Lewes Dairy 5K: elves, egg nog and 250 runners from 15 states
The Lewes Dairy Christmas in July slog through the egg nog 5K July 3 in Lewes attracted 250 runners from 15 states. And there was a post-race party afterward at the American Legion post pavilion with kids’ games and an outdoor juice bar.
“It was a great turnout for the first year,” said Race Director Wayne Kursh of Races2Run.
There was the unusual crowd of fast out-of-town runners, with the top 30 going under an eight-minute pace.
Mike Wardian, 43, aka The Congenial Crazy Guy, a world-renowned ultra-marathoner, who runs by day and plays computer chess by night, toed the starting line, his long and lean frame rising above the savvy little people who crowded in close to get into the start photo. “I’ll take my wins wherever I can get them,” Wardian joked.
Wardian won the race in 16:20, ahead of Stephen Garrett in 16:59, Todd Burns in 16:59, Matt Latimer in 17:34 and Nicholas Garrett in 18:20.
Katie Tomlinson, 29, from Charlottesville, Va., was the first woman in 19:50. Rounding out the top of the women’s leaderboard were Alessandra Gavin in 20:06, Alyssa Pietrobono in 20:50, Kelly Tingle in 21:45 and Jessica McGarvey in 22:37.
Liam Kauffman, 13, from Landenberg, Pa., won the 10-13 age group in 20:54. His mom Theresa Kauffman, a longtime runner on the Delaware circuit, was third in the 50-54 age group in 26:39.
“I’ll be a freshman at Salesianum next year,” Liam said. “I’m training this summer, and I will go out for their cross country team in the fall. There are fun runs over the summer, and I know Sallies is really good, but if I get down into the 17s for 5K, I have a chance to make varsity. That is my goal.”
Whatever the reason, an early start or a $25 entry fee, there are not many 18-and-under males running summer races for T-shirts and medals, but the ones who do race, do well and are ready for the fall cross country season.
There were a few elves embedded in the race and several Santa hats - an odd concept, Christmas in July - but the runners were all over it like children on wrapped presents.
