Rodriguez wins Jungle Jim’s 5K in 17:26, then runs it again
Martin Rodriguez beat some runners two times June 23 at the Jungle Jim’s 5K Splash, which attracted 257 athletes for its 14th running.
“My primary goal was to break 17:30, and I ran 17:26, so I was happy,” Rodriguez said. “Winning the race is just a bonus.”
Happy Martin went back out for a warm-down lap, caught up to the trailing field, but did not go through the finish chute a second time until everyone had finished and he had his trophy.
The top 11 runners broke 20 minutes, highlighted by Jackson Hart in 18:02, DJ Farren in 18:12 and Patrick Boettcher in 18:21, all of whom broke 19 minutes.
Mary Campbell, 16, from Ephrata, Pa., was the first woman to finish, with a time of 20:53. She was chased to the finish line by Kelly Tingle in 20:54.
“People love this race,” said Race Director Tim Bamforth. “The water park opens at 9:30, and lots of runners and their families hang around to use it.”
Seashore Striders continues its summer race schedule with the 28th annual Beach Paper Firecracker 5K at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, June 30, at Grove Park. The Dave Reynolds Rehoboth Biathlon will follow at 8 a.m., Sunday, July 1, on the Boardwalk at Baltimore Avenue.
