Prediction 5K winner 1.42 seconds off guessed time
The Seashore Striders wrapped up the summer last weekend at Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach with the Last Blast Prediction 5K and summer series awards ceremony. A total of 155 competitors took part in the 5K, where runners could not wear watches, use GPS or run with pacing family members. Also, there were no accurate mile markers or display clocks. The course began at Grove Park and went to North Shores, just before the shadows of Secret Service loomed, and turned around at 1.55 miles to head back to Grove Park. The Prediction 5K proved again to be an exciting event, with the top 20 closest to their predicted time named the winners. The 20th-place cutoff was 14.24 seconds off their predicted time, which is impressive with no help. Eitan Halper-Stromberg had the closest prediction to take top honors, as he ran 17:23.58 and predicted 17:25, for a difference of 1.42 seconds. Leigh Harlow finished second with a difference of 2.40 seconds, while Connie Marshall wrapped up the top three with a 2.59-second difference. Other top predictors in the top 10 include Daniel Nellius, Cindy Dominik, Leeann Waltz, Peter Chiarelli, Teri Moore, Mark Walchinsky and Alex Nock.
5K honors Berry
The 11th running of the Run, White & Blue 5K held Sept. 5, at Delaware Technical Community College in Georgetown attracted more than 600 participants who were running for veterans, first responders, active military, students and, most importantly on the local scene, for fallen fireman Thomas Wilson Berry III. Berry was recently taken from us too soon as he was fatally injured on the scene of an accident, doing what he did best. The Run, White & Blue event was for Berry and many others lost, and it is a simple reminder that these heroes will never be forgotten. As of the Cape Gazette deadline, the event had 650 registered runners and walkers, making it one of the largest 5K events in Delaware. Look for the results online at seashorestriders.com.
Baker is back
Cape graduate Ryan Baker, a sophomore at Lehigh, competed in the Lehigh Invitational 6K last weekend and ran a very impressive race to record a time of 18:40.8 and average 5:00 per mile. Baker was only six seconds off the leader, senior Noah Deckert of St. Joseph’s, who logged a time of 18:34. The Mountain Hawks placed second as a team with 30 points, just one point behind the St. Joseph’s team. Baker battled through some injuries his freshman year and only competed twice; however, he put in a solid summer of training and looks to be in great form heading into his sophomore season. The Mountain Hawks will return to action Friday, Sept. 13, at Penn State University for the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe.
Awards presentation
One of the highlights of the end-of-the-summer awards ceremony is the presentation of special awards. The Most Consistent Awards were given to Jeff Evans and Mary Kessler. Evans’ best 5K was 21:44, with a slowest 5K of only 22:06 for a 21.4 difference. Kessler’s best was 25:56 with a slowest 5K of 26:32 for a difference of 36.3. Other consistent runners in the top 10 were Donald Cowie, Tim Young, Alan Quillen, Jen Ward, Chris Sinclair, John Dowling, Rich Feinstein and Chris Stanley.
The Most Improved Awards were given to Michael Nellius and Cindy Dominik. Nellius improved 39 minutes and 21.22%, while Dominik improved 34 minutes and 12.95%. Other runners in the top five were Bill Brooks, Leslie Wright and Betsy Long.
The Hank Brittingham Volunteer of the Year Award went to one of the most dedicated volunteers Seashore Striders has ever had. Robbin Wells, a Seaford graduate, comes from the far west side of the county to volunteer each week, usually the first to the race site and always the last to leave. Hank would have been very proud of the dedication to the series that Robbin gives each week.
All-10 Awards were given to the 21 runners who ran all 10 races in the series. Those included Alan Quillen, Betsy Long, Breck Vanderwende, Cheryl Justison, Donald Cowie, Jen Ward, John Walters, Jose Lukecart, Karen Eller, Kimberly Geyer, Leeann Waltz, Louise Holt, Marian Dowling, Martin Rodriguez, Mary Kessler, Richard Tikiob, Robert Dobak, Sam Piazza, Stephen Jessee, Tabitha Palkewicz and Teri Moore. All 21 were given custom backpacks to take to their next race.
The National Class Awards went to three runners who earned national status in their age group. Mary Kessler in the 75-79 age group had an 85.97 grade, while Dylan Smiley, 26, was second at 84.63. Margaret Colvin, 62, had a score of 80.17.
The Striders’ bikers, Doug Ludwig and Joe D’Amico, received Bike Buddy trophies.
