Submitted
Cate Ambrose of Riverside High School has been named the 2016-17 Gatorade South Carolina Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.
The award recognizes only outstanding athletic excellence, high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the race course, distinguish Ambrose as South Carolina’s best high school girls cross country runner.
She becomes a finalist for the national award to be announced later in January or April for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year award to be announced in January/February
“Cate is the kind of athlete that every coach wants to coach,” said Riverside coach Eric Cummings. “She wants to win every time on the course, and she pushes her body and mind to achieve that goal. She’s a fierce competitor, but a very caring teammate.”
The 5-foot-4 senior raced to the Class 5A individual state championship this past season with a time of 18:35, leading the Warriors to the state team title.
Ambrose also won the Upper State Qualifier and the Greenville County championships, while placing 21st at the Nike Cross Nationals Southeast Regional championships. T
She is president of her graduating class, has volunteered locally on behalf of the Special Olympics and the Triune Mercy Center.
Ambrose has maintained a 3.55 grade point average. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete in cross country and track and field on scholarship at the College of Charleston this fall.
Ambrose will be able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a $1,000 grant as part of the Gatorade Play It Forward program. An additional $10,000 spotlight grant is available by writing a brief essay explaining why Ambrose’s selected organization deserves additional support.