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<p><strong>By Wes Kerr&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p><strong>LowcoSports.com&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p>Under a gorgeous Hardeeville sky, the nation’s best distance runners delivered a dazzling show Sunday morning as the 2021 USATF National Championships for the Half-Marathon were held at Sergeant Jasper Park as part of the Mortgage Network Road Races.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>It was a memorable day for several national stars, but the Lowcountry’s own teenage sensation also found himself in the spotlight. Beaufort High School eighth-grader Gavin Moore impressed on the country’s biggest stage, running a sensational 1:17:48 in the men’s sub-elite race.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>With a large cheering section including teammates Nash Mills and Charlie Bennett, the SCHSL 4A top-20 finisher continued to show his prowess against strong competition, placing ninth alongside 18 top adult runners and improving his time by nearly four minutes from last year’s race.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>“He’s just a real up-and-comer, and hopefully he can stay with it,” race director Kimball said. “As an eighth-grader fishing in the top 20 in cross country against high school competition, he’s going to be a real champion down the road.”&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Heralded as the best American field since the 2020 United States Olympic Marathon Trials, the event drew 40 women and 49 men for a chance at a purse of $40,000 and a spot on the national team for the 2022 World Championships in China.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Keira D’Amato (1:07:55) dominated the women’s race en route to a new championship record, and Conner Mantz (1:00:55) rallied from behind to capture the men’s race in his professional debut.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>“It was everything we could have asked for,” Kimball said. “Fast, quick times, it was just really incredible, and we’re super stoked about this.”&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Omer Abdulrahman (1:08.44) took the men’s sub-elite crown, while Kaitlyn Peale (1:17.07) won the women’s division.&nbsp;</p>
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