History of the High School Girls Mile (State Meet Only)

Women’s sports began to grow rapidly in the 1970’s with the advent of Title IX. Track and Field, like many other sports, began to host female championships in the middle of the decade.

From 1975 to present, many great Milers have paved the way such as: Anderson (Parkersburg), Susie Comer (Pennsboro), Debby Lewis (George Washington), Cathy Jones (Musselman), Sylvie Valey (Wheeling Park), Mary Hines (Huntington East), Dawn Nease (Parkersburg), Margaret Blake (West Fairmont), Shelly Wallace (Huntington), Carrie Wallace (Huntington), Holly Hunter (East Fairmont), Jessica Taylor (Fayetteville), Maria Stover (University), Ahna Lewis (Morgantown), Jennifer Povick (Sissonville), Clara Grandt (Doddridge County), Kaylyn Christopher (Preston), Amber Riley (University), Rachel Buser (Berkeley Springs), Courtney Yaeger (Wheeling Park), Ari Kasprowicz (Preston), Alex Dent (Hurricane), Sarah McCauley (Philip Barbour), Maggie Drazba (Saint Marys), Amelia Paladino (University), Abby Colbert (Jefferson), Sarah Wills (University), and Tori Starcher (Ripley).

In 1975, Charpenning of Triadelphia wins the first state all-classes combined title in the Mile with a 5:30.5.

In 1977, the last meet at old Laidley Field in Charleston was held. Parkersburg’s Anderson runs the first sub-5:20 mile, with a new record of 5:17.3.

In 1978, Pennsboro’s little Susie Comer sets records in both the mile and two-mile. Comer is the first female to run a sub-5:10 mile, while crossing the line in 5:09.2.

In 1979, the girl’s meet was divided into two classes: AAA and AA-A. Once again, Pennsboro’s Susie Comer dominates in the distance events as she did in AAA. She sets a class AA-A record in the mile with a 5:16.65.

In 1980, the metric era begins, becoming the first year of the metric distances in high school track. It was also the first state meet at the new Laidley Field. Distance star Debby Lewis of George Washington runs 5:25.1 for a class AAA 1600-meter run record, while Musselman’s Cathy Jones would run 5:24.9 for a class AA-A record.

In 1981, Wheeling Park’s Sylvie Valey betters the class AAA girls 1600m record with a 5:11.70, while for the second year in a row Musselman’s Cathy Jones sets another class AA-A record of 5:18.63.

In 1982, Musselman’s Cathy Jones would take high point honors with 26 points and set a new class AA-A record in the 1600m with a time of 5:16.6.

In 1983, Parkersburg was led by distance runner Dawn Nease. She would just miss going sub-5:10 in the class AAA girls race, while setting a record of 5:10.1.

In 1997, East Fairmont distance star Holly Hunter sets a new 1600 mark. She is the first female to run a sub-5:10 1600m, while having run 5:09.38. The previous record stood for 14 years. In class AA-A, Frankfort’s Gail Haggerty ties a 15-year-old 1600m record with a 5:16.60.

In 1998, East Fairmont’s Holly Hunter puts on one of the greatest performances in meet history, setting marks in all three distance races. She would better her own 1600m record by over 4 second, while having run 5:05.12. In class AA-A, Fayetteville’s Jessica Taylor sweeps all three distance races as a freshman. Though she didn’t set a new class AA-A 1600m record, she did take home high point honors (30 points).

In 1999, Fayetteville’s Jessica Taylor was a triple winner setting records in both the 1600m and 3200m, and earning high point (30). She became the first AA-A female to run a sub-5:15 1600m, while having ran a 5:11.60.

In 2000, East Fairmont’s Holly Hunter cruised to an easy victory and did so in record time. Her time of 5:04.00 beat her existing state record by over a second. She became the first female to run a sub-5:05 1600m.

In 2006, Preston’s Kaylyn Christopher narrowly misses going under 5:00 with her 5:00.18, while University's Amber Riley was clocked a 5:04.55.

In 2007, the showdown between Preston's Kaylyn Christopher and University's Amber Riley was just that. Both girls are the first to run sub-5:00 1600m at the West Virginia State Meet. Christopher sets a new 1600m record in 4:55.85, while Riley runs 4:58.01 for the state’s second-best time.

In 2009, Preston’s Ari Kasprowicz narrowly misses running a 5:01.43 1600m, which would become the 4th Best All-Time State Meet Performance.

In 2011, St. Marys Drazba win 1600m in a class A State Meet Record time of 5:14.08. She became the first class A female to run a sub-5:15 1600m.

In 2012, University’s Amelia Paladino made a run for a sub-5:00 clocking but came up just over a second short, with a 1600m time of 5:01.29. In the class A girl’s race, St. Marys Maggie Drazba becomes the first and only class A female to run a sub-5:00 1600m, having set a record of 4:56.23.

In 2013, University’s Amelia Paladino cracks the 5:00 barrier, with a 4:59.43 1600m.

In 2014, University’s Amelia Paladino cruises to a new State Record in 4:51.74. That time gives her the All-Time Best State Meet Performance. She became the first female to run a sub-4:55 1600m. Paladino is the best high school miler in state history having run three of the top ten times at the West Virginia State Meet, which you will see below.

In 2017, a battle was brewing between Ripley's Tori Starcher and University's TaShala Turner. On the final lap both came through at 3:45. Starcher made the pass on Turner just after the lap started, and the kicks began. On the backstretch, Starcher started to pull away, and she continued to pull away for the rest of the lap, closing in 68 seconds to finish at 4:53.91, which is the 2nd Best All-Time State Meet Performance. Turner closed in 71 and finished at 4:56.98, which is the 5th Best All-Time State Meet Performance.

In 2018, there could be a changing of the guard, but we will just have to wait and see.

The current state meet record holders for each class are:

AAA Girls: Amelia Paladino – University - 4:51.74 (2014)

AA Girls: Rachel Buser – Berkeley Springs - 5:08.25 (2005)

A Girls: Maggie Drazba – St. Marys – 4:56.23 (2012)

Here is a little information about the state meet format through the years:

In the beginning, the girls state meet was one class only. This format remained intact until 1979 when the girls were divided into two classes: AAA & AA-A.

“In the early 1980s, U.S. high school state federations switched from the Mile to the 1600 meters because new tracks were 400 meters instead of 440 yards and thus, the 1600 meters (9 meters short of a Mile), due to convenience, unfortunately and sadly, replaced the Mile at high school State Meets (except Massachusetts and a few states that run the 1500 meters).” ~ Source BringBacktheMile.com

In 2003, the state meet was divided into three classes: AAA, AA & A. This format has remained intact until this present time.

Below you will find a year-by-year look at the Mile/1600 Meter Run for the West Virginia High School Girls State Meet from 1975 to present.

Any additional information or misinformation will be welcomed.

*****************MILE RUN ALL-CLASSES COMBINED*************

1975 – 5:30.5 – Charpenning -Triadelphia (Record) – first female to win the Mile

1976 – 5:34.5 – Toothman – Clay Battelle

1977 – 5:17.3 – Anderson – Parkersburg (Record) - first sub-5:20 mile

1978 – 5:09.2 – Susie Comer – Pennsboro (Record) - first sub-5:10 mile

**********DIVIDED INTO TWO CLASSES: AAA & AA************

1979 – 5:36.74 - Danita Mullens – Hoover – AAA Girls

1979 – 5:16.65 – Susie Comer – Pennsboro – AA Girls (Record) - first class AA female to run a sub-5:20 mile

*************METRIC ERA – 1600 METER RUN***************

1980 – 5:25.1 – Debby Lewis – George Washington – AAA Girls (Record)

1980 – 5:24.9 – Cathy Jones – Musselman – AA Girls (Record)

1981 – 5:11.70 – Sylvie Valey – Wheeling Park – AAA Girls (Record)

1981 – 5:18.63 – Cathy Jones – Musselman – AA Girls (Record)

1982 – 5:13.26 – Mary Hines – Huntington East – AAA Girls

1982 – 5:16.6 – Cathy Jones – Musselman – AA Girls (Record)

1983 – 5:10.1 – Dawn Nease – Parkersburg – AAA Girls (Record)

1983 – 5:33.5 – Ann Stehney – Magnolia – AA Girls

1984 – 5:11.69 – Margaret Blake – West Fairmont – AAA Girls

1984 – 5:29.7 – Sherry LeMasters – Magnolia – AA Girls

1985 – 5:14.2 – Shelly Wallace – Huntington – AAA Girls

1985 – 5:19.6 – Sherry LeMasters – Magnolia – AA Girls

1986 – 5:20.74 – Carrie Wallace – Huntington – AAA Girls

1986 – 5:24.62 – Edmonds – Musselman – AA Girls

1987 – 5:15.8 – Carrie Wallace – Huntington – AAA Girls

1987 – 5:33.81 – DeBerry – Grafton – AA Girls

1988 – 5:16.3 – Carrie Wallace – Huntington – AAA Girls

1988 – 5:22.6 – Green – Athens – AA Girls

1989 – 5:25 – Lisa Calef – Buckhannon – AAA Girls

1989 – 5:23.4 – Tammy Taylor – St. Marys – AA Girls

1990 – 5:25.3 – Libby Chapman – Buckhannon – AAA Girls

1990 – 5:31.4 – Allison Embry – Ravenswood – AA Girls

1991 – 5:22.7 – Jamie Nutter – Keyser – AAA Girls

1991 – 5:31.0 – Jennifer Jones – Ravenswood – AA Girls

1992 – 5:19.2 – Cindy Robertson – Oak Hill – AAA Girls

1992 – 5:28.1 – Smith – Ravenswood – AA Girls

1993 – 5:18.53 – Amy Blankenship – John Marshall – AAA Girls

1993 – 5:27.99 – Jamie Lyons – Cameron – AA Girls

1994 – 5:28.62 – Wright – Parkersburg – AAA Girls

1994 – 5:36.82 – Rebecca Farrington – Ravenswood – AA Girls

1995 – 5:24.67 – Megan Rawlings – Parkersburg – AAA Girls

1995 – 5:26.01 – Tosha Combs – Pocahontas – AA Girls

1996 – 5:22.6 – Johanna Fisher – Elkins – AAA Girls

1996 – 5:25.6 – Gail Haggerty – Frankfort – AA Girls

1997 – 5:09.38 – Holly Hunter – East Fairmont – AAA Girls (Record) - first female to run a sub-5:10 1600m

1997 – 5:16.60 – Gail Haggerty – Frankfort – AA Girls (Ties Record)

1998 – 5:05.12 – Holly Hunter – East Fairmont – AAA Girls (Record)

1998 – 5:21.65 – Jessica Taylor – Fayetteville – AA Girls

1999 – 5:06.46 – Holly Hunter – East Fairmont – AAA Girls

1999 – 5:11.60 – Jessica Taylor – Fayetteville – AA Girls (Record)

2000 – 5:04.00 - Holly Hunter - East Fairmont – AAA Girls (Record) - first female to run a sub-5:05 1600m

2000 – 5:11.81 - Jessica Taylor – Fayetteville – AA Girls

2001 – 5:17.21 - Rachel Carden – Martinsburg – AAA Girls

2001 – 5:12.18 - Jessica Taylor – Fayetteville – AA Girls

2002 – 5:17.69 – Shannon Tobias – Martinsburg – AAA Girls

2002 – 5:19.48 – Sherri Flohr – Grafton – AA Girls

*********DIVIDED INTO THREE CLASSES: AAA, AA & A**********

2003 – 5:13.08 - Maria Stover – University – AAA Girls

2003 – 5:16.32 - Jennifer Povick – Sissonville – AA Girls

2003 – 5:29.23 - Clara Grandt - Doddridge County – A Girls (Record) - first class A sub-5:30 1600m

2004 – 5:15.79 – Ahna Lewis – Morgantown – AAA Girls

2004 – 5:14.52 – Jennifer Povick – Sissonville – AA Girls

2004 – 5:18.52 – Clara Grandt - Doddridge County – A Girls (Record) - first class A sub-5:20 1600m

2005 – 5:06.22 – Kaylyn Christopher – Preston – AAA Girls

2005 – 5:08.25 – Rachel Buser – Berkeley Springs – AA Girls (Record)

2005 – 5:26.05 – Clara Grandt – Doddridge County – A Girls

2006 – 5:00.18 – Kaylyn Christopher – Preston – AAA Girls (Record) - first female to run 5-minte 1600m

2006 – 5:17.97 – Rachel Buser – Berkeley Springs – AA Girls

2006 – 5:29.64 – Kim Abcouwer – Charleston Catholic – A Girls

2007 – 4:55.85 – Kaylyn Christopher – Preston – AAA Girls (Record) - first female to run a sub-5:00 1600m

2007 – 5:16.51 - Rachel Buser - Berkeley Springs – AA Girls

2007 – 5:16.65 - Stephanie Caruso - Wheeling Central – A Girls (Record)

2008 – 5:08.79 - Courtney Yaeger - Wheeling Park – AAA Girls

2008 – 5:24.56 - Sarah McCauley - Philip Barbour – AA Girls

2008 – 5:41.46 - Jennifer McFarland - St. Marys – A Girls

2009 – 5:01.43 - Ari Kasprowicz – Preston – AA Girls

2009 – 5:20.97 - Amber Adkins - Philip Barbour – AA Girls

2009 – 5:31.54 - Jennifer McFarland - St. Marys – A Girls

2010 – 5:09.60 - Alex Dent – Hurricane – AAA Girls

2010 – 5:09.06 - Sarah McCauley - Philip Barbour – AA Girls

2010 – 5:17.86 - Maggie Drazba - St. Marys – A Girls

2011 – 5:17.65 - Letitia Propst – Elkins – AAA Girls

2011 – 5:13.64 - Sarah McCauley - Philip Barbour – AA Girls

2011 – 5:14.08 - Maggie Drazba - Saint Marys – A Girls (Record) - first class A female to run a sub-5:15 1600m

2012 – 5:01.29 - Amelia Paladino – University – AAA Girls

2012 – 5:14.43 - Katie Jan - Frankfort – AA Girls

2012 – 4:56.23 - Maggie Drazba - Saint Marys – A Girls (Record) - first and only class A female to run a sub-5:00 1600m

2013 – 4:59.43 - Amelia Paladino – University – AAA Girls

2013 – 5:09.38 - Katie Jan – Frankfort – AA Girls

2013 – 5:03.53 - Maggie Drazba - Saint Marys – A Girls

2014 – 4:51.74 – Amelia Paladino – University – AAA Girls (Record) - first female to run a sub-4:55 1600m

2014 – 5:19.29 – Kelsey Chambers - Oak Glen – AA Girls

2014 – 5:28.19 – Payton Mullens – Charleston Catholic – A Girls

2015 – 5:07.30 – Abby Colbert – Jefferson – AAA Girls

2015 – 5:13.75 – Kinsey Reed - Berkeley Springs – AA Girls

2015 – 5:28.13 – Jordan Delaney - Magnolia – A Girls

2016 – 5:04.87 – Sarah Wills – University – AAA Girls

2016 – 5:21.14 – Jessica Melvin - Philip Barbour – AA Girls

2016 – 5:22.92 – Jordan Delaney – Magnolia – A Girls

2017 – 4:53.91 – Tori Starcher – Ripley – AAA Girls - first freshman female to run a sub-5:00 1600m

2017 – 5:22.35 - Julia Muller – Bridgeport – AA Girls

2017 - 5:24.72 – McKenzie Moran - Saint Joseph Central – A Girls

1600 Meters (State Meet All-Class All-Time Top 10) – Converted:

1) 2014 – 4:51.74 – Amelia Paladino – University – AAA Girls

2) 2017 – 4:53.91 – Tori Starcher – Ripley – AAA Girls

3) 2007 – 4:55.85 – Kaylyn Christopher – Preston – AAA Girls

4) 2012 – 4:56.23 - Maggie Drazba - St. Marys – A Girls

5) 2017 – 4:56.98 – TaShala Turner – University – AAA Girls

6) 2007 – 4:58.01 – Amber Riley – University – AAA Girls

7) 2013 – 4:59.43 – Amelia Paladino – University – AAA Girls

8) 2006 – 5:00.18 – Kaylyn Christopher – Preston – AAA Girls

9) 2012 – 5:01.29 – Amelia Paladino – University – AAA Girls

10) 2009 – 5:01.43 – Ari Kasprowicz – Preston – AAA Girls

**************************************************

11) 2014 – 5:03.09 – Peyton Panger – Capital – AAA Girls

12) 2000 – 5:04.00 – Holly Hunter – East Fairmont – AAA Girls

13) 2017 – 5:04.08 – Samantha Hatcher – Morgantown – AAA Girls

* Source Jesse Skiles [High School Track & Field State Meet Boys – A Statistical History 1914-2001]

* Sources Josh Weekly RunWV [State Meet & State Meet All-Time List]

* History of the High School Boys Mile (State Meet Only) - Compiled by Coach Mike McMillion from three sources mentioned above

Dated November 15, 2017