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| Jank will lead Dorman into the AAAA Boys race. (Mike Jank photo). |
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A/AA Girls - 9:30 a.m. A/AA Boys - 10:00 a.m. AAA Girls - 10:30 a.m. AAA Boys - 11:00 a.m. AAAA Girls - 11:30 a.m. AAAA Boys - 12:00 p.m. *times are tentative
Course Map
Information courtesy of SCTrackworld |
The day starts off at 9:30 a.m. when the A/AA girls take to the starting line. At 10 a.m. the A/AA boys are set to compete. The day continues following both A/AA races with AAA competition. The AAA girls run at 10:30 a.m. followed by the AAA boys at 11 a.m. The final two races of the day consist of class AAAA competition. The girls take the line at 11:30 a.m. followed by the boys at noon.
Now that the meet is back at one of the most preferable courses in the state, history shows what times can come from Fort Jackson. David Adams, former Hilton Head runner set the state meet best of 14:37 as a senior (1999) in the AAAA race at Hilton Field. At Sandhills, Spring Valley sophomore Kate Niehaus set a new state meet best of 17:52.9 in 2002. With Niehaus running 17:52.9 in 2002 and Northwestern's Angelina Blackmon coming off an injury plaqued 2002 cross-country season, this year can bring another state meet best as the two nationally ranked runners battle for the title on Saturday.
Teams such as Wade Hampton and the Dorman boys, along with the Greer girls and Chapin boys and girls can achieve such a feat as placing all seven runners in the top 15. The top 15 runners in each race are named to the All-State team.
A team coming up on the girls' side is the Eastside Eagles. Eastside Head Coach developed a strong boy's and girl's team in the 1980's and the girl's are gaining with a young squad this year. Boehmke is in his 26th year of coaching as a head coach. The Lady Eagles captured the Region 2-3A Championship title this year.
For the AAAA girls, Spring Valley and Northwestern are both contenders to take the reign, but not with a fight by South Aiken.
A look back....
Looking back to 1984, was a good time for Mauldin High School. The Mavericks boy's cross-country team captured the AAAA state title at Hilton Field. Each member of the state champion team earned All-State honors for the Mavericks.
In 1984 the following members rounded out Mauldin's score of 44, first place finish Gary Arnold (15:30), second place finisher Mike Casey (15:34), fourth place finish Eric Fearn (15:36), sixth place finisher Sean Correll (15:43), seventh place finisher Matt Watkins (15:48), 11th place finisher Peter Villiger (16:12), and in 13th place Ronnie Devlin (16:15).
Mauldin has developed top runners in the state such as Dee Ayscue and Casey Phillips (Clemson Tiger) in the past.
What this year will bring....
Girl's Preview
Last year's state meet was exciting as most, with the majority of runners heading to the line for the first time and the last for the class of 2003.
As a freshman, in her first year of running cross-country (2002) Niehaus tackled feats such as qualifying for Footlocker Nationals in 2002. Even before achieving the chance to make a trip to the national meet, Niehaus hit close to home after setting a new state meet best of 17:52.9. This season, Niehaus and Northwestern's Angelina Blackmon have both broken that time and have the ability to place close to the top at the meet. Angelina's sister Tiayonna Blackmon is coming up as the No. 2 runner for Northwestern while holding the third fastest time in the state. Amy and Laura Laughlin are leading South Aiken into the AAAA meet. The two sisters finished first and second at the Region 4-4A meet, respectively.
Jennifer Hitt is in her senior year as a Hillcrest Ram. The Ram is running as an individual on Saturday and can cause a change of plans in the AAAA's race with the ability to push the pace from the start.
Also on the girl's side, in 2002, Diana Willard, formerly at Pelion, transferred to Swansea at the start of the 2003 season, made marks at state in 2002. Willard finished first for Pelion with her time of 19:13.8. She finished one minute and one second ahead of second place finisher Sally Stephenson, of Christ Church.
Willards first place finish in A/AA girl's action earned her her fourth consecutive state title at the conclusion of the 2002 season. The only other runner in South Carolina achieve this feat was Lindsey Rogers of T.L. Hanna (1993-1996).
Coming of a rough first two months of cross-country in South Carolina, former Traveler's Rest Elizabeth (2003 800-meter state champion) is making a comeback, but not as Devildog. Embler and sister Erin are both running for Blue Ridge, as rookie Tigers. The Emblers will compete in the A/AA meet, but Blue Ridge is joining class AAA next year.
Sunday Ford will attempt to defend her AAA title on Nov. 8. Looking to come after Ford on Saturday will be sophomore, Sarah Binkley of Dreher. Binkley finished six seconds behind Ford in 2002. Top three runner in 2002 Vicky Echeverria is now running at Harding University.
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| Kate Niehaus holds the state meet best of 17:52. (footlockercc.com). |
Ana Jemec, a former teammate of Echeverria, is leading Riverside this year and has the potentional to move up in the AAA standings on Saturday. Greer's young squad recently had a solid outing at the Greenville County Championships.
Raye Lin Chappell, a junior at Greer, came from behind to seal the win over St. Joseph's (SCISA) Page Bridges and Hillcrest's Jennifer Hitt. In 2002, Greer captured the AAA state title. They are coming off a solid performance at the Greenville County Championships and Upper State Meet on Nov. 1. The squad will look to start a state championship legacy.
What this year will bring....
Boy's Preview
For the boys' side of cross-country the competition will stay intense from the last race when AAAA action starts.
Palmetto's Ben Sherard is in his senior season. At the 2002 A/AA boy's meet, Sherard finished first in 16:23. Emerald captured the team title with Christ Church finishing second. Sherard's individual win helped Palmetto finish third.
Showing strength this year for A/AA is Blue Ridge. Mike Foley, Blue Ridge head coach, had the squad running solid miles this summers before going to a team camp where more was accomplished before the start of the season. The Tigers are looking to improve on a sixth place finish in 2002. Bryan Stoner, a junior Tiger, is leading the team this year. Last season Stoner finished 11th individually for Blue Ridge.
AAA action lost state champion Jacob McCaskill. McCaskill is a freshman at Clemson University. Look for performances from the Wade Hampton Generals as individuals and as a team to capitalize on Saturday. Showing strength for Wren is senior Brad Orr. Daniel Eils has been close to Orr for the Hurricanes and the two teammates are close to help lead the Hurricanes to the Gold.
Wade Hampton is looking to continue its winning streak at the 2003 meet. Last year Jeff Crane led the Generals. Crane ran a time of 16:13.2, good for a third place finish. Orr finished second behind McCaskill as a junior Hurricane. Wade Hampton's first place score of 35 swept the 2002 field, with Wren coming in second with an 82 point total.
The last race of the day is set to be exciting as the first. Last year, Fred Smith, a Sumter graduate finished with the fastest time of the meet (16:02.7) to earn the AAAA title. Smith's accomplishment in 2003 from Sumter gives Jake Morris and Patrick McRay, both of Aiken, a chance to go for the state title after placing second and third, respectively in 2002.
After Dorman's Craig Thompson finished ninth overall at the 2002 state competition Ryan Jank is looking to follow in Thompson's footsteps for the Cavaliers. Jank finished 12th at the 2002 meet. Greenwood's Trevor Beesley has the ability to fight for the title this year.
The freshman boy's are making an impact this year in the sport for South Carolina. Last season Hillcrest's Chris Scanlon earned the Fastest Freshman of the Year award along with Spring Valley's Kate Niehaus.
Mauldin's Chad Holt is in contention to having the fastest freshman time at the meet along with Dreher's top runner, Johnathan "The Mohawkman" Chu.
Coming up after the state meet is Footlocker, Shrine Bowl Run for seniors, and Junior Olympics.
The Shrine Bowl Run in South Carolina was started in 1986 by Everett Stoudenmire, with the help of the South Carolina Track and Cross-Country Coaches Association. This year's run is slated to start at 5:15 a.m on December 20 at the Columbia State House steps. The runners will run a combined total of 70.8 miles before arriving at Rock Hill District III stadium. The Shriners use this event to raise money for the Shriner's hospital. The closest Shriner's hospital is located in Greenville.
Best of luck to all participants on Saturday.
Katherine Warden, Marcie Milner, and Michele Milner contributed to this preview.