Ambrose leads Riverside girls to third straight title

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Riverside’s girls dominated the South Carolina state meet for the third year in a row, scoring 26 points at Sandhills Research Center to win the Class 5A championship. Cate Ambrose won the race for Riverside in 18:35, while teammate and defending champion Jessie Crowley was fifth. All five of the team’s scorers finished in the top 10.

In 2015, Riverside won with 20 points before heading to NXN Southeast and taking fifth place (as Warriors TC).

John Ward of Wade Hampton (Greenville) won an exciting boys 5A race in 15:40, edging out Wando’s Edward Spychalski. Riverside won the team championship with 93 points. Wando was second with 110.

Hilton Head’s Ben Gilman won his second state title, winning the 4A boys race in 15:49. His younger brother Sam was five seconds back for second place. Hilton Head successfully defended its title with 51 points.

Eastside won a tight three-way battle for 4A girls supremacy as the top three teams went 63-65-69. D.W. Daniel was second and Hilton Head was third. Freshman Mari Cagel Lockhart led a 1-2 finish for Daniel with 18:40.

Palmetto won a close 3A girls race against Bluffton, 41-45, as eighth grader Maggie Rhodes of Woodruff ran 19:15 for the win.

Michael Spearman of West Oak won the 3A boys race in 16:34. Powdersville won the team title with 103 points.

St. Joseph’s Catholic swept the Class 2A team titles. Morgan Summey of Greer Middle College Charter ran 19:04 to win the AA/A girls race; Ford McCoy ran 16:12 for the victorious Knights.

Dixie won the 1A boys race with 28 points. Freshman Zane Jackson of Palmetto Scholars ran 17:23 and won by 51 seconds.