Hampton County cross-country teams are young but talented

Neill Kirkpatrick • October 11, 2024

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By Neill Kirkpatrick

Special to the HSSR

Varnville – Hampton County is in it is second year as a school and the Hurricane cross-country teams are look to build on the success from their first year where both the boys and girls teams captured region championships and the girls finished sixth at the state AA meet.

Head Coach Myrriah Hanna has a solid group of runners returning so she is expecting another good year from her teams despite being very young with only one senior on each team.

“I always want to set up my runners to be successful and to compete with the best. Most of our team bought into the preseason training, which has transitioned into a solid regular season,” said coach Hanna. “They work hard and know what it takes to get to the next level.”

The boys returning senior is David Crosby and the girls is Alexis Nix. Crosby set a new personal record earlier in the year at Cougar Chase 1 meet with a time of 18:31.70. He finished fourth at the meet while Nix finished seventh and she has a personal best for 22:49.00.

The Lady Hurricanes top returning are junior Taryn Hanna and freshmen Randi Vaughn. Hanna finished 25^th and Vaugh 29^th at last years state meet and coach Hanna expects both them to qualify for the state meet again this year. Hanna’s personal best is 21:29.90 while Vaughn’s personal best is 21:08.42.

Eighth grader Skyler Long also returns after opening eyes as a seventh grader. He has a personal best of 18:05.00 and recently posted a time of 18:07.00 at the Cougar Chase meet. He is rounding into form as the region meet approaches.

There have been some surprises among the young Hurricane. Freshman Kaden Simmons has run a 19:58.20 while seventh grader Blayden Driggers has drastically lowered his times from running over 30 minutes to a personal best of 22:35.73.

Eighth grader Kaylee Lepisto and freshmen Laighlah Pauls have both lowered their personal best 22:22.00 and 22:39.00 respectively.

“Bridgers Prep will be a challenge for the region, but I know that we will rise to the challenge. I fully expect my girls to make it all the way to State and I am optimistic that the boys team will also make the state meet,” said coach Hanna.

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