How addition helped NMB girls cross country team shed points, multiply potential

It’s proven difficult in recent years for fellow North Myrtle Beach runners to keep up with cross country dynamo Wilson Jenerette.

At this Saturday’s state meet in Columbia, however, one can rest assured she won’t be alone.

Transferring back to the area from Pennsylvania, sisters Breeauna and Isabella Spickler give the Chiefs a formidable trio heading into the event.

“To have three girls I can count on and will be at the top, no matter what race we go to our team is almost guaranteed to score,” said North Myrtle Beach cross country coach Alex Booth. “In the past, we’ve had Wilson out there on her own, leading the way. This year, it is great to have someone that gives her some competition.”

At last month’s Region 7-4A meet, each of them finished the race in its top four. Jenerette’s time just above the 20-minute mark earned her top honors.

The trio has since had solid showings at the Horry County Championships, along with the Lower State 4A meet which saw Jenerette and Breeauna Spickler place in the top 10.

“The cool thing is that though we are running by ourselves, we are still running together,” Jenerette said. “There is a lot of camaraderie.

“Ever since my sisters left the team, it’s been me kind of leading the way. Now, we have three girls that can run in the 21- to 22-minute mark. It’s great.”

A senior, Breeauna Spickler’s final run will come on a course much similar to the ones she tackled in Pennsylvania. Much better, she’ll get to share the experience with her sister, who wouldn’t have been afforded the opportunity to compete up north.

“Up there, I got to run the mountains and that climate. Down here, it’s the sand and the heat,” Breeauna Spickler said. “But getting the opportunity to do it with my sister, it makes it better. In Pennsylvania, seventh-graders aren’t allowed to compete at the varsity level. So getting to share this, it means so much to me.”

Said Isabella Spicker: “It’s better doing it with her because I have someone to look up to and run with, and not just be by myself.”

Keep an eye on …

▪  After each claimed Lower State 3A titles, the Waccamaw boys and girls cross country teams seek to win state championships Saturday in Columbia. The girls’ squad, in particular, was ranked No. 1 in the latest cross country poll. Also competing in Class 3A races are the Aynor boys and girls teams, as well as the Georgetown girls squad.

▪  St. James is the only Class 4A school in the area that will send both its boys and girls squads to the state meet. North Myrtle Beach will send its girls to the competition. Plenty of runners will make a go of things individually. Among them are: Myrtle Beach’s Samantha Murillo and Olivia Hull on the girls’ side; while the Seahawks’ Tyler Flannelly and Jake DeSalvo will run in the boys’ race, along with Rogan Vincent and Jenson Button of North Myrtle Beach.

▪  No area teams are competing in the Class 5A state meet. However, five local runners will compete in those races. Those participants are: Jacob Dulson (Carolina Forest), Lucas Davis (Socastee) and Monroe Thompkins (Conway) on the boys side; while Conway’s Kenia Smith and Carolina Forest’s Olivia Growe will run in the girls’ race.

▪  Green Sea Floyds’ girls team qualified for the Class 2A/A race.

This story was originally published November 3, 2017 at 6:17 PM with the headline "How addition helped NMB girls cross country team shed points, multiply potential."