Dave Ryan/Special to The Dorchester Banner The 2014 Region 1A girls’ champions are, from the left, C-SD’s Katie Ryan, Madde Narr, Hannah Lewis, Diandra Rhoden, Brooke Webster, Kindall Ridgely and Leah Krotee.[/caption]

CAMBRIDGE — The Cambridge-South Dorchester High School cross country girls continued their years-long dominance of Region 1A East with a victory Wednesday in the Regional Championships. The boys’ team placed fourth out of eight, also qualifying for the States.

Both squads will head to the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association Championships on Saturday in Hereford, where the Lady Vikes will defend their state title from last season.

Senior and Captain Madde Narr ran hard on a tender ankle, finishing fourth overall. Leaning on crutches afterwards, she said, “I think the girls we ran with today are the strongest team we’ve ever had. I’m really happy to have these girls as my teammates.”

“It’s a great way for our seniors to cap off their season,” Coach Lois Narr said. “I’m very proud of them.”

The girls’ squad of Diandra Rhoden, Madde Narr, Brooke Webster, Leah Krotee, Kindall Ridgely, Katie Ryan and Hannah Lewis finished third, fourth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twenty-third and twenty-eighth.

Dave Ryan/Special to The Dorchester Banner Matt Koletsky was C-SD’s fastest boy, urged on by his father Todd.[/caption]

With there being no ties among the teams, the first five places were totaled for all teams. The low score wins in cross country.

Girls’ team points were: C-SD, 37; Perryville, 49; Bohemia Manor, 52; Mardela, 92; North Dorchester, 145; and Snow Hill, 163.

Freshman Ellie Meyer of Bohemia Manor was the overall girls’ winner, with a time of 20 minutes flat, and a mile pace of 6:38. Diandra Rhoden was the fastest for the Vikings, with a time of 20:17 and a mile pace of 6:45.

The boys didn’t win the region, but their fourth-place finish was enough to qualify for States. There are four regions in Maryland - each sends its top three or four teams, depending on how many compete in Regionals.

The young men overcame the loss to injury of three starters to extend their season. They had to dig deep, gut it out and get their inspiration wherever they could.

Alex Hernandez was in pain around the second mile, until he saw his father Henry cheering him. Then the young man found another gear and kept going.

“I was hurting there for a little while, but then I saw dad, just for a second,” he said.

“It’s the textbook story of your replacements stepping up like they’ve been running varsity all year,” Head Coach Sean Reincke said. “I think it’s fantastic that the guys are going.”

The boys squad of Matt Koletsky, Trevor Goodwin, Edgar Rosario, Patrick Geleta, Clive Rhoden, Ben Cornwell and Alex Hernandez totaled 99 points, with Koletsky posting the fastest time of 18:31 and a mile pace of 6:08.

Bohemia Manor won the regional title with the extraordinarily low score of 34. The Cecil County school’s men finished behind their leader Ty Franks and his time of 15:31 with a mile pace of 5:09.

The scores were: Bohemia Manor, 34; Perryville, 84; Kent County, 87; C-SD, 99; North Dorchester, 103; Snow Hill, 119; Mardela, 184; and Havre de Grace, 243.