Luke Nigro pressures eventual winner Andrew Weber in the final mile of the 5K.
The 2019 edition of the UD Homecoming 5K was a real success for the few Creek Road Runners who ran the race. Out of our 12 participants (all male), five garnered top awards and one a third-place age-group finish.
The battle at the front was between CRR Andrew Weber and CRR Luke Nigro. Weber ended up besting the younger Nigro and winning the race in a time of 17:39. Nigro came in second overall and first in the 19-29 age group in 17:45.
Among the age group winners were CRR Bruce Weber (50-59), who placed fifth overall in 19:15, CRR Bill Rose (60-69), placing 17th overall in 21:05, and 73-year-old CRR Doug Ridge (70+), who ran a respectable 28:29.
CRR Steve Tague finished third in the 60-69 age group in 22:36. A couple seconds behind (but nearly catching) Tague was CRR Mark Deshon, who ran unofficially over the combination paved, cross-country-like surface of the 5K course at the University of Delaware’s athletics complex and agricultural campus.
A shout-out to CRR Nick Sisofo, who made a rare race appearance.
It started in 1999, right after the late CRR Scott Mackler was diagnosed with ALS. It’s probably the toughest road 5K in Delaware. Runners are rewarded, though, with a full buffet after the run. Awards for top finishers—both runners and walkers.
CRR Anja Leefeldt took first in the 40-49 age group in 25:29, less than three seconds off the finishing time of the woman who took the top master’s place. (Leefeldt’s chip time was actually three seconds faster than the top master’s chip time, meaning she’ll have to get closer to the starting line in the future.) CRR Becky George took third in the 50-59 age group in 26:34.
CRR Bill Rose led the way at the Blue Hens Homecoming 5K yesterday, finishing as the first masters runner and winning the 50-59 age group in 20:27. There were three other Creek Road Runners, among the many who competed, who each won his/her age division.