Record numbers qualify for 25th Seashore Striders Racing Series

The final results of the 25th Seashore Striders Summer Racing Series are published and final, and this week’s column is dedicated to the runners who completed the series. The first series began in May 1990 with a handful of qualifiers, and now 25 years later, we qualified a record number of runners at 150. The largest female age group was the 50-54 group, while the largest male age group was the 60-64 group.

Overall

On the male side of the action, the top dog for the summer was Ryan Wilson, a recent graduate of Cape Henlopen High School. Ryan, 18, out of Rehoboth Beach, had a combined total for races of 2:00:41. On the female side, it was 37-year-old vet Susan Dunn of Laurel, who combined for 2:24:25.

Masters

In the Masters Division, for those over 40 years old, it was Mike Sewell, 45, who combined for a time of 2:05:10, while Mardiny Ung, 48, combined for a total of 2:32:53. Both Ung, from Elizabethtown, Pa., and Sewell out of Camden are always tough to beat in the Masters Division.

9 & Under

On the female side, it was Seashore Striders' Katie “K” Kuhlman of Milton all alone with 6 points for the win in this division.

10-13

Wilmington’s D.J. Farren moved up a notch this year and won the age group with 6 points, while Aaron Cave grabbed second with 23 points. On the female side, it was Marissa Washburn taking the division with 6 points, followed by Olivia Montini second with 13 points. Ashlyn Cave finished third with 33 points.

14-19

Selbyville’s Sonny Landis scored 10 points to win the title, while Quinton Jones scored 15 points for second. Austen Cave totaled 21 points to finish in third place. Landis is attending Xavier University.

20-24

A close race on both sides in this age group as Keats Gardner won with 14 points, followed close by Washington, D.C. runner Bonieke Rodrigues with 15 points. On the female side, another close race took place as Megan Loulou scored 14 points for the win, followed close by Grace McCool with 15 points. Both Loulou and McCool won the award for the summer’s favorite names, in my opinion.

25-29

On the male side, it was Mr. Parks all alone with a total of 30 points, while on the female side it was Wendee Bull who scored 7 points for the victory. Bull was followed by Laura Marvin with 15 points in second, Elizabeth Gerritt with 21 points in third, Rachel Dufour with 28 points in fourth and Heather Jenkins rounded out the top five with 33 points. The future Mrs. Parks was a qualifier in the division.

30-34

One of the best in the summer, Martin Rodriguez of Selbyville, won the age group with 6 points, while Andrew Hocker followed him with 21 points for second. Abby Andrews ran away with the title on the female side with 12 points, while Casey Cashdollar was second with 24 points. Stephanie Short scored a close 28 points for third, while Bonnie Brooks scored 49 for fourth. Teri Overington rounded out the top five with 57 points.

35-39

With just a three-point margin, Milton’s John Blackford won the division with 11 points over Brian Frable with 14 points. Jeff Evans grabbed third with 26 points, while Eric Smith was fourth with 34 points. Gemez Tull rounded out the top five with 40 points. It was not as close on the female side, as Amy Hodges scored 21 points for the win, while Heather Marvin scored 32 points for second. Amy Kuhlman of Milton was third with 38 points, while Nicole Tingle was fourth with 44 points. Kelly Pettyjohn rounded out the top five with 46 points.

40-44

Longtime Seashore Striders supporter Breck Vanderwende of Bridgeville scored a perfect 6 points to win the division, while Erik Farinas was second with 11 points. Bryan Bowles finished third with 16 points, followed by James Tingle with 25 points for fourth. J.R. Ward rounded out the top five with 36 points. The qualifiers include Brett Kuhlman, Joey Kwit and Joel Simon. On the female side, it was Lisa Sherman grabbing the win with a perfect 6 points, followed by Deb Helzel second with 10 points. Tina Foskey scored 16 points for third, followed close by August Cave with 18 points for fourth. Roxy Castillo of New York City rounded out the top five with 33 points. Jennifer Murray and Alyssa Simon were both qualifiers.

45-49

It could not have been much closer as both Paul Montini and Chris Stanley each scored 12 points to capture the division, while Brent Van Scyoc was third with 26. Rich Jones finished fourth with 33 points, while fifth went to Edward hood with 37 points. Qualifiers include Stephen Joyce, Chris Sinclair and John Yanacek. On the female side of the action, the series’ most enthusiastic runner, Kim "Shake & Bake” Geyer won the division with 12 points, while Linda Schwartz-Chi was second with 20 points. Robbin Wells was third with 30 points, while Rebecca Montini was fourth with 36 points. Linda Stanley rounded out the top five with 39 points. Qualifiers include Melissa Mulligan, Renee Lewandowski, Melody Moore and Betty Ridenour.

50-54

Longtime supporter and 25-year qualifier Peter Tracey of Washington, D.C., scored 15 points to win the division, while Vincent Langan scored 23 points for second. John Dowling was third with 26 points, while David Farren of Wilmington scored 27 points to follow close in fourth. On the female side and the largest group of qualifiers in the series, Karen Johnston scored 8 points for the win, followed by Jane Boyd in second with 20 points. Debbie Green was third with 25 points, while Cindy Redefer was fourth in 31 points. Sheila Young rounded out the top five with a close 33 points. Qualifiers include Lori Waldee-Warden, Cindy Dominik, Esther Kernosh, Leeann Waltz and Laurie Yanacek.

55-59

Brian Johnston won the age group with 6 points, while David Landis of Selbyville was second with 10 points. Tim Young grabbed third with 16 points, followed by Kent Allen in fourth with 26 points. Rounding out the top five was Peter Chiarelli with a close 27 points for fifth. Qualifiers include Dan Sypinski, Kirk Alderdice, Jay Epstein and Garry Killmon. Jill Extract ran away with the title with 8 points, follwed in second by Cathy Haut with 16 points. Louise Holt scored 19 points for third and Deborah Rementer scored 32 points for fourth place.

60-64

This age group was the largest in the series with Ed Jordan winning the title with 6 points, followed by Rick Poppleton with 11 points in second. Richard Feinstein finished third with 13 points followed by Cliff Anderson with 24 points for fourth. Alan Quillen rounded out the top five with 27 points. Qualifiers include String Bean, Jack Vassalotti, Joe Barranco, Dean Stewart, Jose Lukecart, Richard Tikiob, Bill Shupe, Jim Marvin, James Roe and Bill Brooks. On the female side, another race closer than close as Mary Andrisani and Teri Moore each scored 10 points to capture the title for a tie.

65-69

Tim Abbott of Georgetown scored 6 points to edge Jules Woodall with 9 points for the win, while Doug Hawkland scored 19 points for third. Brian Logan scored 23 points for fourth, while Mike Richardson rounded it out for fifth with 28 points. Terry Gricher, Willard Phillips and Leo Hennigan were the qualifiers in the division. One of the best in the East Coast winning the title easily on the female side was Joann Szczepkowski of Rehoboth with 6 points, while Georgette O’Cone was second with 10 points. Marie Kuhlman was third with 23 points.

70-74

Another tie occurred in this age group, as two of the finest, Gene King and Doug White, each scored 6 points to win the title. William McArthur was third with 15 points, followed by John Kurpjuweit in fourth with 17 points. Paul Kiefer was fifth with 21 points, while Dennis Williams was sixth with 29 points.

75-79

Magician Jack Noel of Lewes pulled a trick out of his bag to capture the title with 7 points, while close behind was Hal Carrier with 8 points. John Neal was third with 13 points, while our leader, Dr. Lee Masser, finished fourth with 18 points. On the female side, it was all Jamie Wollard out of Maryland with 6 points to win the title.

80 & Over

John Button scored 6 points for the win, followed by Ed Green with 11 points in second. Both are inspiring runners in the Seashore Striders Racing Series.