The 28th annual Bill Degnan 5K brought 138 runners and walkers to Cape Henlopen High School, the school where the late coach Bill Degnan won a Division I state track & field championship in 1986. Sprinter Ricky Pitts won the 100, 200, 400 meters and ran anchor on the school record mile relay to lead the way. Otis White won the 800 meters from the slow heat, John Gaines won the 300 hurdles with a lean at the tape, and Bill got his normal big points in the shot and discus.
Bill was a popular teacher and coach in the Cape Henlopen School District as well as the Woodbridge School District, where he spent many years before heading east to the beach.
For the last 28 years, a small committee of George Pepper, Dave Frederick, Rob Perciful and I have voted on a senior student-athlete or athletes to receive the Bill Degnan Faith in Spirit Scholarship. This year, the winners were a quality pair of field event athletes in Bodie Frederick and Stephen Hart. Frederick excelled in the shot put, putting in the work with coach Rob Perciful, and improving several feet throughout the year. Hart excelled in the high, long and triple jumps, as he made himself into a three-event scorer nearly every meet. Hart jumped 6-feet-4-inches in the high jump, over 21 feet in the long and 43 feet in the triple to score valuable points for the Vikings. Hart had plenty of quality coaching in his favorite high jump event, as his dad David was a 7-footer at Purdue and coach Ellis Gaulden was a 7-footer at UConn, where he won the Big East title in 2005.
Sunday’s race was won by Washington, D.C. runner Matthew Whalen, 40, who sprinted across the finish in 17:59.4. Close behind was Cape runner Riley Stazzone, 17, in 18:03. Ricky Sweet, 19, of Virginia was third in 18:14, while Sussex Academy runner Ryan Moody, 17, was fourth in 18:16. Ryan and Jason Baker grabbed the next two spots, cruising across the line in 18:16. Martin Rodriguez, 43, of New Castle led the first half of the race until the high schoolers gobbled him up like Thanksgiving dinner, but Rodriguez was still able to win the masters title.
Eve Hoffman, 38, of Washington, D.C., captured the overall female title in 19:20.4, which is only fitting as her hubby won the overall male title and her dad was a directional volunteer leading runners safely into Legends Stadium. Only a handful of times in my 35 years organizing races has a husband/wife combo won overall titles.
Lisa Sherman, 51, of Washington, D.C., took second and won the female masters title in 21:18. Third went to Jamie Hicks, who won her age group in 22:33, while Emma Davis was fourth in 23:16 and Geni King rounded out the top five in 23:16.
It is Triple Crown time for the Seashore Striders, as three races will be held in three towns over three days this weekend. The Georgetown Library 5K will kick things off at 6:30 p.m., Friday, June 13, at the Georgetown Library. The second annual Paul Kares Rock ’n Roll 5K will take place at 8 a.m., Saturday, June 14, at Hudson Fields off Route 1 near Milton. Dress as your favorite rock ‘n roll band. The final race will be the 35th annual Fathers Day 5K, which is hosted by Tiki Jac’s at Rehoboth Avenue and First Street. Runners and walkers who complete all three events will receive extra swag at the 21st annual Jungle Jim’s 5K set for Saturday, June 21. Good luck to all.
Note – This year’s Fathers Day 5K will move off Wilmington Avenue to start and finish on the Boardwalk on Rehoboth Avenue. The new course will head to North Shores and back, with the post-race party hosted by Tiki Jac’s on Rehoboth Avenue.
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Email Tim at tim@seashorestrider.com
