WILDWOOD CREST – Wildwood Crest resident Ian Doherty and North Wildwood Beach Patrol lifeguard Riley Engel were the respective male and female winners of the Wildwood Crest 5K Beach Race held July 30.
More than 260 runners completed the 5K race, which was held in warm, humid conditions on an out-and-back hard-sand course that began and ended at the foot of the Wildwood Crest Beach Pier. A handful of others participated in the untimed one-mile fun run/walk.
Doherty, 36, a native of Co. Donegal, Ireland, posted a time of 17 minutes, 47 seconds. He was followed by Wildwood Crest resident and Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol lifeguard John Steiger, 30, in 17:47. Nicholas Sturm, 21, of Hamburg, Pa., placed third in 18:20.
Engel, 20, a Newtown, Pa., resident, finished first among female participants in 21:04. She was 23rd overall. Alana Sasdelli, a 14-year-old resident of Vineland, was the second female finisher in 21:59. Julia Blackmon, 20, a Philadelphia resident and member of the North Wildwood Beach Patrol, was the third female finisher in 22:44.
The North Wildwood Beach Patrol won the team beach patrol competition held among North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest. DeRitis, Luke Dickson, Braden Carel, Michael Illick and Michael Murray were the scorers for North Wildwood.
Participants hailed from 13 different states, as well as Quebec, Canada.
The race was hosted by the Wildwood Crest Recreation Department, with assistance from the Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol. Proceeds from the race benefit Wildwood Crest Recreation programs.
Full race results are available online at www.sjtiming.com.
