Toast of the Coast: Girls Cross Country

Waccamaw's Matthews has unlimited potential

Waccamaw's Kaitlyn Matthews spent time last summer running the hills and valleys of Blowing Rock, N.C., a small town at a high elevation.

After running at 4,000 feet, competing at sea level was a breeze for the Toast of the Coast Girls Runner of the Year.

Matthews, a freshman, and her teammates used their time at the mountainous summer camp to their advantage and all of them came back to the beach in better shape than when they left. But nobody was as strong as Matthews.

"That really helped and we also ran a lot during the summer," Matthews said. "In Blowing Rock, there are a ton of hills that really got you in shape."

Matthews' fastest run of the year was 20:41. She was the fastest area runner at any of the state championships, running only three seconds slower in the Class AA state championship meet than her best time of the year. She finished eighth overall at the state meet.

She won all six of her meets during the regular season.

"Kaitlyn took her running to another level," Warriors coach Kathleen Heineman said. "She was our No. 1 runner. She was more consistent. She worked hard and ran faster in practices than she did last year.

"She kept getting her time down. She got the confidence she needed to set her goals high and keep bringing her times down."

Matthews clearly distanced herself from her talented teammates this season after battling for top billing with Kristina Chandler and Grace Barnett in 2007. Considering she's only a freshman, Heineman believes she has unlimited potential.

"If Kaitlyn stays healthy and stays enthusiastic and motivated about cross country, there is no reason why she can't run in the 19s," she said. "I think she can break 20 minutes early next year."

The Grand Strand 's best in girls cross country:

Emily Schassler

School | Carolina Forest

Class | Freshman

Notable | Won Horry County meet. Did not finish Class AAAA state meet due to injury. Finished 20th at the Lower State qualifier with a time of 21:26.8.

Meghan Weisen

School | Aynor

Class | Senior

Notable | Finished ninth at the Class AA state meet with a time of 20:53. Finished second at the Lower State qualifier with a time of 20:52.35. Second at Horry County meet.

Paige Cox

School | Myrtle Beach

Class | Junior

Notable | Finished 55th at the Class AAA state meet with a time of 21:29.29. Finished 18th at the Lower State qualifier with a time of 21:51.78.

McKensie East

School | Carolina Forest

Class | Junior

Notable | Finished 58th at the Class AAAA state meet with a time of 21:20.50. Finished 25th at the Lower State qualifier with a time of 21:55. Finished seventh at Horry County meet.

Nicole Powell

School | Carolina Forest

Class | Senior

Notable | Finished 60th at the Class AAAA state meet with a time of 21:22.18. Finished 16th at the Lower State qualifier with a time of 21:12. Finished third at Horry County meet.

Benjamin Jenerette

School | North Myrtle Beach

Class | Seventh grade

Notable | Finished 69th at the Class AAA state meet with a time of 21:55.10. Finished 51st at the Lower State qualifier with a time of 24:00. Finished fifth at the Horry County meet.

Kaitlyn Matthews

School | Waccamaw

Class | Freshman

Notable | Finished eighth at the Class AA state meet with a time of 20:44. Finished fifth at the Lower State qualifier with a time of 21:14.38. Won six regular-season meets.

Contact JOSH HOKE at 843-626-0318.

Posted: Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008 Toast of the Coast: Girls Cross Country

By Josh Hoke - jhoke@thesunnews.com

LINK: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/203/story/710078.html