Dam Mill 5K celebrates 40 years of racing with 200 runners

Hot diggity, low humidity settled in for the 40th running of the Dam Mll 5K July 22 at Millsboro’s Cupola Park.

“This is the longest-running 5K in the state of Delaware, now in year 40,” Race Director Tim Bamforth told 200 assembled runners. “Thank you all for always supporting this race, which benefits the Millsboro Fire Company.”

Completing the course were 188 runners and 14 official walkers. “If you're a walker, make sure you walk the entire 5K, because it is a competition. There is no running for walkers,” Bamforth said before the race. 

Janet Hill, 65, of Denver, Colo., a regular summer visitor to the racing series, was first in the walk race, cruising the course in 34:25. Jill’s husband David, 72, a runner, was third in his age group in 26:05.

Don Zalenski, 77, of Magnolia was the first male walker in 37:50. 

The top 10 runners broke 20 minutes, while 53 runners broke the 25-minute barrier. Five of the top 10 runners were in the masters division, and the other four were teenagers, with winner Dylan Smiley at 25 years old.

Smiley crossed the finish line in 15:27. Mike Wardian, 49, who completed a 100-mile race the previous weekend, was first masters and second overall in 17:13. 

Brett Parker, 17, a recent Sussex Academy graduate from Laurel, was third overall in 17:32. Parker plans to run cross country at Salisbury University in the fall. 

Olivia Montini, 18, a summer kid from Huntingdon Valley, Pa., entering her sophomore year at Swarthmore College, was the overall women's winner in 18:50.

Natalie Lutz, 41, ran 19:01 to win the women’s masters title and was eighth overall, one place behind Montini.

A fierce race to the finish occurred between Aiden Igielski, 14, of Robesonia, Pa., and Ryan Moody, 15, of Milton. Igielski edged Moody 18:45 to 18:49. Moody will be running cross country for Sussex Academy in the fall along with Will Parker, 15, who ran the race in 20:31. 

Notables: Tim Bamforth was surprised to be inducted into his own Dam Mill Hall of Fame with a post-race plaque presentation from runners Peter Tracey and Alan Quillen. Teri Moore, 68, ran 33:56, but her induction into the Dam Mill Hall of Fame was such a surprise that Teri left before the presentation. Team 360 out of Salisbury brought a large contingent of athletes to Millsboro to compete. A statement from the group’s Facebook page reads: “Team 360 is a nonprofit organization that brings athletes of all abilities together to train and compete.”