Ella Nighbor Leads Clover to 5A Division 1 XC States Championship
AIKEN, SC — The Clover High School girls’ cross country team delivered a dominating performance to capture the SCHSL AAAAA Division 1 State Championship. The Blue Eagles outpaced the competition, securing the team title with a low score of 87 points. The victory was powered by a spectacular individual championship performance from senior Ella Nighbor, who broke away from the field early to win the race.
Head Coach Christopher Young shared the announcement on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16VaVxcaQY
Nighbor Dominates with Sub-18 Time
Clover’s success was unequivocally anchored by Ella Nighbor’s individual state championship. The senior ran a phenomenal race, crossing the finish line in a blistering time of 17:37.78. Her victory, almost 40 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, earned the crucial 1-point score that set Clover on the path to victory.
Clover’s Championship Depth
Clover’s win was a testament to their deep roster and effective pack running, resulting in a total team time of 1:36:23. Their low score of 87 points successfully held off second-place Wando (106 points) and third-place Mauldin (110 points).
Clover’s scoring five finished with a powerful spread:
| Rank (Score) | Athlete | Grade | Time |
| 1 (1) | Ella Nighbor | SR | 17:37.78 |
| 8 (8) | Ava Jagielski | SR | 18:52.92 |
| 16 (16) | Zoe Miller | 9 | 19:35.28 |
| 18 (18) | Eva Quintana | 8 | 19:36.22 |
| 44 (44) | Scarlett Verdino-Jenkins | 9 | 20:40.27 |
The consistent finishes of runners like Jagielski, Miller, and Quintana ensured that Clover maintained a safe lead over the entire AAAAA field.
Top-5 Team Results
| Rank | Team | Score | Total Time |
| 1 | Clover | 87 | 1:36:23 |
| 2 | Wando | 106 | 1:38:07 |
| 3 | Mauldin | 110 | 1:37:55 |
| 4 | Lexington HS | 127 | 1:39:27 |
| 5 | Dorman | 127 | 1:39:31 |
Clover Boys Finish 7th in Highly Competitive Race
In the AAAAA Division 1 Boys’ 5K race, the Clover boys’ team put forth a strong effort, securing a respectable 7th place finish among the state’s top programs. The team’s total time was 1:24:44, tallying 194 points in a tight contest where less than one point separated them from 8th place Dorman (198 points) and just one point behind 6th place Mauldin (193 points).
The individual boys’ title was won by Luke Hurley of Boiling Springs with a time of 15:20.74.
The Blue Eagles were led by Aidan Miller, who was their top scorer and finished 21st overall with a time of 16:33.59.
Clover Boys’ Key Scorers
| Rank (Score) | Athlete | Grade | Time |
| 21 (21) | Aidan Miller | SR | 16:33.59 |
| 25 (25) | Alex Bohlen | SR | 16:40.85 |
| 30 (30) | Chase Hensley | JR | 16:46.34 |
| 50 (50) | Ethan Solomon | SR | 17:11.28 |
| 68 (68) | Wade Ward | SR | 17:31.05 |
Top-3 Boys’ Team Results
| Rank | Team | Score | Total Time |
| 1 | J.L. Mann | 74 | 1:21:39 |
| 2 | Lexington HS | 121 | 1:22:36 |
| 3 | Spring Valley | 122 | 1:22:37 |
| 7 | Clover | 194 | 1:24:44 |
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