WORTON — Siblings Alden and Kato Swanson set the pace for the Trojans last week in their first cross country race of the season.
For Kato, a freshman, it was his high school debut.
The Sept. 11 race that started and finished at Kent County High School, with a loop through nearby Worton Park, drew a total of 33 girls and 40 boys from five schools on the Mid-Shore.
Junior Alden Swanson, who was a state qualifier as a rookie last year, had the highest place-finish for the home team. She toured the 3-mile course in 23 minutes, 3 seconds to finish second in the girls race.
She trailed only Queen Anne’s junior Faith Gordon, who stopped the timer in 21:58.
In the boys race, Kato Swanson was the first Trojan into the chute and 17th overall in 21:10.
Kent Island junior Gunner Hansard was the front-runner in a time of 16:47 — more than a full minute ahead of second-place finisher Jacob Camper of Easton (17:49).
William Orndoff was only 4 seconds behind his Easton teammate, making for quite a battle in the team scoring.
But Kent Island runners placed fourth, fifth, ninth and 11th to finish with the low count of 30 points.
Easton was second with 35 points, followed by Queen Anne’s and then host Kent County.
North Dorchester did not have the required five finishers to score as a team.
In the girls race, which was run first and separately from the boys, Kent County (84) finished third behind Queen Anne’s (23) and Kent Island (59). Easton and North Dorchester tied for fourth, each with 98 points.
All five of Queen Anne’s scorers finished in the top seven.
This was the Trojans’ first home race in two years and the coaching debut for Patrick McColigan ’18, who was a three-season runner at KCHS.
“Overall, I am ecstatic that each one of my kids was able to race and compete. Mostly everyone was faster than they were in practice,” McColigan told The Evening Enterprise.
“The first meet of the year went very smoothly, especially for it being the first major event I have ever hosted,” said McColigan, who acknowledged the help he received from his former coach, KCHS hall of famer Dennis Herrmann, who was the official starter.
Printed here are the complete results for the Trojans
GIRLS: Alden Swanson, 23:03, second; Janey Depp, 28:56, 16th; McKenzie Smith, 30:34. 19th; Jordana Capp, 33:34, 25th; and Sydney Bortz, 41:32, 30th.
BOYS: Kato Swanson, 21:10, 17th; Ashton Dean, 21:31, 18th; Lynden Saunders, 23:36, 25th; Andrew Buckel, 23:37, 26th; and Dalton Smith, 29:17, 36th.
“After running the race, the team came to an agreement that everyone could get faster as the season progresses. I have high hopes for the rest of the season,” McColigan said.
The Trojans traveled to Cambridge on Tuesday, Sept. 17 for the annual Rumble in the Jungle.
Next week, they travel to Stevensville for a meet hosted by Kent Island High School.
