The Fort Mill boys and girls cross country teams advanced to the SCHSL 5A state championship Friday after strong showings at the state qualifier in Newberry, where the boys placed four runners among the top seven finishers.
Junior Owen Ware led the Yellow Jackets boys with a third place time of 17:09.84 on the 5K course. Sophomore Lauren Allen paced the Fort Mill girls in fourth. Northwestern High School’s boys and girls teams also qualified and where lead by senior Grace Harvey won the girls race in 19:18.39.
The Fort Mill’s girls and boys will attempt to defend their titles next Saturday. Complete results after the photos.
Photos by Larry Mull
Local Finishers
Fort Mill
Girls (Odd race)
4. Lauren Allen, 10th grade, 20:11.38
8. Mia Zook, 12th grade, 20:27.82
14. Bailey Nolin, 11th grade, 20:45.81
25. Kaylee Rovenstine, 12th grade, 21:17.85
32. Rachel Vinson, 12th grade, 21:44.39
44. Eve Zook, 7th grade, 22:30.47
46. Leah Ackerman, 12th grade, 22:39.08
Boys (Even race)
3. Owen Ware, 11th grade, 17:09.84
4. Hudson Haley, 12th grade, 17:12.72
6. Ian Zook, 9th grade, 17:19.12
7. Jacob Audley, 10th grade, 17:20.55
19. Nolan Sova, 9th grade, 17:46.36
22. Gryson Pogalz, grade not listed, 17:47.97
23. Ben Madej, 12th grade, 17:50.19
Northwestern
Girls (Odd race)
- Grace Harvey, 12th grade, 19:18.39
- Chloe Laval, 12th grade, 20:45.30
- Skyler Laval, 12th grade, 21:23.10
- Piper Lumsden, 10th grade, 21:43.75
- Lily Laval, 12th grade, 22:17.22
- Ashlyn Alosi, 9th grade, 23:18.18
- Bristol McKinnon, 10th grade, 23:24.48
Boys (Even race)
25. John Michael Slater, 12th grade, 17:54.44
34. Seth Ayers, 12th grade, 18:08.28
55. Jaxson Owens, 10th grade, 18:43.70
57. Alex Miller, 10th grade, 18:46.99
58. Scott Bushman, 12th grade, 18:47.66
65. Mason Kingsford, 12th grade, 19:03.39
74. Andrew Morton, 12th grade, 19:32.92
The league split the 5A schools into two qualifier races for each gender, labeled Odd and Even. The Fort Mill’s boys ran in the Even race and the girls ran in the Odd race.
Sources: Official results, SCHSL 5A State Qualifier, Nov. 6, 2026, The Farm at Newberry, Timing Inc.; SCHSL 2026 Cross Country State Championship schedule.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
