700 runners to Milton
There was a total of 1,690 registered runners at this year’s Dogfish Dash, a long way from 2006 when 270 turned out. The Seashore Striders, along with the Dogfish Race Committee led by top-notch organizer Lauren Biddle, produced and hosted the Dash.
Milton was dashing from the start all the way through the 3.82-mile off-centered course. Local Dylan Smiley won the title again in 20:05 for a 5:17 mile pace. Andy Gorlich of Milton was overjoyed with his third-place finish in 22:56, winning the 35-39 age group.
“I never expected a third-place finish, and by the way, what the Seashore Striders do for the community is so awesome,” Gorlich told me after the race.
Paul Montini and Bobby Hutton, both well-known runners in the area, each won their age group in low 24-minute times.
Lindsay Ford, just 13 and running cross country for the Seashore Striders, finished as the third overall female in a time of 26:11, averaging a 6:54 mile pace and winning the 13U age group by over seven minutes.
Debra Isser won the 70-plus age group in 28:26, averaging 7:28 per mile and winning her age group by more than 20 minutes.
Elaine Bristowe came out of retirement and ran 45:18, while daughter Christine Palmer (Bristowe), former member of J.E.T., ran 33:29.
Chuck Van Duzee, 87, ran 58:51 up from Bradenton, Fla., while wife Esther ran 1:00:41 at age 84.
Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione again started the race with the Seashore Striders boat horn.
A check for $100,000 was presented to the Sussex County Land Trust at the awards ceremony.
Results are available at seashorestriders.com.
Middle school wrap
A close middle school meet was held Sept. 30 at Cape, as Beacon Middle squeaked by Sussex Academy 27-28. Sussex Academy put three runners in the top four finishers, but the difference was a Beacon pack of four that pushed the Seahawks’ fourth and fifth runners back. That proves why cross country is just as much a team effort as it is an individual sport.
Beacon’s Brandt Kuklish won the 3K race in 11:31.8, followed by the Sussex Academy threesome of Kai Mundok in 11:56.3, Nolan Furlong in 11:59.5 and Seth Moore in 12:08.0. Jack Willmot rounded out the top five finishers in 12:51.8.
The girls’ meet was nearly as close, as Sussex Academy topped Beacon by a 28-31 score. Emily Hilton of Beacon ran away with the win in 12:34.8, while Garrity Cox of Sussex Academy was second in 13:24.2. Beacon’s Addison Farrell grabbed the third spot in 13:43.5, while Mackenzie Kupa was fourth in 14:11.1 and Lexie Dare of Sussex Academy rounded out the top five finishers in 14:19.8.
Mariner’s boys and girls traveled to Chapel Branch in Seaford to take on the Blue Jays, and both teams came away with convincing victories of 15-50 scores.
Dylan Harp led Mariner with a time of 9:29 for the 1.5-mile course, while Caleb Olmsted from Mariner was second in 9:33. Andrew Ockels was third in 9:34, while Logan Cole was fourth in 9:45 and Noa Urrestarazu rounded out the top five for Mariner in 9:58. Ben Bamforth, while racing for the Seashore Striders, holds the course record at Chapel Branch of 7:59.
Bree Terhune of Mariner set a school record of 9:39.8 to win the girls’ race, while Fiona Fisher was second in 10:54. Stella Hastings of Mariner was third in 10:55, while Addie Dean ran 12:04 and Kinley Johnson rounded out the top five in a time of 12:15.
The Fred Thomas boys’ cross country team made it two victories in a row with a dominating win over Selbyville 15-60. The team was led again by Jude Peacock in a time of 11:43 on the two-mile course. Fine performances were also put in by Dillon Silva in second place, Jack Hudson finished third and Ryder Uszenski in fifth.
The Selbyville girls topped Fred Thomas 23-32, as eighth-grader Lexi Byson led Fred Thomas in third place.
Tidewater Classic
The 52nd Salisbury University Tidewater Fall Classic was held Oct. 2 at Winter Place Park in Salisbury, Md.
Sussex Academy’s Ryan Moody finished seventh in 16:52 as the top local finisher, while Duncan Winger of Sussex Academy was 22nd in 17:37. Kieran Morrissey led Cape in 18:50 in 60th place. The Vikings only competed with JV runners, as the varsity team will travel to Lehigh Friday, Oct. 4. In the team race, Sussex Academy took fifth place, while Cape was 17th and Delmarva Christian was 30th.
On the girls’ side of the action, Katya Geyer of Sussex Academy ran 20:13 for ninth, while Hailey Hassell of Cape ran 20:56 for 17th. Sussex Academy finished third in the team race with 132 points, while Cape was fourth with 154 points. Delmarva Christian finished 22nd with 602 points.
