Cape cross country takes down Dover and Delmar, falls to CR

Dozens of cross country runners set out on the course at Shutte Park in Dover. DAVE FREDERICK PHOTOS

Tim Bamforth

October 20, 2017

Cape’s top runner Greg Boyce heads to the finish line.

Cape’s top female runner Olivia Brozefsky finishes strong.

Amaya Daisey was Cape’s third finisher at the Dover meet.

Austen Cave, a familiar face at Cape Region 5Ks, was the fastest runner of the day.

Striders coaches Rick Hundley, left, and Derek Shockro talk to the third-grade girls’ team at the start of the Brandywine Invitational in Wilmington. BRETT KUHLMAN PHOTO

The Cape Vikings competed in a quad meet at Shutte Park with host Dover, Caesar Rodney and Delmar Oct. 18, and when the dust had settled, the Vikings boys’ and girls teams’ each came away 2-1, with a loss to the Riders and wins over Dover and Delmar. The Riders boys handled the Vikings easily 20-43, allowing only one Viking ahead of their top seven runners. Cape edged Dover 26-29 in a close battle, and the Vikings easily topped Delmar 20-43. Greg Boyce fell 10 seconds short of winner Austen Cave with a time of 16:55, while Colby O’Donnell was 12th in 18:02. Owen Allen continues to improve and ran 18:13 for 14th, while John Distefano rounded out the top 15 with a time of 18:14.

In girls’ action, Cape’s Olivia Brozefsky captured the win in 21:16. Taylor Johnson was ninth in 23:17 and Amaya Daisey was 11th in 23:52. The Riders dominated the meet, putting seven finishers in the top eight. The Cape girls edged Dover 26-30, beat Delmar 19-38, and lost to CR 20-43.

Next up for the Vikings is the Joe O’Neill Invitational Friday, Oct. 20, at Bellevue State Park in Wilmington. Bellevue has been the fastest 5,000-meter course in the state, and this meet has produced more personal bests than any other. Look for downstate runners like Austen Cave, Greg Boyce, and Olivia Brozefsky to mix it up with the front runners and go after that personal best.

Side note: Golden Knights runner Albert Norman just missed the Sussex Central course record of 16:49, set in 2016 by Sussex Tech runner Ben Bamforth, by hitting the tape in 16:50 to lead his team. Norman is my Most Improved Runner of the Year, as he was in the 18s several times last season and ran 18:05 to finish 10th at last year’s County Championships. Norman put in a solid summer of training and he is seeing the benefits, as he has taken a minute off his 5K times this season.

Middle school wrap

The Beacon boys’ and girls’ cross country teams easily topped the Raiders of Woodbridge by a 15-50 boys’ score and a 16-50 girls’ score at this week’s home meet in Lewes. Beacon seventh-grader Luke Burton ran his personal best of 10:25 for the 3,000-meter course, while teammate Hunter Jones was second with a good race of 11:11. Brexton Carter finished third in 11:19, Owen Smith ran 11:29 for fourth and Brody Smith rounded out the top five scorers in 11:41. A 1:16 top five gap is pretty impressive at the middle school level. They are a team to watch at the upcoming Southern Delaware Middle School Championships set for Wednesday, Oct. 25, at Browns Branch County Park in Milford.

On the girls’ side, Elizabeth Melson continued her winning ways by running a 13:10 for the 3K distance to lead her team to the win. Madison Couchman was second in 13:24, Alissa Swann finished third in 13:53, Clio Evans ran in the fourth position in a time of 14:23 and Maya Thompson finished sixth in 14:52. Beacon will travel north to Providence Creek Monday, Oct. 23.

The Mariner boys’ and girls’ cross country teams remained unbeaten on the season with convincing wins at Sussex Academy Oct. 16. The boys ran a perfect 15-50 behind another victory from eighth-grade star Brian Sponaugle, who covered the 2.14-mile course in 13:07, while seventh-grade standout Katie Kuhlman clocked a relaxed 14:40 to help the girls to a 15-47 triumph.

Eighth-grader Justin Marsh placed second overall for the boys in 14:37, fellow eighth-grader Cole Windish gritted through a hip injury to take third in 15:24, eighth-grader Devlin Stevenson ran a huge breakthrough race in fourth (15:25) and eighth-grader Angelo Ballard-Rose chased him home in fifth (15:28) despite a hamstring pull. Sixth-grader Gage Joseph (sixth, 15:36) and eighth-grader Joseph Nsiah (seventh, 15:47) rounded out the scoring for Mariner (3-0).

On the girls’ side, eighth-grader Mia Nuebling continued her rapid improvement with a 15:20 clocking to take second. Seventh-grader Brayden Parkes broke the tape third in 16:44, seventh-grader Evelyn Turman recorded a huge personal best to grab fourth in 17:10 and sixth-grader Olivia Burkentine ran a gutsy race in fifth (17:33). Sixth-grader Mac Cryne (seventh, 18:11) and sixth-grader Lily Fisher (ninth, 18:26) also cracked the varsity seven for the 3-0 Vikings. Mariner will travel west to Woodbridge for a meet Monday, Oct. 23.

Mariner’s Bethel Trail Run

One of my favorite races of the year is the Mariner’s Bethel Trail Run. The race is a 5K, 7-miler, 3-mile walk and 1-mile walk, along with a kiddie race, and it adds to the carnival of events that will be held this Sunday afternoon at Camp Barnes. The races are scheduled for 1 p.m. and will snake their way through beautiful Assawoman Wildlife Refuge before returning to Camp Barnes. You will never experience a post-race party like this one, as home cooking, a band, a fireplace and some of the nicest people you will meet make up the highlights of the celebration. Race-day registration will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Camp Barnes. More information can be found at www.seashorestriders.com.

Striders tackle Brandywine Hills

The Seashore Striders youth team competed at the Brandywine Invitational Oct. 14 on the hills of Brandywine Creek. Luke Burton led the boys with a top three varsity finish, while Bennett Brumbley was second in the JV race to lead the purple and yellow. Katie Kuhlman finished second, Devin Hundley sixth and Mia Nuebling 10th as the Striders placed three in the top 10 in the varsity girls’ race.