By Dave Ryan

PARKTON – At Hereford High School on Saturday, Dorchester runners represented their county at the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association’s Cross Country Region 1A State Championships. The three-mile course is known as one of the best and most challenging on the East Coast, with its hills and the infamous “Dip,” a steep decline to a stream bed followed by an equally steep incline, where many athletes’ determination gets its biggest test of the season.

North Dorchester’s only female competitor was Adison Thomas, who finished 53^rd with a time of 24:35.60. Just a freshman, she started the year finishing races with 27-minute times and was finally able to set an Eagles’ school record of 21:52.66 at the Bayside Championships in Cambridge.

The Vikings’ only qualifying girl was junior Camryn Russum, who finished 48^th of 102 runners, in a time of 24:20.18.

Cora Gentzel of Smithsburg High School is the 2023 state champion, after running the course in 19:43.05. Smithsburg also won the team championship, scoring 69 points.

There were 13 girls’ teams in the race, though individuals such as Camryn and Adison can also compete – five runners are required to compile a team score.

The C-SD boys’ team placed 12^th of 17 teams, with a score of 291. Liberty High School won, with 28 points, led by State Champion Gregory Schelberg, who led the pack in 16:35.00.

Te’Kai Drummond was the Vikings’ top finisher, crossing the line in 19^th place in 18:09.44. Zy’Meir Wilson was 55^th, in 19:21.99; Josiah Harris, 69^th, 19:47.65; Preston Adkins, 78th, 19:58.24; Andrew Albert, 120^th, 22:04.91; and Jacob Forkum, 133^rd, 29:02.71.

Many of the athletes will now move on to the indoor, winter track and field season, with first practices Wednesday.