The Triple Crown Series comprises three races in three towns in three days. It always draws a few dozen runners who tackle the challenge.
This year’s series begins at 7 p.m., Friday, June 17, with the Georgetown Library 5K at 123 W. Pine St., Georgetown. The series will go to Hudson Fields near Milton Saturday, June 18, for the inaugural Sangria Stampede at 8 a.m. Then Sunday, June 19, the popular Father’s Day 5K steps off at Zogg’s, 1 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth Beach. Special awards will be presented to those who complete all three.
Maggie Browne Memorial Scholarship
Maggie Browne was the girl embedded inside her track team who flashed a smile and made everyone all at once feel better about themselves. Maggie was the heartbeat for Cape girls’ track & field. She was the type of person who inspires a team to believe and understands they are a family forever. The mere mention of her name brings a smile of her memory, which is always in the present. The winner of the Maggie Brown Memorial Scholarship embodies that contagious beautifulness of what it means to be a teammate forever and a day. The first Maggie Browne Memorial Scholarship, valued at $1,000, was presented to Elizabeth “E-Beth” Melson, who will continue her education at Penn State. The second Maggie Mile will be held Friday, Aug. 12, at Legends Stadium. Start training now!
Striders Summer Series
To qualify for the 32nd Striders Summer Series awards, which began back in 1991, runners must complete five 5K races and one five-mile race in the series. Performances are added together and calculated, with awards going to the top five finishers at the end of the summer and all qualifiers.
With the Masser 5-Miler and Seashore 5-Miler already in the books, here’s a look at the rest of the Summer Series schedule:
• Sunday, June 19 - 32nd annual Father’s Day 5K. The opening race in the Nation’s Summer Capital, the 3.1-mile event takes runners through the country club streets of Rehoboth Beach. This event is hosted by Zogg’s and normally draws a fast field with a crowd of 300-plus runners of all shapes and sizes
• Saturday, June 25 - 18th annual Jungle Jim’s 5K. This popular event starts inside the water park and finishes adjacent to the Lazy River. An out-and-back course through Rehoboth’s Country Club Estates, this event always draws plenty of families and kids to the starting line
• Saturday, July 2 - 32nd annual Firecracker 5K. Always one of the fastest courses in the series, this event is run from Grove Park in the shady pines of north Rehoboth Beach. The post-race party is held inside the park with unique beach towels going to the participants
• Saturday, July 9 - 15th annual Race for the Ribbon 5K. A kickoff to a double-race weekend, this event raises funds for the American Cancer Society and is instrumental in helping families impacted by cancer. It has raised more money than any other race in series history
• Sunday, July 10 - Third annual Beebe Heroes 5K. The second race of the weekend is held at Irish Eyes in Lewes. An out-and-back course along the shoreline has runners checking their watches for a personal-record performance, before heading to the post-race party to enjoy a Bloody Mary with Tom and Char of Irish Eyes
• Sunday, July 17 - 25th annual Bill Degnan 5K. Held in honor of the late Bill Degnan, Cape track coach, this race heads into Lewes before returning along Kings Highway. This year we will have a track start and finish. Degnan won the Division I state championship in 1986 while coaching at Cape
• Saturday, July 23 - 39th annual Dam Mill 5K. One of the oldest 5K events in Delaware, this race is held in the tiny town of Millsboro. This race has a lot of history, as anyone who was ever anything has likely raced the Dam Mill. Centered in Cupola Park, it raises funds for the Millsboro Fire Company
• Saturday, Aug. 6 - 14th annual Race for the Paws 5K. Everyone loves dog races, and this one tops them all with a great post-race party at the Dewey Beach Lions Club. Held in memory of all the four-legged friends we have lost, proceeds this year go to the Delaware Humane Association
• Sunday, Aug. 14 - 25th annual Run for JJ 5K. This race is held in memory of Joseph “JJ” Stein. The Delaware state record of 13:52 was set on this course through beautiful Henlopen Acres. We had a 10-year streak where visiting Kenyans dominated the race. Many breakfast gatherings in the park have followed this event.
