The Viking girls began their post-season journey Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the College of Earth, Ocean and Environment in Lewes as Cape took seven of the top 10 finishers in the meet to score 26 points for the easy win in the five-team Sussex County Championship.

Ali Coning, just a sophomore, led Cape with a second-place finish in a time of 20:01, followed closely by senior teammate Rebecca Pepper in third with a time of 20:05.

Izey Wharton of Tech won the individual title in 19:46. Emily Ritter of Tech was fourth in a time of 20:37.

Viking Shanel Dickens turned in a season-best performance of 20:58 to finish sixth, while Tricia Colucci keeps dropping her times to finish seventh in 21:52. Kay Albertella was eighth in 23:02, while Grace Hetfield was ninth in 23:08. Lydia Miller ran 23:16 to wrap up the top 10 finishers.

Sussex Tech was second in the team race with 41 points, with Seaford scoring 88 points for third place. Indian River was fourth with 96 points, while Sussex Central was fifth with 129 points.

The Viking boys finished third in the meet with 71 points, while Sussex Tech won the championship with 32 points. Seaford finished second with 52 points, while fourth went to Sussex Central with 76 points. Indian River was fifth with 123 points. Tadeo Gonzalez finished fifth in 18:24 to lead the Vikings, while Tech’s top runner Jamie Price won the individual title in 17:38. 

Following Gonzalez across the line was Kyle Joseph placing 12th in 19:19, while Alex Faust was 17th in 19:49.

Ian Eckrote was 21st in 20:39, while Brian Beitzel was 22nd in a season best of 20:44.

MARINER BETHEL TRAIL RUN – Nine-year-old Logan Shuttleworth led the Seashore Striders by winning the 5K overall title at last weekend’s Bethel Trail Run 5K. Shuttleworth turned in a personal best of 20:45, while Strider Jack Ashby was timed in 20:20 for third overall in the 5K race. Ben Bamforth ran 51:30 in the seven-miler to win the 9 and under age group. Katie Klabe, Grace Brokaw, Sarah Rambo, Maddie Bada, Lindsey Rambo, Riley Shields and Zoe Kelly also competed in the race.

EASTERN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - The Seashore Strider youth cross country team will host the National Coaches Association Eastern Regional Cross Country Championships to be held Sunday, Nov. 15, at Killens Pond State Park near Felton.

In last week’s running column it was mistakenly noted that the national championships were coming to Killens Pond, however, it was supposed to read that the Striders are hosting the Eastern championships.

The Striders received the bid from the national administration and have an agreement to host the meet in 2009 and also in 2010.

The meet is open to any athlete east of Washington, D.C., north of the Bay Bridge, and south of New York state.

The coaches’ youth organization is a spinoff by the three largest clubs: Brokaw Blazers out of Kansas, Philadelphia CYO and the Elgin Sharks out of Illinois, who separated from the AAU organization and formed their own national championship with Ohio hosting last year’s opening year in a snowstorm.

This year’s National Championships will be in Nashville, Tenn. to be held December 5th. For information contact Tim Bamforth at tim@seashorestriders.com, or download an application from the popular N5CTA Delaware website.

SEASHORE MARATHON - The Rehoboth Beach Running Company and the Seashore Striders will again team up to produce the second annual Seashore Marathon Saturday, Nov. 21 in Rehoboth Beach.

As of today, more than 600 runners are registered for the event that will begin at the Bandstand in Rehoboth

The event will also have a half marathon that will follow the same course and turn around in the Hawkseye development at the 8.5-mile point.

From the turnaround point, the half-marathoners have just over 4.5 miles to the finish line. Contact the Rehoboth Beach Running Company (251 Rehoboth Ave.) or call them at 227-4848 to register for the event.

Don’t miss it!

UPCOMING RACES - Saturday, Nov. 7 - Delaware Open Youth Championships, 1 p.m. at Killens Pond State Park near Felton; Sunday, Nov. 15 - CCC East Regional Championship, 10 a.m. at Killens Pond State Park; and Saturday, Nov. 21 - RBRC Seashore Marathon and half marathon; 7 a.m. at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand.