CAMBRIDGE — It’s said to have been one of the tightest finishes in race history, and Kent County High School senior Alden Swanson and junior Janey Depp were in the thick of it.
Stephen Decatur junior Lily Norman held off Snow Hill senior Allie Suarezapecheche to win the annual Rumble in the Jungle by a footstep or two, touring the 3-mile Snows Turn Park course in 20 minutes, 34.66 seconds.
Swanson (20:48.56) was third behind Suarezapecheche (20:36.62) and Depp (21:04.16) was seventh in the Sept. 18 cross country invitational hosted by Cambridge-South Dorchester High School.
There were 112 girls representing public and private schools from Maryland and Delaware.
Of the 13 schools that brought full girls teams, Kent County placed sixth with 163 points — well ahead of the next place-finisher, The Salisbury School with 194 points.
The top five scoring teams were Stephen Decatur (73), Rising Sun (93), Queen Anne’s (115), Kent Island (116) and North Caroline (152).
Swanson bettered her time from a year ago [when she placed eighth] by about a minute and a half, while Depp was more than four minutes faster than 2024.
On the boys side, senior Pacome Mennetrier had the best time for the Trojans, 19:17 flat.
Mennetrier and teammate Kato Swanson (19:17.50) placed 37th and 38th, respectively.
This was the cross country debut for Mennetrier, an international student from the country of Georgia who is spending the 2025-26 academic year at KCHS.
Also scoring for the Trojans were seniors Trent Johnson (20:05.00), Lynden Saunders (21:06.30) and Andrew Buckel (21:12.10).
KCHS (271 points) placed 10th among the 20 schools that brought full boys teams.
Overall, there were 181 boys.
With two place-finishers in the top nine and another in the top 15, North East of Cecil County led the way with 66 points. Setting the pace for the Indians was sophomore Joshua Owens, who was third in 16:53.30.
Kent Island, boasting the overall winner in senior Gunner Hansard (16:20.00), was the runner-up with 78 points.
Rising Sun (92), Stephen Decatur (110) and host Cambridge (181) completed the top five.
Rising Sun was led by sophomores Gage Stefanick (16:41.60, second) and Trevor Eilber (17:07.30, fourth).
Printed here are complete results for Kent County. Coaches were permitted to enter 10 athletes in the varsity races.
GIRLS: Alden Swanson, 20:48.56, third; Janey Depp, 21:04.16; Sophie Cousineau, 25:12.12; Jordana Capp, 28:55.61; McKenzie Smith, 32:50.14; Devynn Wiggins, 33:25.03; and Sydney Bortz, 47:10.24.
BOYS: Pacome Mennetrier, 19:17.00, 37th; Kato Swanson, 19:17.50; Trent Johnson, 20:05.00; Lynden Saunders, 21:06.30; Andrew Buckel, 21:12.10; Austin Sengprasert-Galan, 22:57.10; Joshua Na-El, 24:46.50; Dalton Smith, 25:11.10; Samuel Bell, 26:23.10; and Nathaniel Copper, 29:14.60.
Ashton Dean (20:57) and John Fries (27:22) ran the junior varsity race.
