Tags
Arc corner monument, bennett, Creek Road, deshon, fair hill, james
Nearing year’s end, here are a couple notes from headquarters.
CO-FOUNDER TURNS SEVENTY-FIVE
Creek Road Runners co-founder CRR Bob Bennett turned 75 on Sunday, Dec. 18. Several old friends (all Creek Road Runners themselves) gathered at a celebratory lunch for him this week. Though he isn’t getting out to run on Creek Road much anymore, he does take advantage of the James F. Hall Trail and an occasional hike with the Wilmington Trail Club. Pictured here is Bennett at the Arc Corner Monument in White Clay Creek State Park on a recent walk with CRR Mark Deshon.
SPOTTED RECENTLY ON CREEK ROAD
CRR Mark Deshon was getting ready for a workout recently, having just parked at the foot of Wedgewood Road. He had just stepped out of his car when, coming toward him on Creek Road, he spotted CRR David James. James (pictured, right), who still holds state records in the 10K and 10-mile distances for the 55-59 age group, had been off the racing circuit for the past several years, having suffered from severe bouts of vertigo, but is back out on Creek Road again. Deshon ran with him for a while that day, catching up with an old friend and one-time racing nemesis.
TIME AGAIN TO WRING OUT THE OLD
The annual Creek Road Runners “Wring Out the Old, Ring in the New” trail run will take place on Dec. 31.
Saturday was a glorious day for racing (or pretty much any activity) in Newark. CRR Dan Weile took full advantage of the sunshine and mild temperatures during the 44th annual Turkey Trot, winning his age group (40-44) in the 10K and placing 3rd among his age-group peers in the 5K (just for a cool-down, we suppose). He was the 25th finisher (out of 185) in the 10K in 43:25 and 31st overall (out of 525 participants) in the 5K in 21:59, both solid times.
Other award winners in the 10K included CRR Doug Repetti, who won his age group (65-69) in 53:20, and CRR Teresa Kauffman, who placed 2nd in her age group (50-54) in 53:58.
Coming off heart surgery early this year, CRR Bob Taggart won his age group (75-79) in the 5K in 30:03. A 5K footnote—had CRR Mark Deshon actually registered for the race (he only did three of the 3.1 miles), he would have won his age group (60-64) by about three minutes.
The fastest of the CRRs was CRR Andrew Weber, who just edged out CRR Clark Ridge for both 6th place overall and 2nd among the 30-39 men. Weber ran a 5:06.2, just ahead of Ridge’s 5:07.0, in the field of hundreds of runners and walkers.
Two CRRs won their respective age groups. In 13th place overall was CRR Bruce Weber, who ran a solid 5:22.2 to win the 50-59 age group. CRR Diane Kukich won her age group (60-69) in 7:12.6. These two winners posted wonderful age-graded scores in so doing. Weber’s 91.9 was the second highest among all competitors, and Kukich scored an impressive 87.0, fourth highest overall. (Scores from 90-100 are considered world class; 80-100 is considered national class.) By comparison, Andrew Weber’s score was 84.1, and Ridge’s was 83.9.
In the 26.2-mile race, CRR Andrew Weber finished 2nd in the 35-39 age group and 15th overall (out of 345 finishers), covering the marathon distance in a stellar 3:02:47 (under 7 minutes/mile)! Weber was the third Delaware resident to finish. CRR Barret Michalec finished 10th among the 35-39s and 46th overall in 3:27:19.
In the half-marathon, CRR Dan Weile took 3rd in the 40-44 age group and finished 41st overall (out of 892 finishers) in a fast 1:35:04. CRR Tripp Shenton finished 2nd among his peers in the 55-59 age group and 83rd overall in 1:43:25.
On Saturday in the Delaware Marathon Running Festival 5K, CRR Diane Kukich won the 60-69 age group, coming in 15th overall (out of 115 finishers) in 23:55. This was Kukich’s best 5K time in five years.
Two Creek Road Runners had separate winter adventures with a camera recently.
CreekRoadRunners.org 