Oremus and Horgan Win Delaware Distance Classic 15K
By Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell – Runner’s Gazette – scroll down for photos by Clay Shaw
Wilmington, DE; October 20, 2024—Lindsey Oremus of Norristown, PA and the Liberty Track Club won the 41st Delaware Distance Classic 15K in 54:00. Only the first six men crossed the line before Oremus. Alyssa Condell of Runnemede, NJ was second in 56:32. Elizabeth Swierzbinski of Wilmington, DE was third in 57:40. Allison Emmons of Hockessin, DE was top master and fifth overall in 1:00:12. Masters females took the next seven overall places.
Alex Horgan of Montchanin, DE won by over a minute in 48:11. Will Rehrig of Middletown, DE was second in 49:15. Benjamin Nieto of Philadelphia was third in 51:51. Tim Harte of Coatesville, PA was top master in 55:43; he’s 56. There were an extraordinary amount of strong master runners in this event. 70-year-old Fernando Moura of Douglassville, PA ran 1:08:55 and the legendary Gene Dykes of Bala Cynwyd, PA, now 76, ran 1:11:46. 178 runners finished the 15K. In the companion 5K with 59 finishers, Melanie Williams of Elkton, MD led the women in 23:05 while Sean Coleman of Newark, DE led the men in 18:11.
The race has had a rich history, and I personally remember some competitive fields in the 1990’s. One of my photos was of “Wilmington Wilma” winning, which was used in Runner’s World Magazine. Big cash prizes had attracted Wilma Van Onna of Netherlands who ran 51:24 and men’s winner Boay Akonay of Tanzania who set the course record of 44:02. There was strong sponsorships and very deep fields. On one our first dates, Karen Mitchell won the masters and was featured on the Runner’s Gazette cover page. (Note: both the Runner’s World and Runner’s Gazette publications were still a printed magazine and a printed newspaper at that time.)
Top Women
- 54:00 Lindsey Oremus, 27, Norristown, PA
- 56:32 Alyssa Condell, 25, Runnemede, NJ
- 57:40 Elizabeth Swierzbinski, 37, Wilmington, DE
- 59:21 Hayley Germack, 35, Wilmington, DE
- 1:00:12 Allison Emmons, 45, Hockessin, DE
- 1:04:45 Kristina Novick, 41, Wallingford, PA
- 1:04:52 Sarah Rusk, 44, Wilmington, DE
- 1:05:25 Dani DiGennaro, 46, Wilmington, DE
- 1:05:50 Theresa Gagliardi, 41, Glenolden, PA
- 1:06:02 Siobhan McHugh, 53, Line Lexington, PA
Top Men
- 48:11 Alex Horgan, 25, Montchanin, DE
- 49:15 Will Rehrig, 31, Middletown, DE
- 51:51 Benjamin Nieto, 37, Philadelphia, PA
- 52:55 Noah Cziryak, 25, Glendora, NJ
- 53:32 Anthony Swierzbinski, 38, Wilmington, DE
- 53:55 Max Krall, 31, Philadelphia, PA
- 54:12 Jeff Bash, 33, Collingswood, NJ
- 55:43 Tim Harte, 56, Coatesville, PA
- 56:08 Pete LoBianco, 46, York, PA
- 56:31 Jason Minermann, 27, Runnemede, NJ
Lindsey Oremus of Norristown, PA won the 2024 Delaware Distance Classic 15K in 54:00.
Alex Horgan of Montchanin, DE won the 2024 Delaware Distance Classic 15K in 48:11.
Elizabeth Swierzbinski of Wilmington, DE was third overall in 57:40.
Benjamin Nieto of Philadelphia charges up the boards in the final mile of the 15K; he was third overall in 51:51.
Taking it out on the Wilmington Waterfront. Noah Cziryak #106 of Glendora, NJ was fourth. Benjamin Nieto #772 of Philadelphia was third.
Anthony Swierzbinski of Wilmington, DE was fifth overall in 53:32.
David Wiechecki, and Sarah Rusk of Wilmington, DE working the uphill on the boards. Sarah was seventh in 1:04:52.
Greg Cauller #1174 of York, PA, leads a pack on the Wilmington Waterfront.
Theresa Gagliardi of Glenolden, PA charges uphill and gains a few places as she finishes ninth in 1:05:50.
Robert Mason of Wilmington, DE, 69, ran 1:06:12.
Tom Steenkamer of Rising Sun, MD finished in 1:07:29.
Fernando Moura of Douglassville, PA was top in the 70-79 group in 1:08:55.
Stephen Hranilovich of Phoenixville, PA ran 1:09:20.
Doreen McCoubrie of West Chester, PA was tops 60-69 in 1:10:18.
Gene Dykes, 76, of Bala Cynwyd, PA ran 1:11:46, placing second to Moura.
Patrick Guthrie of Wilmington, DE ran 1:12:29. I like your shirt, and I also cycled this trail after the race.
Regina Cortada of Landenburg, PA was 14th in 1:12:11.
Siobhan McHugh of Line Lexington, PA was tenth and top 50-59 in 1:06:02.
Dani DiGennaro of Wilmington, DE was eighth in 1:05:25.
Pete LoBianco of York, PA was ninth in 56:08 and tops in the 40-49.
Sean Coleman of Newark, DE won the 5K in 18:11.
Melanie Williams of Elkton, MD won the 5K in 23:05.