Special to The Dorchester Banner/Dave Ryan
Girls had their eyes on the track and their hands on their timers for the 800-meter run during Cambridge-South Dorchester High School’s home track and field meet on April 16. The Vikings swept the top three places in this race, with Madde Narr finishing in 2:43.5, followed by Diandra Rhoden and Kindall Ridgely. C-SD girls from the far left are Natalie Anderson, Sarah Noman, Madde, Diandra and Kindall.[/caption] CAMBRIDGE — The Cambridge-South Dorchester High School track and field team gained a convincing victory Thursday, beating Easton High School by a combined score of 216-115. Mardela also competed at the meet in Viking Stadium, scoring 23 points. Track and field scores boys and girls separately. With three teams competing, events were scored to four places, with 5 points for first, 3 for second, 2 for third, and 1 point for fourth place. Relays were scored to two places, 5 points for first and 3 points for second. C-SD’s boys dominated throughout, racking up 131 points to Easton’s 45. The Vikings’ depth was a telling factor in this contest - they don’t give opponents much room for maneuver, with C-SD’s talent spread across the roster. It was a closer competition among the girls, as the Lady Vikes put up 85 points to the Eagles’ 70. Mardela students, representing a much smaller school, scored 16 points for girls and 7 for boys. “I’m pleased with where the team is now,” Head Coach Lois Narr said. She noted that Thursday’s win was accomplished with many Vikings competing in unfamiliar events, as they gained experience for the post-season. “They need to learn whatever they can,” Coach Narr said, adding that only the team’s top three athletes in each event can compete in the Bayside Athletic Conference Championships at C-SD on May 1. Because only athletes who have previously competed in an event can be entered in that event at Baysides, now is the time for players to get the necessary experience. From Baysides, a team’s top two athletes in an event qualify for the Region 1A East Championships, set for Kent Island High School on May 14 and 16. Among Thursday’s top performances were senior Zakiya Chikwendu’s win in the pole vault, with a personal record 9’6”, and James Maddox’s 102’4” distance to win the discus throw and extend his season-long unbeaten streak in the event. The meet also saw the return of sophomore Trevor Goodwin, one of the Vikings’ best long-distance men, who had been sidelined with an ankle injury from preseason. In the meantime, other speedy Vikes have stepped up - fellow sophomore Ben Cornwell celebrated his 16th birthday by winning the 1,600-meter run in 5:30.1, and junior Clive Rhoden won the 3,200 for the first time this season, finishing in 12:19.2.