A blizzard of runners do the DQ Dash on Lewes Beach

Five years ago, Dairy Queen’s queen Ashley Diehl organized the DQ Dash to raise mondy for the Go Fourth Lewes fireworks fund. Produced by the Seashore Striders, the race set a new record last weekend with 348 runners and walkers on the starting line.

Runners of all ages and ability levels descended on Savannah Beach, aka Lewes Beach, for the 9 a.m. start. The popular boys’ program Let Me Run sent five teams from Sussex County, as 75 boys chose the DQ Dash to be their final race of the season. Let Me Run is building a new generation of men by teaching boys to be their best selves through a character development program powered by running. Elementary school boys from Long Neck, Love Creek, Georgetown, H.O. Brittingham and Lewes all took part in the event. Many coaches ran alongside their athletes, and many family members lined the course to provide support.

Local racer and masters runner Mike Sewell, 53, of Lewes lined up at the start  looking like the Pied Piper of Lewes, with 42 boys surrounding him. It did not take him long to shoot to the front, and that’s where he stayed, crossing the finish line in 19:29.1. Bobby Hutton, 59, racing for Team Rehoboth Beach Running Co., finished second in 19:47.1. Sarah Richards, 38, of Rehoboth Beach took the female title with a third-place overall finish in 19:57.6. Tyler Wright, 33, of Magnolia was fourth in 20:52.2. Jude Peacock, 12, of Lewes was the first young buck across the line, catching and passing track teammate Ethan Thompson in the final 50 meters of the race. Peacock hit the line in 20:56.6, followed by Thompson in 20:58.3. Tanya Karaman, 53, of Smyrna finished 31st to win the female masters title in 23:46.3.

Highlighting some parent/child combos, Chris and Irving Flood of Milton finished together in 27:17, while Katie and Claudia Stazzone of Lewes finished in 27:28. Andrew and Sam Van Zee of Dagsboro finished in 30:27, while Dan and Cole Matta of Lewes finished in 30:57. Luis and Omar Correa of Milton finished in 31:00, while Christopher and Miles Parks of Lewes ran 31:08. Ed and Fletcher Houck of Rehoboth finished in 31:55, while Casher and Angela Schellinger of Camden-Wyoming finished in 32:18. Zacary and Eric Glasco of Georgetown finished together in 34:12, while Nick, Josh and Ryan Payne of Millville finished in 34:53. Katie and Carrie Curry of Lewes ran 36:26, while Weslynn and Shannon Slutman of Wilmington ran 36:35. Aubrey and Jeff Timer of Millsboro ran 36:58, while Michael, Katie and Maisie MacGowan of Lewes ran 38:44. Kevin and Eddie Schultze of Georgetown ran 38:59, while Joel and Luke Antonioli of Ocean View ran 39:15. Bryan and Brayden Uszenski of Rehoboth ran 40:50, while Eber and Eber Escalante of Georgetown ran 46:25. Malcom and Christopher Whitlock of Frankford ran 50:37, while Yvette and Trey Quinones of Milton ran 58:25.