CENTRAL — Stepping out of the shadow of a well-known and highly respected parent can sometimes be a challenge, but don’t tell that to Daniel High School senior Sinead Haughey.

Haughey, whose bloodline includes father Jim, a Clemson University Athletic Hall of Fame runner and mother Laurie, also a former Tiger track athlete, has made quite a name for herself in the cross country and track world over her high school career.

As a two-time Gatorade South Carolina Girls’ Cross Country Runner of the Year, a three-time individual cross country state champion, as well as an individual state 3200-meter run champion in track, Haughey attracted attention from colleges around the country but made official a decision to stick close to home last Friday, signing with the Furman Paladins to run cross country and track.

“Throughout the process of college searching, I had met a lot of good coaches, but I felt like the coaches at Furman were the best match for me,” Haughey said. “They kind of had the same training philosophy and everything, and I really like the team there too.”

Haughey has been among the elite runners in the state almost from the get-go in her high school career, finishing fifth in the state championship meet as a seventh-grader before earning individual titles as a freshman, junior and senior, and Daniel cross country coach Brock Bailey admitted that she would be impossible to replace.

“She’s a hard-working athlete with a lot of natural talent, but she puts in the time as well,” Bailey said. “That’s what makes it special, when you see somebody that works hard and has natural talent and they both come together.”

Haughey will attempt to add more hardware to her high school trophy case this spring as she competes in the 3200- and 1600-meter runs for the Lady Lions’ track squad.