One of the popular events on Delmarva, the Tim Kennard 10-Miler and 5K, celebrated 20 years March 2 in Salisbury, Md., with nearly 500 runners and walkers across three events showing up for the benefit fundraiser.
Timothy Kennard, 48, father of a 7-year-old son, died March 11, 2004. He fought a courageous battle against kidney cancer. Tim is missed by his family and fellow running friends. This run/walk is in his honor, with proceeds going, as Tim requested, to help children and animals. This year, the proceeds will go to TEAM 360, which helps people of different abilities train and participate in mainstream athletic events; Coalition of Caring, a fund for our animal friends; and the Eastern Shore Running Club Scholarship Fund.
“Running 20 years strong, we celebrated an awesome milestone last Sunday,” said Harlon Eagle, co-race organizer. “I am incredibly proud of how our community has come together for 20 years to honor Tim Kennard’s wish to put on a top-notch event and help children and animals.”
Team 360 President Jill Fancher said the race is always her group’s kick-off race each year.
“It is truly the best way to start our year off. This race not only embraces our athletes, it also celebrates and encourages them,” she said. “The race directors go above and beyond to make sure the course is suitable, and they encourage us to be a part of the planning to make sure TEAM 360 is well taken care of. We can’t say enough positive things about the Tim Kennard race.”
Eagle also praised the support the race has to make it successful.
“Our race is for everyone, and we so appreciate the support of runners, volunteers and sponsors throughout Delmarva and beyond,” Eagle said. “Special shoutouts to Salisbury Bible Fellowship for hosting, Seashore Striders for race management, the City of Salisbury and Wicomico County for road management. Looking forward to race 21 on March 1, 2026.”
First across the line in the 10-miler was Neil Saddler, 28, of Washington, D.C., in a good time of 52:52.8, followed by Sebastien Truchi of Salisbury in 1:02:17.7. Rounding out the top three overall was Ryan McMillan of Snow Hill, Md., in 1:06:32.1.
Maria Miller, 43, of Tyaskin, Md., continued her Tim Kennard winning ways adding another title in 1:11:13.1, while Zuleyka Martinez of Harrington was 90 seconds back in 1:12:47.6. Allie Suarezapecheche of Snow Hill was third in 1:13:20.4.
Mike Synowiec of Salisbury grabbed the male masters title with a seventh-place finish in 1:10:46.4, while Jennifer Pastusak of Salisbury was the female masters winner in 1:15:49.0. Phil Shields of Salisbury won the male grand masters title in 1:10:57.9, while Debra Isser of Milton won the female grand masters in 1:23:21.6.
The 5K was led by two-time winner Jonathan Murphy, 35, of Salisbury in 17:04.9, while a minute back in second was Matt Sparacino of Harrington in 18:06.1.
Sherry Stick, 46, of Sykesville, Md., is one of the finest masters runners in the area, as she easily won the overall title in 20:39.3, while regular Seashore Striders racer Melissa Wiley of Ocean City, Md., was second in 21:09.9.
Martin Rodriguez of New Castle won the male masters race in 19:40.4, while Keely Wells of Laurel won the female masters title in 23:25.0. Greg Cauller, a longtime Tim Kennard racer, of York, Pa., won the male grand masters race in 20:45.5, while Carol Walston of Parsonsburg, Md., ran 27:22.7 to win the female grand masters division.
Local runners who won age-group titles in the 5K: Angela Messick of Milton, 35-39, 25:24.4; Thomas Riddick of Rehoboth, 40-44, 24:14.5; Susannah Baden of Rehoboth Beach, 60-64, 28:37.8; and Rich Tikiob of Lewes, 70-74, 28:06.3. Ally Miller of Milton won the 19-and-under division in the 10-miler in 1:29:51.5.
PSU THON raises over $17 million
Elizabeth Melson and Lindsay Rambo, local Cape graduates at Penn State and cross country teammates at Cape, participated in the THON at Penn State. THON was organized in 1973 by a group of students seeking an opportunity to give back to their community. This idea has since grown into the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Each year, more than 16,500 student volunteers participate in year-long fundraising efforts to benefit the sole beneficiary, Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. This year, THON raised $17,737,040.93, which surpasses THON 2024's record-breaking total of $16,955,683.63 by more than $780,000.
“We danced for 46 straight hours, no sitting, no resting and no showers,” said Melson.
College track
Alexa Dougherty competed with the Blue Hens at the Virginia Beach oval for the CAA Championships last weekend. The Cape graduate was an alternate for the 1,600 and the 3,200 relays. She ran the mile relay, where she split 60.5 seconds for 400 meters. Ryan Baker of Lehigh finished 17th in the 5,000-meter run at the Patriot League Championships in 15:06:07. At the Big 10 Championships, Jazonte Levan of USC/Seaford finished 17th in the 200 meters in 21:36. USC teammate Yougendy Mauricette of Sussex Tech ran 1:18.28 for 14th in the 600 meters, but was later DQ’d. The National Indoor Division I Championship will be held in Virginia Beach, Va., in mid-March.
