The Cape boys’ track team will spread out over 18 events and try to stay close to a tough Salesianum team that has a bit of everything with sprinters, jumpers, throwers and distance runners. Cape will load the relays and capitalize with its tough distance team led by Ryan Baker, a 9:18 two-miler. Baker, a junior, will run the 3,200 fresh Friday night looking toward another blistering time. Baker broke his own record last weekend at the Henlopen Conference Championships, finishing second to Polytech superstar Matt Gatune, who ran 9:17 to also break a school record. Baker also ran 4:23 in the 1,600 meters for a new personal best. Friday night’s 3,200 will not have Gatune, but will add junior Matt Miller, who has run 9:26, and senior Kenny Guy, who has run 9:28. Senior Ryan Banko is seeded fourth, coming off an injury, at 9:33, and he is capable of being in the mix as well.
Cape’s 400-meter relay team looks like it will be in the running for a state championship, as the team has hit 43.42 this season. They will need perfect handoffs to upset top-seeded Salesianum, (42.46) and St. Georges (43.41).
Sophomore Bailey Fletcher is seeded second in the pole vault at 12-feet-6-inches and could be a great choice for most improved in his opening year. Baker will line up third in the 1,600 behind Gatune (4:19) and Miller (4:21). If Smyrna senior Liam Meginniss can stay with the leaders, his speed could be deadly, as he has run 50 seconds in the 400 and 1:55 in the 800. The 800 relay is very tight, with all eight teams within a two-second difference. Cape will be in Lane 1 ranked seventh in the championship section. Sussex Central is top seed at 1:30.35. Brian Sponaugle is the eighth and final selection to the fast heat of the 800 meters, where he hopes to improve on his 2:01.57 season best. The Vikings are ranked seventh in the 1,600-meter relay and will hope to better their 3:31.08 season best.
On the girls’ side, the Vikings will turn their focus to the 3,200 relay with a team of Hannah Maney, Alexa Dougherty, Emma Duffield and Tia Jarvis. Just last week they ran a season best of 9:59 to win the conference. Junior Katie Kuhlman was on that championship team, but Duffield will take her position so Kuhlman can run the 3,200 meters with fresh legs. Kuhlman has run 11:47 and is currently ranked fifth. “I think if everyone runs what we think they can run, we could possibly break 9:50 and be in the top three teams,” said distance coach Martin Rodriguez. Cape is ranked fourth in the 3,200-meter relay behind Padua, Appo and Charter.
The Vikings should also be one of the top five in the 1,600-meter relay, which will close out the meet. Cape will run Maney, Dougherty, Kuhlman and Jarvis with hopes of breaking the 4:10 mark.
Jarvis, in her first year hurdling, is set up perfectly in the 300-meter hurdles, as she will have Lane 3 with top seed Sophia Curtis of Padua and Kam’Dyn Thomas of St. Georges on her outside. “If Tia can run a clean race and finish strong over the final two hurdles, she can beat anyone,” said coach Gilbert Maull. Cape’s Dougherty will also be in the seeded section on the outside. Cape has three high jumpers all nipping at the 4-foot-10 clearance, and two junior discus throwers in Hailey Archambault and Cailyn Bledsoe closing in on throwing over 100 feet. Cape also has two pole vaulters eyeing the 8-foot mark, freshmen Brooke Rhue and Addison Bowman.
Oye Vey and Masser 5-Miler on tap
Next up on the road race circuit is the eighth annual Oy Vey 5K, which will take off from the Seaside Jewish Community Center at 9 a.m., Sunday, May 22. The center is at 18970 Holland Glade Road north of Rehoboth Beach. There will be a timed 5K race as well as an untimed, one-mile, dog-friendly fun walk and kids’ races. Proceeds of the Oy Vey 5K benefit the educational programs at Seaside Jewish Community. This past fall, the students were able to attend an educational day at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in D.C. The race will have plenty of famous kugel to nosh and treats to tempt your palate. If there is something the Jewish community knows how to do, it’s cook and feed the masses. Online registration is open through Saturday at 6 p.m.
Join the Seashore Striders for one of its longest-running events at the shore – the 29th annual Masser 5-Miler, to be held at 7:30 a.m., Sunday, May 29. Kicking off the popular Seashore Striders Championship Series, this year's Masser 5-Miler will be a live event. The race is named after one of the founders of the Summer Championship Series, the late Dr. Lee Masser of Crofton, Md. The Masser 5-Miler is a flat and fast course run mostly on bike trails through the City of Lewes with little traffic. The race will start and finish at Cape Henlopen High School inside Legends Stadium. Go to seashorestriders.com for race information.
