Greenbrier's star runner snags scholarship to Mercer

Greenbrier High School cross country coach Kati Smallwood didn't know who Taylor Snyder was when she first saw him come out to practice as a freshman.

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She only knew he didn't act like a typical newbie.

"From day one, he just ran with the varsity kids like that's where he was supposed to be," Smallwood said.

The Wolfpack seniors accepted Snyder and helped him along. When Snyder started beating some of them, he knew he had a shot at a scholarship.

Now a senior, Snyder has made it a point to work with the younger members of Greenbrier's cross country and track teams. And like some of those before him, he will run in college.

Snyder earned a scholarship to run cross country at Mercer University, which competes in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Snyder said he had interest from the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Wofford and South Alabama.

He said Mercer coach Ryan Bailey might have first taken notice while watching former Greenbrier runner Josh Sapp, a sophomore at Mercer.

"This is the best deal for me," Snyder said during his signing ceremony Wednesday. "I guess it worked out."

The Columbia County News-Times Boys Runner of the Year for the 2008 cross country season won his second consecutive region title as a senior, finishing first in the Region 2-AAAAA meet at Blanchard Woods Park. He won the 3-AAAA event in 2007 as a junior.

At the Columbia County Invitational cross country meet, he edged Lakeside junior Atom Young for the boys title.

Snyder credited Smallwood for working with him from the time he started as a freshman. He said his time in the mile dropped from 5:30 as an eighth-grader to 4:59 after he started running with the varsity squad.

Snyder and the Wolfpack are in the final stretch of their track season. The night before Snyder's 7 a.m. signing, the Wolfpack returned from a trip to Atlanta for the Region 2-AAAAA meet.

Snyder won the 3,200 meters and finished second in the 1,600 after he was edged in the final stretch. He qualified for the Class AAAAA meet in both events.

Though Mercer doesn't have an official track program, it competes in some events. Snyder said he enjoys track, but he won't mind leaving it behind to run cross country nearly full time.

His goal is to win conference by his senior season.

"I'm kind of nervous, but I think it will be a lot of fun," Snyder said. "I'm looking forward to the better competition."