Seneca freshman Tameka Jackson and Woodmont junior Aaron Ramirez (watch interview with Ramirez) sealed championship victories at the 25th Eye Opener, held at The Roger Milliken Center in Spartanburg.
Jackson finished in 20 minutes, 7 seconds with second-place finisher Sophia Treakle, a senior from Asheville (N.C.) finishing runner-up in 20 minutes, 13 seconds. Blue Ridge senior Sarah Turman rounded out the top three with NCISAA runner Caitlin Selle (Westminster Catawba) fourth in 20 minutes, 34 seconds.
Other top 10 finishers include Amanda Sinclair (Union County) and Sydney Robinson (Greenville).
Ramirez, running in the championship race to help his team, finished with the second fastest time of the day (16:22). Asheville's John Harwell finished first in the international race with a time of 16 minutes, 17 seconds.
Wilson Hall's (SCISA) Trey Parker finished fourth with Boiling Springs' senior Ted Nisbett fifth. Wade Hampton's Kyle Keene, a senior, finished sixth in 17 minutes, 11 seconds, leading the Generals to second place finish. Mann's Parks Edwards rounded out the top 10, leading the Patriots to a top three team finish.
Blue Ridge senior Jordan Plumbee finished fourth in 17 minutes, 1 second. Easley's Braxton Sheriff finished eighth (17:18). Pendleton's Christopher Dehondt placed ninth with Ramirez's teammate Kyle Koby rounding out the top 10.
Leading the St. Joseph's Knights to the girls championship team title was junior Emily Coggins. St. Joseph's is a member of the SCISA conference. Teammate Katie Sanders finished 10th. Greenville placed second in team standings and Eastside fourth.
Daniel boys finished second in the championship division. Riverside finished third.
Mann senior Kate Borowicz led South Carolina in the international girls competition with a third place finish (19:27). Borowicz finished first in 2007. Science Hill's (Tenn.) Allie Scalf (watch interview with Scalf) sealed the win in 18 minutes, 52 seconds with North Mecklenburg's (N.C.) Kimberly Spano second. Scalf was third in 2007, behind Borowicz and Daniel's Sinead Haughey. Haughey placed sixth with Christ Church's Caroline Jennings 10th.
In team scoring, T.C. Roberson (N.C.) finished first over Science Hill. Daniel rounded out the top three with Dorman and Spartanburg fourth and fifth, respectively. Science Hill placed second in team standings last season, as Daniel sealed the team win.
More coverage coming this weekend.