Borowicz, Lovelace Crowned International Champions

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Over 2000 athletes came out for six races Saturday at the SCTCCCA Coaches Classic meet. in Columbia.

The meet, held at Clemson University\'s Sandhills Research Center, serves as an opportunity for teams to compete on the same course as the state meet (Nov. 4).

The winner of the girls international division was not clear cut as Spring Valley sensation Kate Niehaus concluded her high school career last spring. Niehaus now runs as a freshman at Stanford University.

In the end Mann sophomore Kate Borowicz pushed through to win with a time of 18:04. Borowicz\'s time is a South Carolina MileSplit.com network best.

Running with Borowicz for about half the race was Daniel's Sinead Haughey. Haughey, an eighth grader, covered the course in 18:23.

\"My goal as is to go under 18 (minutes),\" said Borowicz. \"I love having someone I know is going to be right there and not come out of nowhere.\"

Rounding out the top three overall finishers was Mauldin junior Alyssa Kulik in 18:38, also near Borowicz and Haughey during the race.

Mauldin girls captured the team title with 67 points to Daniel\'s second place score of 86.

\"I am just lucky to have a group of kids that want to do this,\" said Mauldin coach Delmer Howell. \"They are a great bunch of kids and they work at it. I hope Alyssa is ready for the run for (Class) AAAA.\" According to Howell, the Mauldin girls are in the Nike Race of Champions race at the Great American Festival in Alabama.

\"We would would love to,\" Howell said about the girls qualifying for Nike Team Nationals. \"We are on the Nike watch list. We beat on paper the ninth best team in the Southeast.\"

The boys division was a little clearer cut, with Chapin senior Luke Lovelace taking the win in 15:40, a top South Carolina time on the MileSplit.com network.

\"I feel good, but I am not the kind of guy that counts people out,\" said Lovelace following the race. \"I think Class AAA is catching up to AAAA. I think last year having Chris Scanlon from Mann helped a lot.\"

Lovelace will compete at the Lake Murray Invitational on Sept. 23 in Chapin. \"He will always encourage you,\" said Lovelace about his coach Jack LeGrand. \"My goal is to qualify for nationals. That is a hefty goal, but I think it can happen.\"

Bluffton junior Nic Tones crossed the line second with a time of 16:05. Following right behind was Fort Mill senior David Huckaby in 16:08.

Mauldin senior Chad Holt didn't run due to a hip flexor injury, according to Howell. Holt declined to comment on the injury. \"Chad is always going to run better later on,\" said Howell.

Fort Mill took the international boys title with over Northwestern with 42 points.

Other notes:
  • Girls championship winner: Vanessa Hartman (Riverside, junior) 19:49
  • Girls JV champion: Catriona Ewing (Mauldin, eighth grader) 21:35
  • Boys JV champion: Morgan Bateman (Wade Hampton, freshman) 17:13
  • Boys international: Mark Blackman (Fort Mill, seventh grade), sixth place 16:25
  • Boys championship: Dominic DeSantis (Hilton Head, junior) 16:28