Class 4A All-Area Girls Track

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Player of the year: Niki Klasnic

Class: Senior

School: Dutch Fork

Nicki Klasnic

- C. Aluka Berry/caberry@thestate.com

College: Wofford

What she did: Won the 3,200 meters at the state meet with a time of 11 minutes, 30.12 seconds. ... Won silver in the 1,600 meters (5:08) and helped the Silver Foxes’ 3,200 relay team finish fourth.

Running thoughts: “I just enjoyed it because we had a (cross country) coach that was really fun in the seventh grade. Some friends of mine had taken me out to the first practice, and I was like, ‘OK, I’ll do this.’”

Her first race: “I was in seventh grade when I ran my first cross country race. That was my first time running, and I didn’t do so well. I don't really remember the race, but I remember my family was so new at it because we were always into basketball. So they got there, and my mom asked when I was going to run, and I had already ran.”

Second thoughts: “Sophomore and junior year, I had a whole two seasons where I thought I just was not going to do it anymore ... I love track, and I had never not done this, so I didn’t know what I would do if I quit.”

A sport she would like to try: “I always wanted to try tennis. I don’t know if I would have been great at it. I played basketball in seventh grade. I was a guard, mostly for defense. Shooting was not my thing.”

What she’s doing this summer: “Working, running (in preparation) for next year and going to the beach a lot.”

Her favorite thing to do at the beach: “I like going to Charleston, to the beach and then the market.”

She listens to: “I like 70s, 80s and then country music.”

The best thing about her family: “I like being the oldest, and I like having two brothers. I like doing the things they like to do. They’re fun. I can hang around the house and still have fun; I don’t have to go out with friends.”

The best advice she’s received: “My parents tell us to follow what we want to do. They said if we’re going for a job, if you enjoy it, it’s not going to feel like work.”

College major: “Right now I plan on majoring in theater. I don’t know a specific play, but I’d like to be in something funny.

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THE TEAM

100: Raveen Golston, Dutch Fork

Placed 13th at state qualifier (12.5 seconds)

200: London Smalls, Irmo

Qualified for state meet (26.29)

400: Monique James, Dutch Fork

Finished fourth at state (58.45)

100h: Taina LaPorte, Dutch Fork

Finished fifth at state (15.96)

400h: Jemekia Wilson, Irmo