Ronald McDonald 5K attracts 200 runners
Thirty-seven years ago, some Cape clowns stole Ronald McDonald from his Route 1 playground as a senior prank because the Lewes Beach dairy cow was chained to the flat roof of the Daily Market.
The boys didn’t anticipate the community backlash and what the Ronald McDonald House had meant to families thrust into the throes of medical crises.
Ronald McDonald’s dark-of-night return was negotiated with no outing of the Capers who clownnapped a symbol of hope and resilience.
Multiple Ronald McDonald House of Delaware 5Ks, held Sept. 16 in the state's three counties, attracted 624 total runners.
Matt Sparacino, the Harrington Harrier, was the overall winner of the Lewes race, which recorded 203 finishers. Sparacino ran 18:26.
The youngest finisher in Lewes was 5-year-old Hope Foster in 39:46. The 13-and-under category saw a total of 22 runners.
Jim Batts, 81, of Millsboro was the oldest runner to cross the finish line, in 34:54.
John Costello, 62, of Milton was second overall and first masters runner in 20:23.
Melissa Wiley, 37, of Ocean City, Md., was third overall and first female finisher in 20:29.
Joanne Senft, 53, of Millsboro was 11th overall and first female masters finisher in a time of 24:18.
But this race/walk was mostly about families coming together to support and show appreciation to “Take it to the House,” the Ronald McDonald House.
A complete listing of expanded results can be found at races2run.com.
