Milford High School Cross Country

Seniors Chad Carpenter and Amber Zedney led the boys and girls cross country teams in their season opener Wednesday at Brandywine Creek State Park. The girls scored forfeit wins over Wilmington Christian and Red Lion, while the boys defeated Red Lion, 16-41, but fell to Wilmington Christian, 22-33. Other varsity top 7 finishers included Keith Short, Scott Hall, Stuart Barr, Jon Wyman, Justin Bloom and Joey Palumbo for the boys and Amanda Meade, Lindsay Kenton, Jessica Fitzpatrick, Marissa McDonnell, Erica Godwin and Megan Pastor. Click on the above headline for complete list of MHS times

Senior Joey Palumbo and sophomore Monica White each scored strong performances last week to earn Trailblazer of the Week honors. Click on the above headline for more information.

MHSCC alumni Jessi Rivera ('01) and Ben Wynne ('00) flashed their skills at the Salisbury State Opener, an 18-team college cross country invitational Aug. 31 at Winterplace Park in Salisbury. Rivera, now with Messiah College, ran one of her best races to date with a 22:42 in her 6K race. She finished in the Top 40 of a deep field. Wynne, now with Wesley College, felt the effects of a short preseason, but still managed a solid 34:34 in the 5-mile men's race. Numerous Henlopen alumni competed at the event, including Wesley's Matt Lindell (Smyrna HS), Jed Mountz (CR HS), Mike Mann (S.Tech HS), Tarah Winters (CR HS), Cole Pavlik (Cape HS), Brittany Morris (Cape HS), Angela Brown (Lake Forest HS), Salisbury State's Andrew Freeman (Cape HS) and Enos Benbow (S.Central HS), and John Hopkins' Jamie Parks (Seaford HS), to name a few. All represented the Henlopen Conference quite well. :)

Coach Bloom and Uncle Vern teamed up to take 11th overall (5th as a team) in the Kent Foot and Ankle Family Frolic Biathlon in Smyrna Saturday. With increased competition and a bigger field, the VernCzars got a workout. Vern went out in a 20+ 5K, Coach Bloom averaged over 21 MPH in the 16.4-mile bike loop, and Vern followed with a 21+ 5K finale for a total time of 1:27.25. Seashore Strider head man Tim Bamforth and his partner took second in the team category running just more than 1:24, while Sidekick Nick Boggs and his CR alum partner William Cordeiro followed closely in third just seconds behind at 1:24.37. Bamforth and Boggs each had about a 1:30+ lead on Bloomie to start the bike loop, but I nearly reeled them in as we were all seconds apart at the final exchange. Maybe next time. :) That pretty much wraps up the Special Sauce Summer Season. Thanks for keeping up with us. See y'all at some fall races! For complete Special Sauce news and results, click on the above headline. And remember . . . If you want to make Special Sauce, I guess I'll have to see you out there running! :) Have fun! Run!

After a pitiful performance in the 5-miler last week Ol' Bloomie bounced back with his best time of the summer (21:24) at the Dam Mill 5K Saturday in Millsboro, good enough for second in the race and quite possibly good enough to secure second (by default) in the series. Woodbridge alum Breck Vanderwende stayed solid en route to his consecutive age group series win, a good chuck ahead of Bloomie. MHSCCers Chad Carpenter and Amy Mallamo flashed some of their All-state form from a year ago en route to summer best times and age group wins! Congrats! The season looks promising for Milford's dynamic duo!!! (Hey, Amy, whatcha goin' ta buy wid dat Candy Kitchen coupon?? :) Sidekick Nick Boggs rolled off a trophy win as did the usuals like Matt Lindell. Special Sauce Insider saw Lake's Addison Lukecart nail down an 18:38, while Seaford's Andrew Perciful and Pops Perciful got back together on the road again. Cape alum Sara Popovich and Seaford's Kate LaPrad continued their strong summer running as well. Central alum Enos Benbow had a strong finish to break 18!