Published: Sunday, Nov. 08, 2009 / Updated: Sunday, Nov. 08, 2009 08:13 AM

Fort Mill's Blackmon brings home third title

COLUMBIA -- Fort Mill's Mark Blackmon captured his third consecutive Class AAAA cross country state title Saturday at the South Carolina High School League state championships at the Sandhills Research Center. The confident sophomore eased across the finish line about 100 meters ahead of the second-place runner.

It's amazing what Blackmon has accomplished as a sophomore, especially considering his training schedule won't allow him to peak for another three weeks at the Foot Locker South Regional in Charlotte.

“We all expected Mark to win,” Fort Mill coach Marc Pyrc said. “I saw him in the final mile. He was into his stride and rhythm. He had a 60- to 70-meter lead and was pulling away. He's just a special kid.”

Blackmon led from start to finish, although there was a knot of runners within a couple of strides of each other through the 2-mile marker.

“I broke out at the next hill,” Blackmon said.

Blackmon ran the final one-tenth of a mile, a straight shot to the finish line, all alone. There was no all-out sprint. His time was 15 minutes, 47.09 seconds, three seconds off last year's winning time.

Ridge View's Joseph Keitt pushed hard to the finish and came in second after a 10th-place finish a year ago. He wanted to break 16 minutes; he got a 16:03.5.

Nation Ford's Kevin Ketner made the all-state team. He came in sixth in 16:23.37, shaving 57 seconds off his time at the 2008 state meet.

“This is one of the only races I get nervous about,” Ketner confessed. “I pretty much stayed with the top pack. This was a big improvement for me.”

Clover was led by Alex Flores (50th) and Mick Francis (51st).

Fort Mill will drop to Class AAA next season due to the SCHSL's realignment system. When Keitt, a junior, was told he wouldn't have to run against Blackmon next year, he said wryly, “That's good news.”

Blackmon and several other area runners will compete Nov. 28 at the Foot Locker race at Charlotte's McAlpine Park Greenway. It is the same course where Blackmon ran a 15:18 at the Wendy's Invitational earlier this year. His father, Mitch, thinks he can go sub-15 in the race.

“Here's the thing,” Mitch said before the AAAA boys race, “Markus is running this well, and all he can think about is starting basketball practice.”

The Fort Mill boys finished third with a team score of 126, six points behind second-place Ridge View. Lexington took first.

The Fort Mill girls finished fifth and placed two runners on the all-state team. Meredith Kilburn placed seventh and Abby Lewis was ninth. The Lady Jackets finished well despite Kilburn struggling the last mile to control her breathing and junior Taylor Miller being unable to complete the race.

Kilburn needed medical attention after crossing the finish line and was unable to take part in the postrace awards ceremony. Miller fell a couple times during the race but wouldn't give up, according to Pyrc. She went down again with a half-mile to go and was taken to an ambulance for treatment.

Aubrey Gunnels led Nation Ford's girls by finishing 34th (20:26.31). Sarah Baker was the top runner for Northwestern, crossing the line in 38th place (20:29.63).

The Indian Land boys finished seventh overall in the Class A race. They were led by John Cutrone and Leith Rawson.

NOTE: In a recent story, the winner of the 2008 girls Class AAAA state race was incorrectly identified. Rock Hill's Hannah Robinson won that race.

Class AAAA results

Girls team scores: 1. Wando 63; 2. Dorman 130; 3. Mauldin 131; 4. Stratford 145; 5. Fort Mill 145 (6 8 37 38 56 80); 6. Spartanburg 157; 7. Summerville 182; 8. Irmo 219; 9. Lexington 226; 10. Dutch Fork 231; 12. Northwestern 306; 15. Nation Ford 395.

Girls Individual All-State Team:1. Jasmine Polite, Jr., Stratford, 18:40.47; 2. Alexa Neiling, Sr., Mauldin, 18:49.59; 3. Brittany Williams, So., Mauldin ,19:02.38; 4. Lauren DiNicola, Sr., Wando, 19:05.88; 5. Keely Gillespie, Sr., North Augusta, 19:15.36; 6. Clarricia Golden, Sr., Sumter, 19:15.97; 7. Meredith Kilburn, So., Fort Mill, 19:17.27; 8. Evie Tate, Fr., Spartanburg, 19:19.52; 9. Abby Lewis, Jr., Fort Mill, 19:23.57; 10. Danielle Sams, Jr., Stratford, 19:29.52; 11. Brennan McDavid, Sr., Wando, 19:31.92; 12. Michelle Arms, Sr., Dutch Fork, 19:38.76.