Stop, Drop & Run draws racers to Paradise Grill

The eighth annual Paradise Grill Stop, Drop & Run 5K was held Sept. 17 in Long Neck, and runners could choose between two courses of 3.1 miles. Event proceeds went to the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company. Local runner Beau Croll, 36, of Lewes won the overall title on the water course with a time of 21:47, while 25-year-old Michael Dobak of Lewes was second in 22:50. Cain Taylor, just 7 years old, out of Landenburg, Pa., finished third in an impressive time of 23:53, while local regular JR Ward, 52, of Millsboro was fourth in 24:20 to win the male masters title. Rounding out the top five was 54-year-old Jim Chaney out of Salisbury, Md., in 24:43.

Joy Biser, 67, of Millsboro ran 27:48 to win the female title, while Jerry Wright, 59, of Salisbury finished second to win the female masters title in 28:10. Jane Doe, 68, of Lewes finished third in 28:38, while Karen Young, 55, of Boyds, Md., ran 28:40 for fourth place. Regular Jen Ward, 51, of Millsboro rounded out the top five in a time of 29:33. 

White Clay Creek Classic

The Cape and Sussex Academy harriers competed Sept. 15 at the White Clay Creek Classic High School Cross Country Meet in Newark with 21 teams on the line. It’s a challenging race for downstate runners, as the 5,000-meter course has a few hills to tackle. White Clay Creek, formally known as Walter S. Carpenter Jr. State Park, is home to the University of Delaware cross country team and the site of the 1984 Delaware Cross Country State Championships, held my senior year. The classic meet is a unique format where you only race against your grade. It was set up with individual and team points earned based on your finish. Local finishers in the top 20 from the freshman race include Paige Ballinger of Sussex Academy in first in 19:33, with teammates Makenna Blades in ninth in 23:04 and Riley Moriarty in 12th in 23:18. In the sophomore race, Cape’s Allaire Burton was 16th in 23:07, while BFF Maya Yngve was 17th in 23:25. Cape’s Jason Baker won the boys’ race in 17:08, while Ryan Moody of Sussex Academy was 11th in 18:07. Brayden Redd of Cape was 19th in 18:34. In the junior race, Cape’s Hailey Hassell finished in eighth place in 22:30, while Peyton Stanislav of Sussex Academy was 19th in 24:02. Brianna Sordi of Sussex Academy was 20th in 24:02. In the senior race, Sussex Academy runner Lily Bowe finished 13th in 22:13, while Cape’s Max Gillen was 15th in the boys’ race in 17:53. Justin Friscia of Sussex Academy was 19th in 18:16.

Middle school duals

Beacon and Mariner cross country teams both competed Sept. 18, with Mariner heading north to Postlethwait and Beacon heading north to Browns Branch in Milford.

The Beacon boys beat Milford 19-40, as Nicho Petito of Beacon won the boys’ race in 12:49. Other Beacon finishers include Ethan Thompson taking third in 13:23, Jude Peacock fourth in 13:42, Brant Kuklish fifth in 13:49, Brady Sherman sixth in 14:07 and Devon Silva seventh in 14:09. 

On the girls’ side, Beacon beat Milford 17-42 led by eighth-grader Shiloh O'Grady in 14:41. Claudia Strazzone was second in 14:52, with Lindsay Hassell third in 15:14, Isabella Murphy fifth in 16:26, Emily Hilton sixth in 16:27 and Mckenzy Kupa ninth in 18:29.

The Mariner boys easily beat Postlethwait 23-37 and swept 15-50 over Providence Creek, led by Jude Bastian with a second-place finish in 13:53. Caleb Olmsted finished third in 14:11, with Joseph Ruak fifth in 14:32, Benjamin Hill sixth in 14:35, Andrew Ockels seventh in 14:36, Owen Beitzel eighth in 14:53 and Trizton Willey 10th in 15:10.

The Mariner girls beat Postlethwait 23-33 and Providence Creek 15-48, led by Bree Terhune in 14:49. Allison Ortiz-Rivera was second in 15:40, with Fiona Fisher fifth in 17:04,  Annabella Sapienza sixth in 17:48, Elena Kucharik ninth in 18:16, and Kenzie McLaren rounding out the top 10 in 18:53.

Cape wins at Sandhill

In Sept. 20 action at Sandhill Fields, Cape beat Smyrna 17-46 and topped Polytech 23-37, led by the threesome of Jason Baker winning the overall boys’ race in 16:51, Brayden Redd second in 17:42 and Max Gillen third in 18:16. The Cape girls beat Smyrna 19-44 and Polytech 23-37. They were led by Hailey Hassell in second in 21:21. Ava Dolan was fourth in 21:47 and Allaire Burton was sixth in 22:27. Burton, in her opening year of cross country, is still figuring out the 5K distance and added 40 seconds to her time when she went straight instead of left at the 2.7-mile marker.

Sussex Academy competed against Delmar and Indian River at Trap Pond, but results were not available on websites4sports.

It’s now Dogfish Dash weekend, with 2,000 off-centered runners emerging on the little town of Milton Sunday, Sept. 24.