Riders, Cape race to crowns
FELTON — The Caesar Rodney girls' and Cape Henlopen boys' cross
country teams each claimed the team championship in the Henlopen Conference
Cross Country Meet at Killens Pond State Park on Saturday.
The Riders' Elizabeth Paul, Jessica Kapes, Melinda Schlecht and Ashlee Miller
finished second, fourth, sixth and eighth, respectively, to lead Caesar Rodney
to the meet team title with a score of 37.
"I'm really pleased with the girls' finish today. I felt we were the best team
all along," Caesar Rodney coach Charlie Bell said. "I told them if you want it,
come back and redeem yourself today. We told the team to go out and run your
best race, and the weather was favorable, so we don't have an excuse. Just go
out and get it done."
Sussex Tech placed second with 55 points, and the Ravens' Rebekah Ricksecker
finished first overall with a time of 20:08. But Sussex Tech had just two other
runners finish in the top 15 after winning the regular season Henlopen
Conference championship.
Ricksecker was named the conference's outstanding runner. Ravens coach Lou
Nicoletti was named Henlopen Conference Coach of the Year.
"I feel real good a little tired. We all were just hoping to run
really well as a team together," Ricksecker said. "The whole year we have worked
up to the conference and state meets. You just hope that the whole team can peak
at the right time."
Dover's Otis Warren won the boys' race in 17:28 and was named the conference's
outstanding runner.
"I'm just happy to finish first. I came in feeling that I could finish first or
second," Warren said. "I'm hoping I can finish at least in the top five next
weekend at the state meet."
Danielle Riley finished third to lead Lake Forest, while Jenn Betts came in
fifth to pace Cape Henlopen. Lake Forest won the regular season Henlopen
Southern Division championship.
Smyrna's Rachel Taylor, who finished ninth, and Dover's Sarah Taylor, who placed
11th, recorded other top 15 finishes. Heather Robbins led Polytech with a
13th-place finish.
Cape Henlopen won the boys' team title over second-place Caesar
Rodney 53-88. Andrew Rogan led the Vikings with a second-place finish while Evan
Mock added a fifth-place finish. Alex Makowski finished 14th for Cape Henlopen.
Cape also was the regular season boys' champion.
Delmar claimed the Henlopen Southern Division championship, and Wildcats coach
Stan Johnson was named Henlopen Conference Coach of the Year.
Sussex Tech's David Demarest came in sixth, while Cody Pepper of Sussex Central
finished eighth. Bailey Noel led Seaford with a 10th-place finish and Bostik
Johnson finished 11th to lead Polytech.
Barrett Smith led Seaford with a 12th-place finish and Scott Johnson led Delmar
by finishing 15th.