SoDel Cares 5K for a cause and just because

Runners race “just because,” not for a cause.

The fifth annual SoDel Cares 5K and noncompetitive mile walk held June 10, between Bluecoast and Thompson Island restaurants, boasted 361 race finishers and 200 noncompetitive walkers, including SoDel Concepts CEO and Lineman for Life Scott Kammerer. When it was suggested to Scott that the race always draws a big crowd because so many locals support the philanthropic work of SoDel Cares, Kammerer quipped, “Or maybe they just come for the food and post-race party.”

Relentless runner Martin Rodriguez, 41, always training and racing, warming up then warming down, won the event in 18:29, going upside cake for the finish photo, with his Seashore Striders singlet over top of the Races2Run banner.  

Bryan Mack, 33, a local who has never been seen on a training run, cruised to second place with an 18:56 clocking. Mack played soccer and lacrosse back in his Cape high school days and has stayed enthusiastically fit of body, mind and spirit.

Mike Sewell, 53, was third overall and male masters winner in 19:25.  

Tiffany Herrera, 19, was the first female winner in 19:27, followed by Katie Latimer, 34, in 19:54.9, just ahead of Herrera’s twin sister Stephanie Herrera in 19:54.9.

Roberto Herrera, 47, ran 20:54, which was good for 15th place overall. 

Chip timing places runners in order of time over place, except for first male and female overall. That makes frantic finishes good for photos – the older the runner, the sillier it seems – but final placement is always determined by time. 

Matt Busillo, 68, of Rehoboth sneak attacked Matt Garvey, 55, of New Castle at the finish, as Garvey never heard Busillo coming. But Garvey’s chip time was 27:55 for place 108, while Busillo’s 28:21 was good for place 119. 

The gun time of the two runners went to Busillo in 28:30 and Garvey in 28:31. 

The retired Lunch Ladies of Lewes fared well, as Lori Holdsworth, 62, won the female masters in 24:57, while husband Bill Holdsworth, 63, ran 23:49. 

The inspection and dissection of race results can be found at races2run.com. SoDel Concepts owns 12 restaurants in coastal Sussex County, and SoDel Cares was founded in 2015 to honor the philanthropic work of the company’s founder, the late Matt Haley.