200 runners compete in Seashore Half Marathon, 5K

The 14th annual Seashore Classic left from Market Street on Lewes Beach May 6, with 200 runners choosing to run the 5K, half-marathon or two-person half-marathon relay. 

The fastest relay team of the day was the duo of Martin Rodriguez and Tyler Muse, who clocked a time of 1:24. When asked how he got back from the Gordons Pond parking lot so fast, relentless runner Martin answered, “I drove.” 

Another runner, a young guy who runs a 20-minute 5K, missed the turnaround, so Race Director Tim Bamforth took a golf cart ride along with the runner’s mother to find him and bring him back. 

Variable distances with relay teams added in made for an interesting finish line.

Matt Sparacino, 45, the Harrington Harrier, was first through the finish archway in 18:20 to win the 5K race. Chris Kirchner, 29, of Lancaster, Pa., ran 18:31, followed by Mike Kirchner, 34, also of Lancaster, in 21:39 to round out the top three finishers.

Melinna Wightman, 18, of Leesburg, Va., was the first woman finisher in 26:18. 

Masters winners were Dominic Borda, 40, of Millburn, N.J., in 22:51 and Jane Boyd, 58, of Lewes in 29:58.

Michael Mitchell, 68, of Lewes sniped David Cowie, 67, of Dewey Beach at the finish line to win the 60-69 age group in 25:56. 

Bruce Wentworth, 71, of Westminster, Md., crushed the 70-79 age group in a blazing time of 24:27 to finish in sixth place overall. 

Hiba Stancofski, 54, of Lewes won the female 50-59 age group in 31:53. A total of 53 runners elected to run the 5K distance. 

The single-person half marathon was won by Mike Sewell, 53, of Lewes in 1:27:07. Paul Montini, 55, of Ivyland, Pa., had Sewell in his sights the entire race but couldn’t reel him in, placing second in 1:27:59. 

Kara Mondoskin, 35, of Devon, Pa., was sixth overall and first woman in 1:32:30. She was chased to the chute by Sarah Richards, 38, of Rehoboth Beach in 1:33:13 and Lauren Moran, 43, of Midlothian, Va., in 1:33:49. 

A total of 126 runners completed the half-marathon. 

Full results can be found at seashorestriders.com.