Seventh-grader shines for Lexington High at 2021 SC state cross country meet
Kendra Miles wasn’t fazed by competing in her first state cross country meet.
The seventh-grader on Lexington High School’s team finished runner-up with a time of 18:39 on Friday in the Class 5A girls cross country championship at Sandhills Research Center.
“It was nothing different,” Miles said of the state meet. “Just go and run and try your best all the time.
“Coming into the season, I was excited I got to run with the high school team. It was such a great experience and all my teammates got me to the point where I am now.”
Miles said her brother got her into running in the summer before going into the second grade. After just six months into running, she broke the state record for her age group. And In her first season with Lexington varsity squad, Miles continues to break records. She broke Meri Heneage’s school record of 18:33 by running a time of 18:22 in the Region 5-5A championship.
“The thing about her is, she is not experienced to be nervous,” Lexington coach Tanner Graham said. “I knew last year she was coming into the program and we were going to get her. However, I didn’t expect her to do quite what she has been able to do this year.”
Miles is one of several young runners on the Wildcats squad as they should be in the mix for the state championship for the next several years. The Wildcats had two seventh-graders, three freshmen and one junior who ran in Friday’s race.
Lexington freshmen Laurel Walls (19:13) finished sixth and Lydia Metz (19:26) was eighth to earn all-state honors.
As a team, Lexington finished second behind J.L. Mann High.
“You never want to count your chickens before they are hatched but definitely excited for what the future holds,” Graham said.
Chapin was seventh and River Bluff finished eighth. J.L. Mann’s Madison Roush won the race with a time of 18:26.
In Class 5A boys, Fort Mill won the championship and Wando’s Jake Liebert finished first. Lexington was fourth, Chapin fifth and Spring Valley 10th.
Lexington’s Owen Harries (eighth), defending champion Zander Jeffcoat (14th) earned all-state honors along with Spring Valley’s Jack Stacy (15th). The top-15 runners finish all state.
Greer Middle College swept the Class 2A boys and girls championships. The boys finished with a state-record 17 points. GMC’s Jake Dentler won the boys race with a time of 16:33. GMC’s Hattie Jennings won the girls race with a time of 19:22.
Gray Collegiate boys finished ninth and Pelion girls were 10th.
Southside Christian won the Class A boys and SC’s Grayson Gibbons (16:52) finished first. Dixie won the Class A girls and Dixie’s Ashten Stoll (20:50) was first.
Class 5A Girls
Top 10 Teams: J.L. Mann 42; Lexington 77; Fort Mill 115; Riverside 118; Wando 131; Mauldin 186; Dorman 207; Chapin 207; River Bluff 261; TL Hanna 278
All-State (Top-15 finishers): Madison Roush, JL Mann; Kendra Miles; Kennedy Roush, JL Mann; Alivia Cleveland, Fort Mill; Sofie Kurzawa, JL Mann; Laurel Walls, Lexington; Elizabeth Rogers; Lydia Metz, Lexington; Miah Johnson, Riverside; Avery Moriarty, Fort Mill; Reagan Cooke, Mauldin; Callie Rohm, Mauldin; Caroline King, JL Mann; Meulman Mobley, Rock Hill; Angel Kravitz, Fort Mill
Class 5A Boys
Top 10 Teams: Fort Mill 62; TL Hanna 100; Wade Hampton 105; Lexington 116; JL Mann 129; Wando 184; Dorman 186; Chapin 238; Nation Ford 240; Spring Valley 255.
All-State (Top-15 finishers): Jake Liebert, Wando; Devon Sibley, Fort Mill; Jake Wadas, Wade Hampton; Simon Draper, JL Mann; Evan Wey, Fort Mill; Mac Salley, Spartanburg; Roman Brannon, Wade Hampton; Owen Harries, Lexington; John Bolinger, Spartanburg; Jackson Dawson, Fort Mill; Trey Sullivan, Wade Hampton; Dylan Lego, Dorman; Jack McGahey, TL Hanna; Zander Jeffcoat, Lexington; Jack Stacy Spring Valley
Class 2A Girls
Top 10 teams: Greer Middle College 31; Phillip Simmons 34; Christ Church 72; St. Joseph’s 140; Landrum 151; Crescent 182; Fountain Inn 213; York Prep 245; Chesterfield 277; Pelion 311.
All-State (Top-15 finishers): Hattie Jennings, Greer Middle College; Sofia DiPasqua, Greer Middle College; Elizabeth Markwell, Greer Middle College; Josie May, Phillip Simmons; Nina Brown, St. Joseph’s; Hailey Meyers, Philip Simmons; Emmy Wood, Philip Simmons; Phoebe Cogan, Philip Simmons; Matea Payer, Philip Simmons; Catherine Taylor Greer Middle College; Mary Kathryn Jones, Christ Church; Kalie Ashworth, Fountain Inn; Eliza Roy, Christ Church; Isadora Apple, Christ Church; Kelsey Smith, Greer Middle College
Class 2A Boys
Top 10 teams: Greer Middle College 17; Christ Church 88; Philip Simmons 104; Timberland 129; St. Joseph’s 148; Brashier Middle College; Liberty 238; Landrum 247; Gray Collegiate 279; Ninety-Six 295.
All-State (Top-15 finishers): Jake Dentler, Greer Middle College; Adam Trusty, Greer Middle College; Avery Biggerstaff, Greer Middle College; Noah Connor, Greer Middle College; Jack Hinds, Christ Church; Cayden Chance, Timberland; Daniel Vera, Greer Middle College; Saxon Brown, Brashier Middle College; Ryan Rousseau, Philip Simmons; Weston Segura, Christ Church; Pierce Walker, Philip Simmons; Cian Brady, Greer Middle College; Ian Mullaney, Philip Simmons; Toby Ticknor, Liberty; Bright Crosswell Christ Church
Class A Girls
Top Teams: Dixie 27; Southside Christian 38; Green Sea-Floyds 85; Governor’s School 119; East Clarendon 153; High Point Academy 157; McBee 191; Bamberg-Ehrhardt 204; Carvers Bay 221
All-State (Top-15 finishers): Asten Stoll; Ansley Prescott; Camilia Baraona Southside Christian; Rachel Prescott, Dixie; Elise Lanahan, The Governor’s School; Ansley Gaulden, Southside Christian; Clara Angel, Dixie; Grace Anderson, Southside Christian; Bailey McGraw, High Point; Isabella Maria, Southside Christian; McClain Liddy, Southside Christian; Angelina Clark, Green Sea-Floyds; Nicole Hershberger, Dixie; Ruth Ellen Redding, Dixie; Eleanor Massingill, Southside Christian
Class A Boys
Top-10 teams: Southside Christian 23; Dixie 47; Charleston Charter School for Math and Science 89; The Governor’s School 115; Green Sea-Floyds 151; Bamberg-Ehrhardt 243; Palmetto Scholars 254; Lewisville 258; Riverwalk Academy 290; Hannah-Pamplico 310
All-State (Top-15 finishers): Grayson Gibbons, Southside Christian; Quade Lindler, Calhoun Falls; Spencer Wieters, Dixie; Reeves Israel, Southside Christian; EJ Brown, Southside Christian; Daniel Boyd, Dixie; Trenton Frey, Southside Christian; Breeden Crawford, Dixie; Maurice Pridgen, Charleston Charter for Math and Science; Saul Maria, Southside Christian; Parker Frey, Southside Christian; Adam Elliott, Hannah-Pamplico; Benjamin Hider, Charleston Charter for Math and Science; Dominique Smith The Governor’s School; Tyler Glazer, Dixie
This story was originally published November 12, 2021 at 12:43 PM.
