This week's MileSplit SC boys future stars is Mauldin's Kellan Cofer (2030).
Cofer ran a personal best 15:50 at the Woodmont Invitational (11th). This is Cofer's second year of cross country with the Mavericks.
Mauldin coach Nate Watson talks Kellan's impact
Kellan is a solid number two guy for Mauldin (28th in 2025 South Carolina cross country rankings) and he distanced himself starting at adidas with a 16:50 just one second off his lifetime personal record which was set a week earlier at "Fury XC" meet. He understands the pressure and responsibility of being a number two. He is a fierce teammate and we are grooming him now to be our leader when his brother Kai Cofer graduates; who does a great job of mentoring his little brother now as our current team captain, 17 of our 30 runners (including Kellan) are in seventh through ninth grade, so we are a very young team. We give him small responsibilities now by letting him lead the younger guys through route choices and warm ups, cool downs, making sure they don't push pace on easy days, and helping them get ready for their races on race day by pinning bibs and helping change out spikes stuff like that.
The Woodmont Invitational race - coach perspective
"I would be lying if I told you I expected him to run sub 16 this early. I was talking to his brother in a coach/captain conversation on our run the Wednesday prior to the race and asked his brother if that we thought he could get the sub 16 barrier this weekend based on workout numbers and how he is trending.
Kai said "yes i think he can but it'll be close" and I remember saying "I don't know if he can get it this weekend, his workout numbers and math supports it but I don't know if he can put it all together this weekend...but I know he can get it at Starlight". I told Kellan before the race "I know you want to beat brother so go for it today...we lose nothing today by taking a shot at the clock, we are gambling with house money. We will go are far as you and your brother take us...you two set the standard and when you are locked in, you boys are like gravity the rest of the team follows, but it takes the entire team make it happen."
South Carolina class of 2030 boys cross country rankings
Other observations from Watson: Kellan has the ability to not think about how hard something is, he just goes for it. Both him and his brother are extremely humble and I think that is a testament to his parents and how good of a job they have done raising Kai and Kellan. Kellan is very young and does not know yet what he is capable of, but he is starting to believe.
Season goals: Our original season goal for Kellan based on summer numbers was sub 16...I try to not focus on time goals for the boys, but they're kids and every athlete like a personal record. So I try to emphasize based on year over year data this is the kind of effort it will take for you guys to place top five at state this year and make a run next year. As far as his individual goal I would imagine based on the questions I am getting from him that it would be to place top 15 at state.
Hobbies: Church youth programs, fishing, roller skate parks and trampoline parks.
The Maverick's competed in today's Bob Jenkins SCTCCCA Coaches Classic.