By Dave Ryan

CAMBRIDGE – The Vikings’ men ran, jumped and threw in cold rain and wind March 27 on their way to a victory in the Cambridge Classic. Twenty teams and their fans filled Cambridge-South Dorchester’s McWilliams Stadium for the annual invitational meet, coming from Dunbar High School in Baltimore to Cape Henlopen in Delaware.

There was strong competition throughout, as some of the region’s best displayed their talents. At the end of the day – and it was a long day, with the final race taking place well after sunset - C-SD’s men had compiled 119.5 points, and the girls were third, with 55.

Not bad for the girls – it’s a small team, and only three ladies scored, with Al’Janae Jackson (100 and 200 meters and 100-meter hurdles), Kassidy Young (discus and shotput) and Le’Asia Todd (high jump, long and triple jumps) racking up all 55 points for the Lady Vikings.

In Maryland high school track and field, there are 18 events: 12 on the track, four jumps and two throws. Events are scored down to one more place than there are teams. For instance, a four-team meet is scored down to fifth place in each event. When there are many teams, such as at the invitational, scoring goes to eighth place, with points awarded being: 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1.

A team with good depth, like the Vikings, can score many points in events even if they don't win - so, getting second, fourth and fifth place, for instance, would net a team 17 points.

Notable performances for C-SD on the day included:

• Tori Willis Jr., Jayden Smith and Antonio Blueford placing first, second and third in the 110-meter hurdles, gaining 24 points for the Vikes in that one race.
• Kassidy Young won discus, with a 94-foot throw on her final attempt of the day.
• Le’Asia Todd won both long and triple jump.
• William Jackson came in first in pole vault, at 11’ 6”

Men's team scores:

C-SD - 129.5

Cape Henlopen - 81.5

Wicomico - 72

Laurel - 66

Dunbar - 63

Kent Island - 61

Sussex Academy - 35

Snow Hill - 30

Queen Anne's Co. - 25.5

Kent County - 25

Stephen Decatur - 24

James M. Bennett - 24

Washington - 18

Easton - 15

North Dorchester - 15

Colonel Richardson - 8

Sussex Tech - 5.5

Pocomoke - 3

North Caroline - 1

Women's team scores:

Cape Henlopen - 103

Kent Island - 101

C-SD - 55

James M. Bennett - 55

North Caroline - 54

Pocomoke - 43

Wicomico - 43

Washington - 40

Stephen Decatur - 38

Sussex Tech - 37

Kent County - 34

Sussex Academy - 27

Snow Hill - 19

Easton - 17

Queen Anne's County 12

Colonel Richardson 7

North Dorchester - 5

Many thanks went to the volunteers, including quite a few former athletes who came back to help the program that helped them.

C-SD’s next meet is today, at Queen Anne’s County High School. Action starts at 4 p.m. The Vikings’ next home meet is April 10, starting at 4 p.m.

North Dorchester High School’s next meet is also today, at Kent Island at 4 p.m.