Times Photos by Joey Gardner Cross country runners trek through the woods at Winter Place Park in Salisbury during Wednesday's Tidewater Classic.     Stephen Decatur sophomore Joya Canfield's 19:35 was good enough for first place in Wednesday's Tidewater Classic in Salisbury.

SALISBURY -- Stephen Decatur High sophomore Joya Canfield won the girls race, and Decatur junior Mike Evans finished second in the boys race at the Tidewater Classic 3.2-mile cross-country run at Winter Place Park Wednesday.

Canfield, whose winning time was 19:35, finished 17 seconds ahead of Seaford standout Caitlin McGroerty. McGroerty was followed by Cape Henlopen's Rebecca Riedell, Sussex Tech's Hannah Bienhoff, Decatur's Amy Smith, the Salisbury School's Lauren Genvert, Seaford's Cassie Scott, Cape Henlopen's Amy Mallamo, Seaford's Cristina Garmendia, and Cape Henlopen's Elizabeth DeCastro.

Cape Henlopen won the girls race with 56 points, nine better than second-place Seaford. Behind Seaford was Decatur, Sussex Tech, Kent Island, the Salisbury School, Milford, Christiana, Parkside, and Cambridge-South Dorchester.

"I was able to break away from the pack of runners in the woods on the second mile,'' said Canfield. "As race coordinator Jim Jones says, 'Out of sight, out of mind.' In another words, don't worry about another runner unless you can see them. I'm pretty sure I was ahead of McGroerty the whole way, but she came up on my shoulder a few times.

"I can't remember where I finished in this event last year,'' said Canfield. "The difference between this year and last year is that this year teammate Amy Smith challenges me. I know this course pretty well from running it during summer camps. It's not a boring course with its woods, dips, grass, gravel, and ground. This win gets me off to a good start this year. The cool, overcast weather with no wind was perfect for running. Coaches Pat Russo and Ryan Cowder really help. God makes everything possible.''

For the boys, Evans finished seven seconds behind Kent Island's David Virgets, who won the race in 17:01. Behind Evans were Cape Henlopen's Andrew Rogan, Christiana's Chris Simpson, Seaford's Brian Lloyd, Kent Island's Zach Gaudette, Decatur's Jason Hamilton, Cambridge-SD's Matt McCollister, Seaford's Mitch Fryling, and Sussex Tech's Chris Singh.

Kent Island won the boys race with 80 points, 11 better than Seaford. Behind Seaford was Cape Henlopen, Sussex Tech, Decatur, Lake Forest, Milford, Parkside, Polytech, and James M. Bennett.

"Going into the race I was not confident because I have shin splints and an ankle brace on my left leg and a sore lower back,'' said Decatur's Evans. "The runners all started fast, which sank my confidence even lower. I was able to pick runners off one by one in the woods on the second mile. When I came out of the woods, there was just one pack left in front of me.

"I passed the entire pack except for Virgets,'' said Evans. "He looked slow, and I thought I could catch him. But by the time I caught him, he was just starting his final kick to the finish. If the race was a little longer, I would have won. The main thing is I redeemed myself with a second-place finish despite injuries. My confidence is restored. Last year I also finished second to a senior from Milford, but it was hot and humid. This was good weather today. I'm not happy to finish second for the second straight year in this event, but I'm happy to finish second with all the injuries I have this year.''

Canfield and Evans will next be competing in the Bull Run at Hereford High Saturday. Canfield described the tough state cross-country course as, "like a ski slope.''

Originally published Thursday, October 2, 2003