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| (footlockercc.com photo) Kate Niehaus holds the state meet best of 17:36.81. |
"It was an honor to be named the CC Athlete of the Year again, and it was especially great this time because Brian and I both got it (since we are both from Spring Valley)," said Niehaus. "I'm working to repeat the title for next year."
The outstanding male and female for 2003 runners are chosen based on their time at the State Cross-Country Championships (Nov. 8, 2003, Hilton Field—Fort Jackson). Both Raymond and Niehaus ran the fastest times on the eighth of Nov. at Fort Jackson.
"Our team is also working to improve, and we're hoping to do well at the State Meet again," said Niehaus. "I think that the entire track season will be fun for me, and I'm looking forward to the experience. Last year I really wasn't part of the track team (because of soccer), so this year will be very different."
Raymond ran a time of 15:38 to win the 4A individual title while Spring Valley captured the boys team title. On the girls' side, Niehaus, also from Spring Valley captured her second consecutive individual state title in a new state meet best time of 17:36.81. In Niehaus' first year of running cross-country (2002) the Viking broke the previous state meet record with a time of 17:52.9 at Sandhills Research Center.
Along with holding the state meet best, Niehaus has competed at two Footlocker National meets in her two years in the sport of cross-country. On Dec. 15, 2003 Niehaus placed 17th overall at Footlocker with a time of 18:11. At the 2002 Olympic like event Niehaus DNF. "Coach (Kevin) Shaw and I have set a number of goals for the track season, and I'm really excited about it," said Niehaus. "I'm running in the Indoor Nationals (March 13, Landover, MD), which will be exciting because I haven't run in any indoor meets yet (I will do one beforehand, though). My training is actually aiming for the AOC meet, but the state meet series and other meets will be competitive and fun, too."
Raymond is coached by John Jones at Spring Valley. "Our association gives an award each year to the male and female athlete who run the overall fastest time from all the state meets," said Jones. "Brian had a great season and capped off his high school career with maybe his best race ever. He works extremely hard and has earned everything he has gotten. He is also a great kid and a coach's dream." Niehaus is coached by Kevin Shaw at Spring Valley.
Raymond holds the fastest time in the state for the 2003 cross-country season and Niehaus has the second fastest time with Northwestern's Angelina Blackmon holding the fastest time with a victory at the 3-4A Region Meet in 17:25. Niehaus ran 17:39 at the Region 3-4A Meet to finish second.
Next up in South Carolina is the Clemson High School Indoor Invitational on Jan. 31.