From the starting gun to the lazy river at Jungle Jim’s
One of the area’s favorite summer events, the Jungle Jim’s 5K, attracted 340 runners to the starting line in Rehoboth Beach June 22. A 3.1-mile trek to the lazy river brought out runners from 10 states. They ranged in age from 4 to 85 and were of all shapes, sizes and ability levels. Team 360, a group of athletes, captains and wingmen, always puts the Jungle Jim’s race on the schedule, as members love the atmosphere of a family-friendly, inclusive, fun event. Masser and Father’s Day champion Dylan Smiley ran all alone once again, breezing through the country club at a sub-five-minute pace and hitting the finish line in a time of 15:09. Smiley has dominated every race he’s entered this summer. He may get a challenge at the Firecracker 5K Saturday, July 6. Eion Nohilly of New York ran 14:35 at Firecracker last year, so time will tell. Two minutes back on this day was Mike Wardian, winner of the masters division, in a time of 17:09. Owen Oliver, 17, of Oxford, Pa., rounded out the top three in 17:39. Eve Hoffman, 37, of Washington, D.C., won the overall female championship in 20:07. Hoffman has won the Jungle Jim’s race several times. Karen Cathell of Berlin, Md., won the women’s masters division in 22:43, good for 30th place. Team 360 brought three athletes to the race, and the amount of love and support for these kids is just incredible. I presented each athlete with a gold medal when they crossed the line, and just to see them smile is worth all the work that started at 4 a.m.
Olympic Trials
How about Lydia Olivier running in the steeplechase straight from Padua to Villanova to the Olympic Trials? Oliver runs for Under Armour and clocked a time of 10:00 for the 3K. Marquis Dendy (Middletown), competing for Puma, jumped 7.62 meters, an impressive 25 feet, but he only managed to finish 11th overall. Quincy Wilson of Washington, D.C., by way of Bullis, ran 44.94 in the 400-meter dash to finish in sixth place. When interviewed about being a boy in the field of men, Wilson responded by saying, “Hey, they put their shoes on the same way as I do, so I believe I can run with anyone.” Coach Kenny Riedel, out of Mariner Middle, is keeping me updated on the action from his seat on the third turn. Coach went to Haywood Field for the trials and took his mom – now that’s cool.
Ready, set, go
The Seashore Striders and Irish Eyes will host the Beebe Heroes 5K at 7:30 a.m., Sunday, June 30, at Irish Eyes in Lewes. Packet pickup will be at Irish Eyes on Anglers Road from 5 to 7 p.m., Saturday, June 29. A double-event weekend is next with two longtime events – the 34th annual Firecracker 5K Saturday, July 6, at Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach and the 33rd annual Dave Reynolds Biathlon Sunday, July 7, from the Bandstand in Rehoboth Beach. Register early if you want the swag.
NoCo Trisports
The more I look at my son Jake’s website and what he is doing in Fort Collins, Colo., and where he is heading, I cannot help but go back to myself in 1990 when I graduated and began so many aspects of my life that still exist today. It's like full circle. I did not have the cleverness like he does to incorporate a karate kid video – that was pretty cool. Here is his site (nocotrisports.com) and info on camps and bike services, and what he loves best is coaching (online and in person). He is passionate about what he does, and he has always been like that, so he is all about helping others achieve great things. He is also a pro triathlete training for Ironman Lake Placid in mid-July and just finished his first year of teaching physical education at a small school called Highland High School. Coach Nic would be proud of this guy!
