Nucleus of Running Nuts commence and complete trifecta of races
The Seashore Striders commenced and completed a weekend trifecta of road racing, beginning with the 13th annual Georgetown Library 5K run June 17 with a field of 67 runners, followed by the sixth annual Irish Eyes 5K in Milton on Saturday morning with 110 runners, and finishing with the 26th running of the Father’s Day 5K on Sunday morning at Wilmington Avenue and the Boardwalk, a race that attracted 372 runners.
“Many of the regular club of Certified Running Nuts ran all three races,” said Race Director Tim Bamforth. “They always have a good time whether running a fast or slow time.”
Molber Rivera was the overall winner of the Georgetown Library race in a time of 20:36. He was followed by Dan McGinniss in 21:21 and Jaasiel Nunez in 21:49. Eileen Davis was the first woman and fourth overall with a time of 21:53. She was followed by Christine Witkowski in 24:38 and Kathy Kay in 24:46. The first 16 runners in the small-sized field raced under an 8-minute mile pace for the 5K.
“Runners like small races and big races; I don’t think it matters to them all that much,” Bamforth said. “It’s such an individual sport. Times are more dictated by terrain and the weather rather than the number of runners.”
The Irish Eyes 5K dash, which included an over-and-back across the footbridge at the Broadkill River basin, was won by Delmar lacrosse player Austen Cave in a time of 17:59. Cave generally travels with a entourage of seven, which includes most of his nuclear family, including his grandmother and her friend who is a girl but not her girlfriend. Martin Rodriguez was second in 18:11 followed by John Blackford in 20:08 and Jonathan Zubrowski in 20:49. Helena Helou was the first woman and fifth overall in a time of 20:56. Following Helena on the women’s leaderboard were Mardiny Ung in 21:54, Jessie Krouse in 23:30, Karen Dawson in 23:46 and Katie Kuhlman in 24:08.
Professor Bill McArthur, an absolute workout maniac who just attended his 50th reunion from Villanova University, competed in all three races in the 70-plus age group, running 29:50 for the Georgetown run, 29:28 for Irish Eyes and 29:19 for the Father’s Day race. Drop Bill from an airplane and he’ll fall at 9:20 per mile, he is always on pace.
The Father’s Day race is always fast with the top 5 runners going under a six-minute pace. The race field was led by Vaughn Parts of Towson, Md., in a time of 16:28. Parts was followed by Cesar Reyes in 17:22, Austen Cave in 17:55, Mike Sewell in 18:01 and Martin Rodriguez in 18:27. Becky Gessler was the first woman in 18:47 followed by Tiffany Hevner in 19:37, Cindy Conant in 19:38, Eve Hoffman in 19:59, Christine Lloyd in 20:25, Sally Marx in 20:47, Lisa Sherman in 21:30, Abby Andrews in 22:28, Mardiny Ung in 22:39 and Amy Smith in 22:44.
“A lot of fathers and sons and daughters in the Father’s Day race,” Bamforth said. “It’s sort of the beginning of summer vacation, so the race always attracts a very diverse crowd.”
And so the summer race calendar is ready to pop like Hamilton Beach, with most weekends booked into the fall marathon season.
The next Seashore Striders races are the 12th annual Jungle Jim’s 5K splash Saturday, June 25, and the 21st annual Bill Degnan Friendship 5K Sunday, June 26.
Races2run will host the Northbeach 5K Sunday, June 26, as part of the Ten Sisters Racing Series.
