Austen Cave upsets Mike Wardian in JJ 5K

The 20th annual Run for JJ 5K July 23 in Rehoboth Beach dispersed 268 runners into a variety of subcategories, all competing for trophies, plaques and all the bacon they could eat without feeling embarrassed.

Austen Cave, 16, a rising junior at Delmar High School, out-sprinted ultra distance star Michael Wardian over the last 800 meters for the win. Cave ran a personal best 16:23, just ahead of Wadian in 16:30. 

“I’ve upped my training under coach Derek Shockro, doing about 40 miles a week and one day on the track for speed,” Cave said. “We are staying away from heavy mileage - don’t want to get burned out. I run cross country in the fall and play lacrosse in the spring.” 

The Cave clan achieved a rare double with Austen winning the overall title and his mother August Cave, 45, winning the 45-49 in 25:40. Other Caves in the race included Aaron Cave, 14, in 24:33 and Ashlyn Cave, 14, in 29:19. Gerry Bradley, 70, a grandmother, ran 45:51. 

Chris Poulos, 18, from Chester Springs, Pa., was third overall in 18:06.

Rachel Booth, 36, from Charlottesville, Va., was the first woman in 18:10. 

The top 15 runners broke 20 minutes. A fast field of women chasing Booth included Natalie Kretzer in 18:44, Christin Doneski in 19:03 and Hilary Reigle in 19:28. 

There was a 5K walk race won by Jan Hill, 59, of Denver, Colo., in 34:36, which is an 11:10 pace and hard to do without falling over. Steve Bence, 61, of Pittsburgh, Pa., was second walker in 34:39. 

There is a definite youth movement on the running scene this summer, as 22 runners 13 and under ran in the competition. 

There was another hot competition in the 70-74 male group, as Wayne Bromfield of New Berlin, Pa., ran 22:59, while Tim Abbott from Georgetown was second in 24:46. 

Jack Huxtable, 79, retired from the foreign service, ran 28:00, while Bill McArthur, 77, was second in 32:59. 

The 34th annual Dam Mill 5K is set for 7:30 a.m., Saturday, July 29 in Millsboro.