13 Striders earn spots on Youth All-American Team

The Seashore Striders youth cross country team made its 27th straight trip to the Cross Country Coaches National Youth Championships this past weekend in Cincinnati, Ohio, and were led by 13 runners finishing in the top 25, with an impressive five runners finishing in the top 10 overall. The top 25 finishers in each single-year age group are named to the Youth All-American Team and are recognized at a post-race awards ceremony, as they are called up on stage and presented with an All-American gold medal.

“The conditions were not the best, with the course pretty much a mud run, and a narrow starting line making it a challenge to get a good start,” said coach Dan MacElrevey. “The good news is that most of our kids fought through the challenges and put together nice races.”

A total of 29 Striders runners made the trip. Along with a host of family members in support of the team, a total number of 82 made the trip to Ohio.

One special visitor who met the team in Cincinnati was Striders supporter and runner Enos Benbow. Benbow became a truck driver almost two years ago and worked out his pickup and drop-off so he could come through Cincinnati and support the team. Benbow spent race day with the team, warming up the Striders runners and talking to them before each race. He was able to catch a few hours of sleep that evening, and at 1 a.m., he jumped into his 85-foot double sleep cab Freightliner and was off to North Carolina.

Here is a look at the Seashore Striders finishers.

Third - Caughnery Freese, 11, Midget, 11:14, 3K

Fifth - Cody Kuhlman, 6, Race of America Open, 3:40, 1K

Sixth - Albert Norman, 18, Young Men, 16:09, 5K                  

Seventh - Lorelai Freese, 6, Primary, 9:29, 2K

Eighth -  Austen Cave, 16, Intermediate, 16:06, 5K

14th - Shiloh O'Grady, 8, Primary, 8:12, 2K  

15th - Justin Friscia, 12, Midget, 11:24, 3K

18th - Mia Thompson, 7, Primary, 8:58, 2K

18th - Bennett Brumbley, 10, Bantam, 12:01, 3K

19th - Emmilyn Swope, 7, Primary, 9:01, 2K

22nd - Katie Kuhlman, 12, Midget, 12:37, 3K

23rd - Laela Swift, 7, Primary, 9:06, 2K

23rd - Chris Friscia, 7, Primary, 8:31, 2K

27th - Matthew Friscia, 9, Bantam, 13:06, 3K

27th - Ben Campagnone, 17, Young Men, 17:01, 5K

30th - Blake Fitzgerald, 9, Bantam, 13:09, 3K

32nd - Luke Burton, 12, Midget, 11:56, 3K

32nd - Devin Hundley, 12, Midget, 12:49, 3K

34th - Michael Thompson, 9, Bantam, 13:20, 3K

35th - Gage Hall, 9, Bantam, 13:21, 3K

37th - Mikayla Cannon, 16, Intermediate, 22:32, 5K

38th - Faith Mitchell, 11, Midget, 13:30, 3K

46th - Emily Trout, 14, Youth, 17:41, 4K

77th - Brianna Sordi, 10, Bantam, 14:56, 3K

78th - Mia Neubling, 13, Youth, 18:01, 4K

81st - Alexander Arnold, 12, Midget, 13:00, 3K

84th - Julie Daniello, 11, Midget, 14:46, 3K

95th - Jakob Hayes, 12, Midget, 13:15, 3K

102nd - Eric Swift, 9, Bantam, 16:23, 3K. 

The Striders team would like to thank all the sponsors and supporters from the Cape Region that made donations, bought raffle tickets and attended the restaurant fundraisers throughout the fall making the trip to Nationals possible.

The Striders team will close out the season with an end-of-the-year banquet to be held Sunday, Dec. 17, at Irish Eyes in Lewes.