SPARTANBURG - Malik Epps has a bad habit of looking back. After Saturday, perhaps the Byrnes senior should spend more time looking ahead.
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If the Eye Opener is any indication, Epps could be in for a big year. He out-kicked Alex Crigger of team champion Science Hill (Tenn.) to win the international race in 15:58.04 at The Roger Milliken Center.
"I should not be looking back, but the first race back, I wanted to get a win so bad," Epps said. "That's one of my disadvantages right now. That's something I've got to overcome, but if you want to win so bad, you're always thinking about the person behind you. I have to be more confident and race for time when I'm in first place."
Then again, Epps said he had been thinking about his last Eye Opener ever since the end of track season.
He recalled competing in the event as a freshman, running with the junior varsity, "placing like 200th."
"I always looked at people like (James) Quattlebaum (of Christ Church) and Andre Ivankovic (o...
