Cathedral Academy sweeps SCISA AA-A titles

CROSS COUNTRY

BY FOZAIL ALVI
Special to The Post and Courier

COLUMBIA On a day when both Cathedral Academy teams swept the SCISA Class AA-A cross country state championships at Heathwood Hall, the bigger story was the triumph of Shawn Griffith.

Griffith finished third, but just competing in this event one year after fighting cancer was a victory.

"Going through cancer and then coming out here, these things do not challenge me as much," Griffith said. "I am just grateful to be alive and out here today. I had a 30 percent chance of living. I was in the hospital for about six months. It was a tough time, but it was just a challenge."

Griffith was diagnosed with acute myelocytic leukemia, a malignant disorder characterized by abnormal bone marrow that most often affects adolescents and young adults. His condition was a thing of the past Saturday, when he burst to an early lead and helped his team repeat as state champion.

"I am so happy with my team," he said. "If my teammates weren't there for me, pushing me, I would not be here today. I love them."

The Cathedral Academy girls placed four runners in the top 10, including Catherine Duckett's fifth-place finish, to repeat as state champions.

"Last year no one knew who we were. Now they all want to just beat us," Duckett said.

Cathedral Academy's boys won the state title last year. The school was founded in 1999, and is located off Ashley Phosphate Road.

In Class AAA, at this rate, maybe next year they will just hand the trophy to the Ben Lippen boys' cross country team before the state championships even begin.

Ben Lippen captured its eighth consecutive state title in Class AAA Saturday, while St. Joseph's took the girls championship.

Ben Lippen sophomore Graham Tribble captured the boys' individual title, smashing the state record by nearly 30 seconds. Tribble played football as well last year, but decided to focus all his efforts this season on cross country.

BOYS

Class AAA

Top individuals

1. Graham Tribble (Ben Lippen) 16:40, state record; 2. Andrew Hazel (Hilton Head Prep) 17:14; 3. Brendan Kight (Wilson Hall) 17:24.

Top teams

1. Ben Lippen 43; 2. Wilson Hall 66; 3. Hammond 114; 4. Hilton Head Prep 120; 5. Porter-Gaud 125.

Class AA-A

Top individuals

1. Brian Miele (The King's Academy) 17:13; 2. Matt Sealy (Greenwood Christian) 17:31; 3. Shawn Griffith (Cathedral Academy) 17:59.

Top teams

1. Cathedral Academy 56; 2. Greenwood Christian 60; 3. Spartanburg Academy 86; 4. The King's Academy 104; t5. Covenant Christian 121 and Trinity 121.

GIRLS

Class AAA

Top individuals

1. Page Bridges (St. Joseph's) 19:15; 2. Casey Andrews (Cardinal Newman) 19:24; 3. Evan Hoese (Heathwood Hall) 20:03.

Top teams

1. St. Joseph's 59; 2. Hammond 65; 3. Ben Lippen 137; 4. Ashley Hall 138; 5. Hilton Head Prep 145

Class AA-A

Top individuals

1. Kristen Zubel (Trinity) 21:50; 2. Jenna Owen (Greenwood Christian) 22:23; 3. Alex Thomas (Greenwood Christian) 22:25.

Top five teams

1. Cathedral Academy 39; 2. The King's Academy 48; 3. Greenwood Christian 58; 4. St. Andrew's 90; 5. Spartanburg Academy 110.

Click here to return to Shawn's "Current News"