SALISBURY — Freshman John Fries was all smiles as he entered the chute, the last of the Trojans to complete the annual Tidewater Fall Classic at Winter Place Park.
The place-finish hardly mattered for the Kent County High School freshman, who was making his cross country debut.
Finishing was the objective.
The 5K race on Oct. 2 featured more than 650 girls and boys from nearly 40 high schools in Maryland and Delaware — by far the largest meet of the season for KCHS, which sent out five girls and seven boys.
“It was a very competitive race and I am proud that everyone was able to push themselves,” Kent County coach Patrick McColigan told The Evening Enterprise.
He noted that siblings Kato and Alden Swanson, Sydney Bortz, Andrew Buckel, Jordana Capp, Janey Depp, McKenzie Smith, Austin Sengprasert-Galan, Lynden Saunders and Dalton Smith ran their best 5K times of the season.
Conditions were ideal for racing — short-sleeve sunny with temperatures in the low 70s and a light breeze.
Queen Anne’s senior Ben Marks won his second Tidewater Classic in as many years, stopping the timer in 16 minutes, 8 seconds.
Caesar Rodney’s Griffin Spana made a late charge to take second in 16:09.
There were 376 boys.
As he has done all season, freshman Kato Swanson was the first Trojan to finish, and 109th overall, in 19:31.
In the girls race, junior Alden Swanson led the Kent County contingent in 22:12. She was 36th overall in a field of 290.
The winner was Frederick senior Amelia Slagle in 18:43.
North Caroline’s Brooke Sullivan was the top performer from the Mid-Shore, 19th in 21:06.
Printed here are Kent County’s results
GIRLS: Alden Swanson, 22:12; Janey Depp, 24:14; McKenzie Smith, 31:09.10; Jordana Capp, 31:09.40; and Sydney Bortz, 41:57.
BOYS: Kato Swanson, 19:31; Ashton Dean, 21:36; Andrew Buckel, 21:37; Lynden Saunders, 23:26; Dalton Smith, 26:14; Austin Sengprasert-Galan, 29:11; and John Fries, 34:12.
Today, the Trojans were at Terrapin Nature Park in Stevensville for a meet hosted by Kent Island High School.
Next week they travel to Queen Anne’s County High School.
