The Class A Girls opened the final session. Temperatures remained near optimal, but the course, with four races having already been completed and rain falling pretty much throughout, had gotten very sloppy in places. Doddridge and Williamstown were expected to battle for the top spot, and that was the case, but Doddridge broke open a fairly close race in the final mile to pull away for the 19 point win by putting 3 on the podium and 5 in the top 25. Williamstown easily held the 2nd spot over St. Marys. Individually, the expected battle between Lexi Lamb and Alyssa Sauro was very close early with Sauro and Lamb not separated by more than 3 seconds through the first 1.4 miles. Lamb made a move to take the lead up the steep hill to the extension building, and she continued that push through the remainder of the race, pulling away to win by just over a minute.

My first checkpoint was at the top of the hill at approximately 0.7 miles. Williamstown's Alyssa Sauro led the field through in 4:27. Doddridge's Lexi Lamb was close behind at 4:29. Those two had already gapped the field. Doddridge's Katie Cottrill was in the 3rd spot at 4:39. Williamstown's Brianna Winsett was in 4th at 4:42. There was another substantial gap back to 5th place, South Harrison's Madison Stonestreet, who came through in 4:52. St. Marys' Virginia Haddox was at the front of the main pack in 6th at 4:56 with Tucker's Katie Hicks matching that time in 7th. Charleston Catholic's Aurelia Kirby was just behind them in 8th at 4:57. Williamstown's Ava Lightfritz was in 9th 4:58 with that time matched by Doddridge's Bailey Holden in 10th. Doddridge's Emily Gola was in 11th at 4:59. Ravenswood's Emily Wratchford and Webster's Alexis white were in 12th and 13th, respectively at 5:00. Charleston Catholic's Hannah Fisher, Richwood's Baylee Jarrett, and Williamstown's Reagan Ortiz held the 14th through 16th spots at 5:01. Wood County Christian's Lacey Dimit was in 17th at 5:06 with that time matched by Doddridge's Cassie Cumberledge in 18th. St. Marys' Erica Davis was in 19th at 5:08, and Williamstown's Lexi Wynn was in 20th at 5:10.

At the mile mark, Alyssa Sauro continued to lead, coming through in 6:14. Lexi Lamb remained closed behind at 6:16. Katie Cottrill remained in 3rd at 6:33 with Brianna Winsett still in 4th at 6:37. Madison Stonestreet remained in 5th at 6:50. Katie Hicks now had a slight edge over Virginia Haddox for 6th but with both at 6:52. Aurelia Kirby remained in 8th at 6:54 with Ava Lightfritz matching that time in 9th. Alexis White had moved into 10th place at 6:56. Emily Gola led three through at 7:00 with Gola in 11th, Bailey Holden in 12th, and Reagan Ortiz in 13th. Emily Wratchford was in 14th at 7:04 with Baylee Jarrett in 15th at 7:07. Cassie Cumberledge was in 16th at 7:09. Hannah Fisher was in 17th at 7:10. Ravenswood's Samantha Maxson had moved into 18th at 7:13 with that time matched by Tucker's Erin Chambers in 19th and Lexi Wynn in 20th.

At the top of the hill near the Extension Service building, the highest point on the course at approximately 1.4 miles, Lexi Lamb had just surged to the front to come through at 9:10. Alyssa Sauro was close behind at 9:12. Katie Cottrill remained solidly in 3rd at 9:37 with Brianna Winsett in firm control of 4th at 9:44. Virginia Haddox had moved up to 5th at 10:02 with that time matched by Katie Hicks in 6th. Right behind them at 10:03 in 7th was Madison Stonestreet. Alexis White had continued her move and was now in 8th at 10:04 with that time matched by Ava Lightfritz in 9th. Aurelia Kirby was in 10th at 10:05. There was now a gap back to 11th, which was held by Bailey Holden at 10:15. Emily Gola was in 12th at 10:17 with that time matched by Reagan Ortiz in 13th. Cassie Cumberledge had made a move into 14th at 10:23. Emily Wratchford was in 15th at 10:24. St. Marys' Natalie Bartrug had made a nice move up to 16th at 10:25. Erin Chambers was now in 17th at 10:27. Lexi Wynn was up to 18th at 10:28. Baylee Jarrett was in 19th at 10:30 with Hannah Fisher in 20th at 10:31.

I got a little bonus footage at about 1.85 miles. Lexi Lamb had taken firm control of the lead, passing by at 11:55. Alyssa Sauro remained in 2nd at 12:09. Katie Cottrill was still 3rd at 12:37, and Brianna Winsett was still in 4th.

At the two mile mark, Lexi Lamb continued to extend her lead, coming through at approximately 12:50. Alyssa Sauro was still 2nd at approximately 13:10. Katie Cottrill continued to hold the 3rd position at 13:36. Brianna Winsett continued in 4th at 13:44. Katie Hicks was now in control of the 5th spot at 13:57. Virginia Haddox was in the 6th spot at 14:02. Madison Stonestreet continued to hold the 7th spot at 14:04 with Alexis White close behind in 8th at 14:05. Aurelia Kirby was back up to 9th at 14:10. Ava Lightfritz was in 10th at 14:16. Bailey Holden remained in 11th at 14:18. Natalie Bartrug had continued her surge and was up to 12th at 14:19. Emily Gola was in 13th at 14:21. Cassidy Cumberlege was running 14th at 14:28. Erin Chambers had moved up to 15th at 14:31. Reagan Ortiz was in 16th at 14:35. Lexi Wynn was up to 17th at 14:37. Baylee Jarrett was in 18th at 14:39. Emily Wratchford was in 19th at 14:40, and Samantha Maxson was in 20th at 14:43.

Coming onto the track, Lexi Lamb was all alone. She had greatly extended her lead over the final mile to pull away for the 60 second win in 19:37. Alyssa Sauro easily held the 2nd spot in 20:37. Katie Cottrill kept the 3rd spot in 20:58. Brianna Winsett easily held the 4th spot in 21:09. Katie Hicks had gained but stayed in the 5th position in 21:15. Virginia Haddox held the 6th spot in 21:20. Madison Stonestreet held the 7th spot in 21:24. Bailey Holden closed well to move up to 8th in 21:28. Alexis White took the 9th position in 21:30. Aurelia Kirby held onto the final podium spot in 10th in 21:37. Natalie Bartrug was 11th in 21:42. Emily Gola was 12th in 21:54. Baylee Jarrett closed well to move up to 13th in 22:00. Erin Chambers continued her push to finish 14th in 22:02. Cassie Cumberledge claimed the 15th spot in 22:12. Reagan Ortiz was 16th in 22:17 with Lexi Wynn in 17th in 22:21. Emily Wratchford moved up to 18th in 22:27 with Samantha Maxson in 19th in 22:30. Williamstown's Chloe Lightfritz moved up into the 20th spot in 22:31.

In searching for the MVP, there wasn't a lot of team movement to evaluate. We had a 4-5 switch and a 7-8 switch. And of course, I look at the champion. While the gap ended at 19, for much of the race, it was a lot closer. I had it at just 5 points at the high point of the course and 7 at the 2 mile. Sometimes the difference maker isn't in the volume, it's in the details. That's what we have in this case. Doddridge's #5 started out right around Williamstown's #5. Then she closed on #4. Then she passed #4. Then she passed #3. She was strong throughout and made the moves that needed to be made to help assure Doddridge would take the title. For making the right moves at the right times, the 2021 RunWV MVP is Doddridge's Cassie Cumberledge.

How did RunWV do on the predictions? It was a solid set. I got the team champion and runner-up, and no team moved more than one spot from their predicted finish. Individually, I got 9 of the top 10, 13 of the top 15, and 21 of the top 25. On average, runners finished within 4.33 spots of their predicted place. The athlete who climbed her way into a podium position was Webster's Alexis White (picked 13th, got 9th). Those who rose into the top 25 were St. Marys' Natalie Bartrug (picked 27th, got 11th), Ravenswood's Samantha Maxson (picked 26th, got 19th), Williamstown's Chloe Lightfritz (picked 28th, got 20th), and Tyler Consolidated's Emily Ebert (picked 35th, got 23rd). The big mover of the day was Richwood's Kelsey Davis who climbed 21 spots from her predicted 48th place finish to her actual 27th place finish. Team scores held pretty close to form, but the best increase came from Tucker County who improved 12 points from their predicted finish.

I offer my congratulations to the Doddridge girls. You started out strong but were dealt a couple defeats in the middle, but you came roaring back with an outstanding conference meet performance. That shifted the bullseye back onto your backs, and you had to back it up. And you did so with 3 girls on the podium, 4 of the top 12, and 5 of the top 15. It was a strong performance to cap a strong season, and your coach is very proud of your effort.

I offer my congratulations to Lexi Lamb. What a difference a year makes. After struggling at last year's State Meet, you came back with confidence and strength. You improved steadily throughout the season and had a breakout performance at the Ritchie Invitational and followed that with an incredibly impressive performance at the LKC meet. And still you were the underdog. You used that as motivation to run YOUR race. You made your move when and where you wanted to make it, and you made that move a decisive one. It was truly an excellent and well-deserved performance.

I offer my congratulations to the girls who shook up the predictions. You prove what I try to tell people every year. Rankings and predictions don't mean a thing. That's why we run the race.