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CoDel Running Festival draws 3,500 runners to Rehoboth

Nippy, foggy morning the scene for three races
A total of 645 marathon runners head north on the Rehoboth Boardwalk under a dense fog. NICK ROTH PHOTOS
Nick Roth
April 19, 2019

A thick fog rolled into Rehoboth Beach ahead of the CoDel Running Festival April 14, but the lack of visibility didn’t stop thousands of runners from keeping their eyes on the prize. 

The festival featured a 5K April 13 followed by a marathon, half marathon and 9K April 14. In total, more than 3,500 runners participated in the weekend.

The big winner of the day was Matthew Barresi, 36, of Palmyra, Va., who took the overall title in the marathon in a time of 2:38:00. He and runner-up Brad Dodson of Boonsboro, Md., demolished the field. After Dodson’s 2:39:18 finish, the next fastest runner was 11 minutes behind. Michael Bray of Baltimore took third in 2:50:20; Jake Marcus of North Easton, Mass., ran 2:51:43; and Alexander Hoerniss of Leichlingen, Germany, rounded out the top five in 2:53:10. 

The women’s marathon was won by Kelli Proctor, 41, of Waterford, Pa., in a time of 3:01:34. She was followed to the finish by Melanie Rebechi of Baltimore in 3:04:32; Carly Wolfe of York, Pa., in 3:06:14; Sharon Schmidt-Mongrain of Lafayette Hill, Pa., in 3:09:23; and Megan Venables of Harrison, N.J., in 3:09:49.

The marathon attracted 645 runners. 

The half marathon boasted 1,232 entries. Steve Sinko, 42, of Wilmington was the overall winner in 1:18:48. Following him were Francisco Puac of Georgetown in 1:20:32; Duane Oftedahl of Gilford, N.H., in 1:21:44; and Enos Benbow of Georgetown in 1:22:54. Sara Baugh of Richmond, Va., was the women’s champion and sixth overall finisher in 1:24:33. Just a minute behind her was Caryn Just of Baltimore in 1:25:38. 

Jake Mashack, 19, of Bloomsburg, Pa., took the top spot in the 9K in a time of 31:53. He was followed to the finish by Steven Eshelman of Lincoln in 32:16, Chris Vodzak of Hockessin in 33:00 and Joe Bukartek of Newark in 6:32. Olivia Montini, 14, of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., was first female and fifth overall in 38:11.

The 5K in Dewey Beach was won by Joe Phifer, 23, of Alexandria, Va., in a time of 18:06. He was quickly followed to the finish line by a pack of runners, including Enos Benbow of Georgetown in 18:31; Andrew Berger of Cherry Hill, N.J., in 18:36; Kenny Krygier of Clayton in 18:39; and Mike Guessford of Newark in 18:55. 

Michele Karsnitz, 34, of Milton took top honors in the women’s 5K in a time of 20:14. She was followed by Andi Barnett of Wilmington in 20:50, 13-year-old Faith Mitchell of Milford in 21:24 and Caitlin Reiser of Chesapeake, Va., in 21:43. 

The weekend benefited Delaware Seashore Preservation Foundation and Delaware Seashore State Parks.

A total of 645 marathon runners head north on the Rehoboth Boardwalk under a dense fog. NICK ROTH PHOTOS
Supporters were set up throughout the marathon course.
Todd Lubin, 25, of New York City, left, chases Adam Rudolph, 36, of Totowa, N.J., at the halfway point of the marathon.
Cedar Street in Lewes was a quiet setting for marathoners (l-r) Kelli Proctor, 41, of Waterford, Pa.; Sharon Schmidt-Mongrain, 43, of Lafayette Hill, Pa.; and Jack Goldberg, 51, of Arlington Heights, Ill.
Michael Bray, 25, of Baltimore tries to catch the leaders. He finished third overall in 2:50.
Jake Marcus, 29, of North Easton, Mass., keeps pace. He finished fourth overall in 2:51.
Alexander Hoerniss, 49, of Leichlingen, Germany, makes it an international race. He finished fifth overall and won the masters title.
Brad Dodson, 34, of Boonsboro, Md., was runner-up in 2:39.
Marathon winner Matthew Barresi, 36, of Palmyra, Va., keeps a healthy distance between himself and runner-up Brad Dodson. Barresi finished in 2:38.
Brian Gadzinski, 29, of Milton towers over his fellow half-marathon runners.
Megan Skrabacz of Laurel, Md.; Amanda Faul of Columbia, Md.; April Arnold of Columbia, Md.; and Melissa Lean of Ellicott City., Md., are all excited to see a photographer early in the half marathon.
Lauren Hynicka of Towson, Md., passes the one-mile marker in the half marathon.
Erin Karara of Fulton, Md., is ecstatic about setting the 1:55 pace. She finished the half marathon in 1:54.53.
Melissa Platt of Laurence Harbor, N.J., finishes the half in 2:48.
Deb Buenaga of Wilmington pushes Preston Buenaga in the half marathon along with Lisa Ross of Bear. Buenaga is the executive director of Preston’s March for Energy, which provides adaptive bikes for children with special needs. Preston, who has Mitochondrial Disease, received an adaptive bike in 2011. The family was so appreciative, they decided to pay it forward through Preston’s March for Energy.
Leading a pack of half marathon runners are (l-r) Duane Oftedahl of Gilford, N.H.; Grace McGrath of Pawling, N.Y.; Tim Hein of Philadelphia; and Francisco Puac of Georgetown. Puac finished second in the half marathon in 1:20.
Steve Sinko of Newark jumps out to an early lead in the half marathon and goes on to win the race in a time of 1:18.42.

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