Diana Willard, a senior at Swansea High School captured her sixth state cross country title on Nov. 6, the most a cross country athlete can win in South Carolina. Willard, captured four of the state titles as an athlete for Pelion prior to joining the Swansea team for the 2003 season.
In this year\'s state meet Willard, the only 2A girls runner to break 20 minutes crossed the line in 19:56. Melissa Bolt of Pendleton challenged Willard throughout the race, as the junior came in second with a 20:22.
In 2003 Willard was one of three runners to break the 20-minute barrier with a 19:17.54 5k time in the 2A 5k. In 2003 the meet took place at Fort Jackson in Columbia, while the 2004 meet took place at Sandhills Research Center, also located in Columbia.
Prior to Willard\'s feat of the winning six cross country titles no runner in the Palmetto State has come close to reaching Willard\'s accomplishments.
From 1993-1995 TL Hanna alumna and former state meet best holder Lindsey Rogers was state champion all three years in the 3A girl\'s race. Hanna moved up to the 4A classification in 1996 when Rogers also captured the title. Kala Boulware, a former Spring Valley athlete was the individual 4A girl\'s champion from 1987-1989.
Derrick Wyatt, currently a Clemson Tiger, was the individual 2A State Champion in cross country from 1997-1999 while attending Liberty. Joe Harris, also of TL Hanna was 3A individual champion from 1991-1993.
Dating back even further in the South Carolina high school running record books is from 1985-1987 when Wren\'s Ernie Shepard captured three straight with his fastest time of 14:45 in 1987. David Adams, a former Hilton Head runner holds the state meet best of 14:36, set a Fort Jackson in 1999.
The girl\'s state meet best holder is Spring Valley junior Kate Niehaus. Niehaus has broken the record twice with a 2003 time of 17:36.81 and a 2002 time of 17:52.9. Niehaus captured her third consecutive state title on Saturday with the girl\'s fastest time of the day.
In this year\'s state meet Willard, the only 2A girls runner to break 20 minutes crossed the line in 19:56. Melissa Bolt of Pendleton challenged Willard throughout the race, as the junior came in second with a 20:22.
In 2003 Willard was one of three runners to break the 20-minute barrier with a 19:17.54 5k time in the 2A 5k. In 2003 the meet took place at Fort Jackson in Columbia, while the 2004 meet took place at Sandhills Research Center, also located in Columbia.
Prior to Willard\'s feat of the winning six cross country titles no runner in the Palmetto State has come close to reaching Willard\'s accomplishments.
From 1993-1995 TL Hanna alumna and former state meet best holder Lindsey Rogers was state champion all three years in the 3A girl\'s race. Hanna moved up to the 4A classification in 1996 when Rogers also captured the title. Kala Boulware, a former Spring Valley athlete was the individual 4A girl\'s champion from 1987-1989.
Derrick Wyatt, currently a Clemson Tiger, was the individual 2A State Champion in cross country from 1997-1999 while attending Liberty. Joe Harris, also of TL Hanna was 3A individual champion from 1991-1993.
Dating back even further in the South Carolina high school running record books is from 1985-1987 when Wren\'s Ernie Shepard captured three straight with his fastest time of 14:45 in 1987. David Adams, a former Hilton Head runner holds the state meet best of 14:36, set a Fort Jackson in 1999.
The girl\'s state meet best holder is Spring Valley junior Kate Niehaus. Niehaus has broken the record twice with a 2003 time of 17:36.81 and a 2002 time of 17:52.9. Niehaus captured her third consecutive state title on Saturday with the girl\'s fastest time of the day.