DuBard, Lovelace fastest at state; Wando boys win first title

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Class A boys
Academic Magnet junior Allan DaPore defended his Class A boys individual title, starting off the South Carolina High School State Championships Saturday in Columbia at Sandhills Research Park.

DaPore covered the 5,000-meter course in 17 minutes, 14 seconds. Christ Church senior Michael Brearley was second in 17 minutes, 34 seconds, leading the Cavaliers to their second-straight Class A team title with a 35 total.

During the 2005 Class A/AA boys race, DaPore was 12th overall in 17 minutes, 39 seconds.

Academic Magnet was second with 50 points and Governor's School rounded out the top three. Twelve teams scored.

The Class A race is in its second year for the boys. Girls Class A continue to run with Class AA girls.

Class A/AA girls
Video | Race footage
Bishop England sophomore Jeanne Stroud won the girls Class A/AA race in 19 minutes, 25 seconds with Southside Christian eighth-grade runner Kasey Wyer second in 19 minutes, 52 seconds. Christ Church seventh-grader Caroline Jennings rounded the top three (20:15).

Stroud was fourth in 2006 in 20 minutes.

Bringing home the state cross country title for the second-straight year, the Bishops' top five runners finished in the top 11.

Bishop England scored 35 points to second-place team finisher Christ Church (114). Walhalla finished third (126).

Class AA Boys

Stefan Shealy dominated the Class 2A boys race with a 15:42 finishing time, winning his third-consecutive individual title.

Seventeen seconds ahead of third place finisher Craig Simpkins (Chapman) was Shane Kyzer, a senior at Pelion, who covered the course in 16 minutes, 30 seconds.

Pendleton boys won their third-consecutive team title with top five runners placing in the top 14 spots, scoring 48 points.

The Bulldogs were led by junior Christopher DeHondt (7th, 17:04).

Broome was second with 85 and Bishop England rounded out the top three with 94.

The team was welcomed home Saturday with a police escort to the school where fans joined the state champion team.

Class AAA girls

Daniel freshman Sinead Haughey led the Lions to the team title following a early race battle with defending champion Kate Borowicz of Mann.

Haughey covered the course in 18 minutes, 12 seconds - 20 seconds ahead of Borowicz.

Haughey placed fourth in 2006 with a time of 18 minutes, 29 seconds.

Greer senior Taylor Hughes rounded out the top three in 19 minutes.

The Lions, unsure of final team scoring, were tied with Mann after each team had five across the line.

Daniel alumna Stephanie Gammon, viewing results online in college at UAB shortly after the race, called the runners at the meet congratulating the team prior to awards on their third consecutive team title. The Lions were unsure of the team outcome (at this time) and not sure why they were being congratulated.

Daniel freshman Chris Pennebaker broke the tie-breaker for the Lions with a 33rd place finish (20:34).

Greer girls rounded out the top three with 92.

Class AAA boys
Chapin senior Luke Lovelace left the field in the Class AAA boys race, winning his second consecutive state cross country title.

The senior Eagle ran the fastest time of the day (15:10). Mann senior Matthew Scanlon finished second (16:00). Hilton Head senior Dominic Desantis finished third, eight seconds behind Scanlon.

Mann took home the team title over Chapin with 60 points to the Eagles' 75. Hilton Head was third with 122 points.

Senior note: Greer Yellow Jacket Joey Baldwin, one of the top runners for Greer, lost his shoe at the start of the race, placed 94th overall in 18 minutes, 47 seconds, after picking up his shoe following the incident.

Class AAAA girls
Northwestern senior Mary Kate Dubard captured her first cross country state title, two seconds from breaking 18 minutes - the fastest girls time of the day.

Dubard said following Class AAAA girls awards, she wasn't running for time.

Defending champion Alyssa Kulik, a senior at Mauldin, finished second in 18 minutes, 40 seconds, helping the Mavericks to defend their team title (56 points).

The Mavericks have won three consecutive team titles.

Spartanburg senior Santresa Jamison rounded out the top three in 18 minutes, 43 seconds. The Vikings were second in team scoring (85). Fort Mill rounded out the top three with 156 points.

Boys AAAA boys
Fort Mill eighth-grader Mark Blackmon and Dorman sophomore Brandon Easler battled for the win during the Class AAAA boys race. Blackmon came across the line first in 15 minutes, 55 seconds.

Easler finished 13 seconds behind Blackmon, who won his first state cross country title. Clover sophomore Mick Francis rounded out the top three (16:26).

Wando boys, winning the team title for the first time, were led by senior Stephen Wilson (5th, 16:34) and Josh Fitts (6th, 16:35). The Warriors' top four finishers finished in the top 15. Wando junior Will James was the fifth finisher for the Warriors (50th).

Dorman boys were second with 106 and Fort Mill placed third (111).

The top 15 runners in each are classified All-State.

Cross county action continues
Cross country action resumes this coming Saturday in South Carolina with USATF-S.C. State Junior Olympics Championships at Roger Milliken Center in Sartanburg, home of Eye Opener.

AAU State Championships is scheduled for Nov. 17 at Lexington High School.

Foot Locker South is set for Nov. 24 at McAlpine Park in Charlotte.