By Dave Ryan

CAMBRIDGE – The annual fundraising invitational event hosted by Cambridge-South Dorchester High School's cross country team took place Wednesday, with teams from across the Eastern Shore competing on the three-mile course in Egypt Road Park. Known as the "Rumble in the Jungle" in honor of the thick forest through which the athletes run, the race is one of the most popular of the season.

Organized by Vikings Head Coach Lois Narr – the longest-tenured coach at C-SD, considering her leadership of the cross country and track and field teams – with former Head Coach Sean Reincke as master of ceremonies, the event is not only a competition, but also a celebration of health and fitness.

With loads of room for athletes and spectators, music booming to get runners fired up, snacks for sale and the prospect of medals and dancing – yes, dancing – when the races were done, spirits were high when the action began.

Kent Island took top honors among the boys' 14 teams, scoring 56 points. North Dorchester High School's boys were fifth, with 143 points, and C-SD's boys were sixth, with 172.

Stephen Decatur's girls were the swiftest of the 11 girls' squads, with 51 points; C-SD's girls were 10th with 209 points, and ND's were 11th, with 215.

In cross country races, the top five runners on a team score points according to their finishing place. That is, first place scores 1 point, fifth place scores 5, and so on. The team with the lowest combined score wins.

Among the boys, junior Ben Marks from Queen Anne’s County High School won, with a time of 15:36 – anything under 16 minutes over the uneven ground of the Jungle is considered impressive. Tekai Drummond, a junior, was C-SD’s fastest boy, finishing third in 17:20. North Dorchester’s Kyle Fellon was ninth, in 17:55. In all, 136 boys competed in the varsity race, with the last finishing around the 35-minute mark.

In the girls’ varsity contest, Kent County sophomore Alden Swanson won in 20:36, while C-SD junior Camryn Russum earned fifth in 21:48. Adison Thomas is only a freshman at North Dorchester, but Eagles’ Head Coach Jeffrey Condon has high hopes for her future, and no wonder - she was the Eagles’ fastest girl, finishing 15^th in a time of 23:34. Altogether, 99 girls competed in the varsity race.

Varsity boys’ results

1. Kent Island, 56
2. Easton, 85
3. Stephen Decatur, 91
4. Queen Anne’s County, 133
5. North Dorchester, 143
6. Cambridge-South Dorchester, 172
7. North Caroline, 192
8. Gunston Day, 216
9. Snow Hill, 280
10. James M. Bennett, 301
11. Kent County, 310
12. SS Peter & Paul, 333
13. Salisbury, 337
14. Worcester Prep, 340
15. Parkside, 405
16. Pocomoke, 433
17. Delmarva Christian, 461
18. Washington, 484

Girls’ varsity results

1. Stephen Decatur, 51
2. Kent Island, 61
3. Gunston Day, 125
4. North Caroline, 126
5. Worcester Prep, 160
6. Queen Anne’s County, 169
7. Parkside, 186
8. James M. Bennett, 186
9. Salisbury, 204
10. Cambridge-South Dorchester, 209
11. North Dorchester, 215

On Sept. 20, the Vikings will be on the road at Parkside, facing the Rams, Stephen Decatur, James M. Bennett and Snow Hill. Also on Sept. 20, the Eagles will host Mardela, Washington, Pocomoke, Crisfield and Wicomico. Both events start at 4 p.m.