I will team with boys’ coach Ellis Gaulden Tuesday, July 19, during my open track night, to host a summer all-comers track & field meet open to all ages and ability levels. Several Cape coaches will be putting on the events. There is no cost to compete, and you may compete in as many events as you like. Registration will begin at 5 p.m., and it is just a matter of choosing your events and getting your names on the list. We will group the ages from the youngest to the oldest.
The eight events that will be contested are the 100-meter dash, 1,600-meter run, 55-meter low and high hurdles, 400-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 800-meter run, long jump and shot put, in that order. Other events can easily be added with volunteer help.
Bill Degnan 5K
The 25th annual Bill Degnan 5K will return to Cape Henlopen High School Sunday, July 17, the same day my triathlete son Jake turns 25. Bill was a longtime teacher and coach at Woodbridge and Cape Henlopen; he won multiple conference and state titles as a coach. In 1986, Bill was the Delaware State Track & Field Coach of the Year. I was coaching indoor track & field with Bill when I got the call on a Wednesday morning from coach George Pepper that he had passed away. Just a few days earlier, I had spoken to Bill and we went over the upcoming meet lineup, and he thought he might be home on Friday. A few hours after the call, I went to my mailbox and there was a letter from Bill. An emotional roller coaster it was that week, and I will never forget the great times and the many kids’ lives Bill touched. What a great man, who was gone too soon. Bill, who was inducted into the Delaware Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1997, died at the age of 43 in 1996. I invite all the past winners of the Bill Degnan Scholarship to come out and run this Sunday, and celebrate a great teacher and coach. This year’s scholarships went to Tia Jarvis and Ja’on Harris. Register at seashorestriders.com.
Summer Championship Series
With four races to go in the Seashore Striders Summer Championship Series, I thought I would take a look at the leaders in each age group, and the overall and masters leaders. Caleb Bradley and Eugenija King are leading the series after seven races, while Tim Young and Mary Kessler are leading the masters.
10-13 - Keiran Labarre; 14-19 - Bennett Brumbley; 20-24 - Kiersten Pels and Caleb Bradley; 25-29 - Keren Rams; 30-34 - Jeff Gravatt; 35-39 - Eugenija King and Joey Andrisani; 40-44 - Amy Kuhlman and Jeff Evans; 45-49 - Alyssa Simon and John Blackford; 50-54 - Tania Culley and Vince Pavicl; 55-59 - Sheila Young and John Yanacek; 60-64 - Jackie Rams Martin and Tim Young; 65-69 - Cheryl Justison and Brian Johnston; 70-74 - Mary Kessler and Jules Woodall; 75-79 - Sherri Wright and Brian Logan; 80 & over - Jack Noel.
Maggie’s Mile
The Maggie’s Mile will be held on the Legends Stadium track Friday, Aug. 12, a mile-long run in honor of the late Maggie Browne. Registration is at seashorestriders.com. The 16 races will include the following championships: youth (12 & U), teenage (13-19), open (20-39), masters (40-49), grand masters (50-59), super grand masters (60 & over), celebrity, elite. Elite cutoffs are sub-five minutes on the male side and sub-six minutes on the female side. Cape graduate Elizabeth “E-Beth” Melson won the first $1,000 scholarship presented during the Cape Senior Awards Night. Come join us for four laps around the oval as we honor, celebrate and remember Maggie.
RBP runners to return
Over the years, several Rehoboth Beach Patrol guards have been known for their running ability, and they will come together for the 100th anniversary reunion Saturday, July 30, at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. It should be quite an event with the Big Fish Group handling the food, and the Funsters providing the fun tunes. Many RBP guards have won several of my Seashore Striders events as well as the Rehoboth Biathlon and now the Dave Reynolds Biathlon. Some top names I remember running and sprinting include Sonja Friend-Uhl, Kevin Danahy, Jason “Breadtruck” McKay, Tim Green, Derek Shockro, JJ Stein, Walter Bennett, Troy Bockius, Dave Gillan, Dave Overstreet ... I know there are many more, and I hope they can all come together and celebrate the great bond of the lifeguard family. The alumni group picture, which is scheduled for Sunday, July 31, at 9 a.m., will be taken at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand.
