Athletes of the Week April 16

Delaney Brooks

Delaney Brooks is a sophomore at Appoquinimink High School. She has Lewes and Cape family connections, as her mom is Kristen Shipe Brooks and her Pop Pop is Robert Shipe of Top of the Line Cleaning. Delaney finished third in the 100 meters in 12.9, fifth in the 200 in 27.27, and second in the 4-by-100 relay in 53.78, where she ran anchor at the Caravel Invitational. This is her first spring running track after having last spring cut short due to COVID. She was a seven-year travel softball player waiting for high school to run track (there are no middle school sports in Appoquinimink school district). She has trained with Taj Washington at Alpha Training for the past four years and just started with track coach Mark Dendy this spring. She’s a sprinter by nature, but has just started playing around with the long jump as well. Her cousin, Joey Shipe, is currently a junior at Cape. Her dad, Dave Brooks, was a multi-sport athlete at Elkton High School, where he played basketball and baseball.  

Marissa Frederick

This Cape senior honors student is sitting down the competition from the pitching circle for the Vikings softball team. She recently threw a perfect game against previously unbeaten Sussex Academy, striking out 16 Seahawks on their home diamond. So far this season, she has struck out 76 batters, averaging 12 Ks per game. "As a coach, it’s definitely a special thing to be a part of and share with your pitcher," said Cape head coach Shannon Timmons. "I’ve been calling her pitches since her sophomore year, and she and I just get in a groove. Marissa has also become a vocal leader on and off the field, and is working so well with our younger players." She also leads the squad in the batter’s box, recently going yard to cap a comeback win over Indian River. A humble player, she gives credit to her team for her success. "I've been able to throw my best because of the support system I have on and off the field," Frederick said. "They are always there for me." She is an active member of the Cape FFA and interns each day at a veterinary clinic.

Shelby Haughey

Shelby, 43, resides in Rehoboth Beach with her two bloodhounds, Kailani and Charlotte. Shelby has been in the pharmaceutical industry and focused on clinical drug development for more than 20 years, and for the past six years, she has devoted her career to finding cures for cancer and improving patient lives. Shelby initially utilized strength training as an outlet to cope with her highly demanding job and to ensure she maintains a healthy lifestyle in her 40s and beyond. In June 2020, Shelby connected with Will Harris, owner and head strength coach at Rehoboth Beach Barbell Club, who has been instrumental in helping her reach her goals. In less than eight weeks, she was able to do a strict pull-up for the first time and was hooked. Strength training became so much more to her than she ever imagined. After just eight months under Will’s expert coaching, guidance and patience, Shelby competed in her first USA Powerlifting Competition at the end of March. She placed first in the Masters I (40-44) division and established six USA Powerlifting Delaware state records in the 69kg and Masters I category. In November 2021, Shelby plans to compete again and hopes to successfully beat her prior records.

Casey Talamini-Kelemen

Casey is a Polytech triple threat track athlete, winner of the long jump in 17-feet, triple jump in 37-feet-5-inches and pole vault in 11-feet at Saturday’s Caravel Invitational. Casey set the Division I state meet triple jump record of 38-feet-8-inches at the 2019 DIAA state meet where she was crowned champion. Casey is currently ranked first in her class with a 4.0 GPA and is heading to Lehigh University in the fall to major in bioengineering. Casey is a technician on the triple jump runway, transferring her bioengineering talents into athletic performance. Casey has two older brothers – RJ at the University of Maryland and Chris at Catholic University. Her young sister Lizzie is a jumper, but is currently sidelined with injury.  Casey likes playing spike ball with her friends, reading, playing board and video games, and working out.