CAMBRIDGE – Wow, Kenya Jones, how about that?

There are always pleasant surprises in the first weeks of track and field practice at Cambridge-South Dorchester High School, and there were a few during Friday’s time trials. Everyone who intends to compete in track events tests their speed to get a few numbers at the beginning of the season, with tech guru David Dodson providing digital timing to the hundredth of a second.

And guess who ran the 100 meters faster than any girl on the team? Ever? Untrained, not using a starting block and wearing sneakers?

Freshman Kenya Jones, that’s who, in 13.28 seconds. That would have earned her second place in the 1A East Regional Championships last year, and if she had knocked off 0.09 of a second, she would have scored in the state championships.

Let’s just say the coaches are pretty pleased with that, as well as what they see from the other 50 or so students who have come out for the boys’ and girls’ teams.

“We have a lot of veterans coming back who are young,” Coach Clint Falduto said as he lined up runners for their turns. He also noticed the mental effort they are putting into their training.

“They’ve never been so focused as they are this year,” he said.

Ike Foreman would agree. The junior thrower, whose specialty is shot put, said, “I expect to PR” this season.

He also urged others to give the sports – really, a collection of running, jumping and throwing events – a try.

“Go for it, you only to live once,” he said. And tossing that 12-pound iron ball has other benefits for the hard-working strength athlete. “Throwing relieves stress,” Ike said.

Among the other results of the time trials were junior veteran Janee Quailes, who led the girls’ 200-meter dash with a time of 29.30 seconds, and the 400 in 1:03.59. KirMya Wilson led the way in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles, covering the distance in 18.56 seconds.

Among the boys, Dante Meekins covered 100 meters in 12.23 seconds, the 200 in 26.35, and the 400 in 58.99. Senior Tekhi Seymore cleared the 110-meter hurdles in 22.68 seconds, with freshman Jameiere Nixon second in 24.92.

The Vikings will open their season on March 21 at Kent Island High School, at 4 p.m.