Caesar Rodney captures boys’ and girls’ conference cross country titles

The Cape girls’ cross country team had high hopes they could catch and dethrone 10-time Henlopen Conference champion Caesar Rodney Nov. 3 at Killens Pond State Park. But by the two-mile mark, on a secluded trail out of the wind, the dream started to come apart. Championship racing can run the legs from underneath athletes who get caught up in the hype and go out too fast.

‘We looked good, and then we didn’t,” said a disappointed assistant coach Rob Perciful, who has been at it for 40 years. “And Smyrna came out of nowhere and grabbed second, almost catching Caesar Rodney.”

Maleah Chumley, 19:15, and Keely Arndt, 20:18, went 1-2 for the Riders, eliminating all drama from the finish chute.

Smyrna grabbed positions 4-5-6 with Sarah Larose in 20:27, Raegan Sebastinelli in 20:32, and Kelly Barr 20:42.

Cape’s top runner Olivia Brozefsky placed seventh in 20:49, with Caroline Maull running a personal best 21:28, placing 12th.  The rest of the Cape closers were Mia Neubling, 21:37, 14th; Liz Melson, 21:55, 18th; Lindsey Rambo, 22:28, 22nd; Hadley Rhue, 22:55, 28th; and Taylor Johnson, 42nd, 23:56.  

Emily Trout of Sussex Academy ran a great race, finishing 10th in 21:23.

Caesar Rodney won the girls’ meet with 52 points followed by Smyrna, 55; Cape Henlopen, 73; Sussex Tech, 115; Lake Forest, 134; Milford, 135; Sussex Academy, 204; Polytech, 216; Dover, 239; Indian River, 240; and Sussex Central, 286.

The Caesar Rodney boys won the team title (low score wins) with 25 points, followed by Cape Henlopen, 111; Dover, 126; Polytech, 128; Sussex Tech, 140; Smyrna, 143; Lake Forest, 162; Indian River, 170; Milford, 230; Sussex Central, 240; Sussex Academy, 279; and Delmar, 299.

Austen Cave of Delmar won the boys’ individual title in 15:43. The rest of the top 10 were Colin Ritchey of CR, 16:47;  Shane Massey, Lake Forest, 16:51; Aidan Stevenosky, CR, 17:09; Ben Dawson, CR, 17:10; Chris Crossen, CR, 17:11; Ryan Morrow, Sussex Tech, 17:29; Blaise Moyet, CR, 17:29;  Patrick Spencer, Indian River, 17:31; and John DiStefano, Cape, 17:34.

Rounding out Cape’s top runners after DiStefano were Kolbe O’Donnell, 18:01; Bryan Ciabattoni, 18:11; Daniel Adili-Khams, 18:12; Brian Sponaugle, 19:05; and Cesar Campos, 19:10.

The DIAA state championship meet is Saturday, Nov. 10, at Brandywine Creek State Park.