The Seashore Striders youth cross country team made its 32nd trip to the Cross Country Coaches National Youth Championships last weekend in Shelbyville, Ind. Racing weather was brutal for the athletes, as temperatures were in the 20s with the wind chill bringing it down to the teens. Eleven races were scheduled, with the Seashore Striders taking part in six of them. The opening race of 15/16 and 17/18 combined high school girls proved to be the highest place for the team, as Cape Henlopen senior Katie Kuhlman led the opening 400 meters and then battled just off the pace of the lead pack. Sub-six after a cold opening mile, Kuhlman finished 18th overall in the race and fifth overall in the 17/18 division with a time of 18:42 to earn youth All-American status. “Looking back at Katie’s race times this season and the conditions she faced today, this race was one of her best this season,” said coach Dan MacElrevey.
In the boys’ 9-10 Bantam division, talented Nolan Furlong, 9, ran a personal best for 3,000 meters of 11:54 to finish sixth overall. Furlong’s cousin Leo Furlong finished 21st in 12:07 in the 10-year-old division. The youngest Furlong, Nora, finished 13th among 7-year olds in 10:46 for 2,000 meters, wrapping up four youth All-American performances in the top 25 finishers.
Brady Sherman was 34th in 12:08 among 11-year-olds, while Jude Peacock was 37th in 12:12.
Layla Stevenson was 43rd in the 8-year-old girls’ division, while Sophia Stevenson was 22nd in 5:14 in the Open Race of the Americas. Bennett Currie was 66th in the 10-year-old division in 13:53, while Whit Leps was 73rd in 14:18.
On Friday, the Striders toured Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, and gathered that evening for a team dinner before Saturday’s competition.
High School Nationals
The Kinney Northeast Regional Cross Country Championships will be held Saturday, Nov. 26, at historic Van Courtland Park in New York City. The Nike Southeast Regional will be in North Carolina at Wake Med Soccer Park. The Nike Northeast Regional will also be Nov. 26 at Bowdoin Park in New York. Several Delaware high school runners will be participating in these meets, including a group from Cape Henlopen and Indian River in North Carolina.
Thanksgiving races
There will be two Thanksgiving races this weekend, as the 13th annual Huffin’ for Pumpkin Pie 5K will be held at 9 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 26, at Grove Park in Rehoboth Beach. Runners can pick up their race bib and T-shirts Friday at Grove Park from 3 to 5 p.m. On Sunday, Nov. 27, the Striders will be in Bethany Beach at the Sea Colony Fitness Center for the 19th annual Turkey Trot 5K to support Special Olympics Delaware.
Seashore Marathon and Half
One week to go for the 15th Seashore Marathon Half Marathon, as the sold-out event has 3,000 runners entered. Last week I wrote a preview of the race in my column, and those interested can find it at capegazette.com/sports. The race will take off at 7 a.m. from Rehoboth Avenue and the Bandstand with 10 water stops and six spectator viewing locations. More information can be found at seashorestriders.com and rbmarathon.com.
