St. Joseph's Ava Dobson appears primed for a strong ending to her senior season.
The state's top runner and defending Class 2A state individual medalist is coming off of a commanding victory in the 3A girls 5000 meter run at the Wendy's Invitational last weekend in Charlotte. She posted the fastest time of 17:35 and finished a full minute and 25 seconds ahead of runner-up Alyssa Galvin (North Lincoln (N.C.)).
Dobson set her personal record with a time of 17:12.79 to win the Mike Moore Lake Murray Invitational in September in Chapin. Earlier in the month, she finished at 17:40.8 to record the top time for statewide runners and a runner-up finish at the Eye Opener in Spartanburg.
Dobson also helped lead the Knights to the Class 2A state championship last year.
Nation Ford junior Katie Pou, the defending Class 5A champion, is second in the statewide standings with a time of 17:48.80 to win the Invitational Girls 5000 at the Wendy's Invitational. Her teammate, senior Morgan Werner (No. 5), finished as runner-up at 18:14.20.
Riverside's Jessie Crowley is third in the state with an 18:00.55, which was good enough for runner-up at Lake Murray. She's coming off of a seventh-place finish at Wendy's (18:45.40).
The Warriors' Elizabeth Rogers is No. 10 statewide. The sophomore ran a time of 18:55 to finish seventh at Lake Murray.
The remainder of the state's top 10 includes Daniel senior Mari Cagle Lockhart (18:14.20) at No. 4, River Bluff eighth-grader Madelyn Gomez (18:39.30) at No. 6, Hilton Head junior Sarah Neville (18:40.95) at No. 7, Wade Hampton seventh-grader Elizabeth Markwell (18:43.37) at No. 8 and Mauldin senior Macey Morgan (18:43.37) at No. 9. Markwell was individual medalist at the Cavalier Classic.
Riverside's girls lead the team rankings, followed by Hilton Head, Nation Ford, J.L. Mann, Dorman, Irmo, Mauldin, Philip Simmons, Wade Hampton and Porter Gaud.
Riverside is the Class 5A runner-up and captured team titles at the GTC Tiger Classic, Eye Opener and Lake Murray Invitational. Porter Gaud is coming off of a team win at the Warrior XC Invitational.
Dorman is the defending Class 5A champion and has posted a victory at the Cavalier Classic. The Cavaliers were also runners-up at the Eye Opener and Trojan Invitational.
Daniel is coming off a Class 4A championship, while Seneca captured Class 3A. The Bobcats placed second at the Low Country Invitational.
The Bob Jenkins SCTCCCA Coaches Classic is next up on the docket and will be held this weekend in Camden. The state finals for all classifications will be held on Nov. 16 in Columbia.