Class AA Boys
100 Meter Dash
Weir's Sebastian Spencer got out quick and put away the field, taking the win by over
0.4 seconds and establishing a new State Meet Record time of 10.60. That also stands as
the 2nd Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the Best All-Time Class A-AA State
Meet Performance Philip Barbour's Tanner Faulkiner was a very strong 2nd in 11.01.
Roane's Jordan Coon controlled 3rd in 11.20. Weir's Quincy Dameron ran 11.40
for 4th. Liberty Harrison's Seth Davis closed well for 5th in 11.51. Bluefield's
Isaiah Johnson clocked an 11.53 for 6th.
RunWV's Current Score: 5 of 6.
200 Meter Dash
Weir's Sebastian Spencer pulled away down the stretch after a close first 100 to take
the win in 21.61, which tied the State Meet Record. That also serves as tied for the
7th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and ties for the 2nd Best All-Time Class
A-AA State Meet Performance. Philip Barbour's Tanner Faulkiner was again strong
in 2nd with a 22.13. Weir's Quincy Dameron edged Roane's Jordan Coon for 3rd,
22.34 to 22.39. Shady Spring took the final two spots with Jacob Neal at 23.01 and
Isaiah Valentine at 23.13.
RunWV's Current Score: 10 of 12.
400 Meter Dash
Shady Spring's Isaiah Valentine defended his title but was disqualified for a lane
violation. North Marion's Michael Garrett closed strong and got the win in the last
few meters in 50.69. Winfield's Phillip Englund was 2nd in 50.79. Fairmont Senior's
Kieshawn Cottingham scored 3rd place from the 1st heat in 51.05. Bridgeport's Terry
Massey gets 4th in 51.29, just ahead of Lewis County's Owen Spangler, who pushed
Cottingham in the 1st heat with a 51.33. Bridgeport's Kyle McCarthy rounded out the scoring
with a 51.62 for 6th. One of my predicted placers was disqualfied.
RunWV's Current Score: 14 of 18.
800 Meter Run
North Marion's Michael Garrett led the field out of the break. He was overtaken on the
backstretch by Keyser's Seth Earnest who led to the 200. Earnest would open a gap
through the turn, but the field would start catching him in the front stretch. At the bell,
it was Winfield's Aaron Withrow in the lead at 58 seconds with Fairmont Senior's
Tavian Richardson in 2nd with the same time. Garrett was in 3rd, also at 58. I think
it was Philip Barbour's Noah Ward in 4th at 59 with Earnest to his inside. Point
Pleasant's Luke Wilson was in 6th, also at 59. Withrow held the lead through the first
turn with Richardson staying about the same distance behind him. Garrett was about the same
distance behind Richardson that Richardson was behind Withrow. At about 200 to go Withrow
started to put a little more distance on Richardson and had the gap at about 5 meters as they
came out of the turn, but Richardson started to close. Richardson would close all the way to
the finish line, but couldn't quite get there. Withrow holds on for the win in 1:56.88.
Richardson settles for 2nd in 1:56.93. Garrett joined them under 2:00 with a 1:58.29. Ward
held 4th in 2:00.23. Oak Hill's Ian Bibb closed well to move into the 5th spot in 2:01.07.
Wilson would hold the 6th spot in 2:03.30.
RunWV's Current Score: 19 of 24.
1600 Meter Run
They didn't waste any time, going out aggressively as Winfield's Aaron Withrow planned
to make a run at the record. He moved to the front shortly after the break and by the end
of the 1st lap, there was only one other runner with him. Withrow went through in 1:02 and
was trailed closely by Point Pleasant's Luke Wilson. Oak Glen's Nathan Atkinson
was in 3rd at 1:04 followed by Winfield's Matthew Scheneberg and Bridgeport's Cayden
Robinson. Fairmont Senior's Ethan Kincell was in 6th at 1:05. On lap 2, Withrow
and Wilson pulled further away from the field with Wilson still hanging onto to Withrow, but
starting to lose contact. Withrow came through half-way at 2:08 with Wilson at 2:09. Atkinson
remained in 3rd at 2:12. Scheneberg was in 4th at 2:14. He was trailed closely by Fairmont
Senior's Tyler Hayes and Robinson. On lap 3, Withrow got away from Wilson, coming
through in 3:14. Wilson was in 2nd at 3:18. Hayes had moved into 3rd at 3:24. Atkinson was
in 4th at 3:25. Scheneberg was in 5th at 3:25, and Robinson was in 6th at 3:26. On the final
lap, it was just a question of whether or not Withrow would get the record. He hit the finish
line, and it was going to be really close, but he would miss by a heartbreaking 0.01. That
4:17.55, though, does stand as the 2nd Best All-Time Class A-AA State Meet Performance.
Wilson would easily hold the 2nd spot in 4:24.95. Kincell would make a big move on the final
lap, going for 7th to 3rd in 4:31.76. Philip Barbour's Noah Ward would also close
really well, moving from 8th into the 4th place spot just before the finish line in 4:33.09.
Hayes would take the 5th spot in 4:33.25. Robinson would claim the final spot in 4:35.74.
RunWV's Current Score: 24 of 30.
3200 Meter Run
Winfield's Aaron Withrow led the field through the break, but it wasn't a super-aggressive
start, so there was a big pack through 300 meters. By the end of lap 1, Withrow and Point Pleasant's Luke
Wilson had opened a slight gap on the field with both at 1:07. Winfield's Matthew
Scheneberg was in 3rd at 1:09 with Fairmont Senior's Ethan Kincell just off his
shoulder. Bridgeport's Jackson Jacobs was in 5th at 1:09 with Philip Barbour's Noah
Ward just off his shoulder. On lap 2, Withrow and Wilson would pull away from the pack
completely. Withrow would maintain the lead with Wilson just a stride back and both at 2:14.
Scheneberg continued in the 3rd spot at 2:21 with Kincell less than a stride back. Jacobs
and Ward manned the next two spots just a stride back of Kincell and all four at 2:21. On
lap 3, the gap between the front two and the rest of the field grew to 12 seconds. Withrow
was starting to open a gap on Wilson, coming through in 3:24 to Wilson's 3:25. Scheneberg
continued to lead the close pack, holding the 3rd spot in 3:37 with Kincell, Ward, and Jacobs
matching that time. But another runner was closing on them. At the half-way point, Withrow
had generated a true gap, coming through in 4:34. Wilson had firm control of 2nd at 4:37.
The battle for 3rd raged on with Kincell now holding the slightest of advantages over Scheneberg
for the 3rd spot at 4:53. Jacobs and Ward were still lingering close at 4:54. On lap 5,
Withrow disposed of any lingering doubt, stretching his lead out to 10 seconds, coming through
in 5:43. Wilson was still in firm control of 2nd in 5:53. Scheneberg had moved back into
3rd, just ahead of Kincell with both at 6:07. Jacobs was in 5th at 6:08. Those three had
gotten away from 6th, which was still Ward at 6:11, but he had company. On lap 6, Withrow
continued to extend his lead, coming through in 6:55. Wilson still held a very large lead
for 2nd in 7:09. Scheneberg remained in 3rd at 7:24 with Kincell also at 7:24 and Jacobs
at 7:25. Fairmont Senior's Caleb Carlson had moved into 6th and was gaining ground
on those three, coming through in 7:26. On lap 7, Withrow moved the lead out to 20 seconds,
and at the bell, he was at 8:05. Wilson remained in firm control of 2nd in 8:25. Scheneberg
and Kincell both came through at 8:39, but I'm not sure of the order. Jacobs was in 5th at 8:40
with Carleson in 6th at 8:41. Withrow powered away to a very strong 9:15.60 to win by almost
22 seconds and establish the 3rd Best All-Time Class A-AA State Meet Performance.
Wilson would easily hold the 2nd spot in 9:37.41. Kincell would get away from Scheneberg
over the last 200 to take 3rd in 9:46.33. Scheneberg held 4th in 9:48.51. Carlson would move
into 5th on the final lap, finishing in 9:51.31. Jacobs held the 6th spot in 9:53.81.
RunWV's Current Score: 30 of 36.
110 Meter High Hurdles
Independence's Kaleb Mills led from start-to-finish to take the win in 15.31. Shady
Spring's Joe Cantley got close through hurdles 5 and 6 at 15.52. Poca's James
Shamblin nipped Frankfort's Devyn Gillespie 15.58 to 15.59 for 3rd. Point Pleasant's
Kaydean Eta was right in the mix as well with a 15.62. Fairmont Senior's Conner Rush
took the final spot in 15.98.
RunWV's Current Score: 35 of 42.
300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles
Roane's Jordan Coon nearly fell coming off the 1st hurdle but was contending for the
lead by the time they reached the 3rd hurdle, and he ran away from the field down the stretch
to win in 40.17. Shady Spring's Joe Cantley dominated the 1st heat with a 40.80, which
was strong enough for 2nd. Bridgeport's Hayden Hess closed well for 3rd. Oak Hill's
Michael Beasley contended for the lead for half the race and held on for 4th in 41.56.
Shady Spring's Jacob Neal went 41.68 for 5th. Point Pleasant's Brady Adkins
took the final spot in 42.01.
RunWV's Current Score: 40 of 48.
4x100 Meter Relay
In what was, for me at least, the signature moment of this year's State Track Meet, a blown
hand-off dropped Weir back to 6th or 7th place. Sebastian Spencer started his anchor
leg in 6th place, and ran his team all the way up to the title, giving the foursome of Andrew
LeMasters, Quincy Dameron, Jake McCoy, and Sebastian Spencer the win in 43.89. If you
haven't seen the video, it's certainly worth watching, just to see how fast Spencer was moving
in the last 50 meters. My video doesn't have the best angle. It's still impressive, but
for a better view, watch
this one. Winfield was 2nd in 44.13. Bluefield was 3rd in 44.34. Oak Glen was 4th with a
44.51. Shady Spring grabbed 5th from the 1st heat in 44.56. Frankfort took the final spot in 44.86.
RunWV's Current Score: 44 of 54.
4x200 Meter Relay
Weir got another great anchor leg from Sebastian Spencer as he went from 4th to 1st
to give the unit of Gage Reitter, Quincy Dameron, Jake McCoy, and Sebastian Spencer
the win in 1:30.43, which is the 9th Best All-Time Class A-AA State Meet Performance.
Shady Spring ran a very strong 2nd in 1:31.00 with Winfield also hanging close at 1:31.54.
Wayne slipped in for 4th from the 1st heat in 1:33.21. Oak Glen was 5th in 1:33.43. North
Marion took a close race for 6th in 1:33.59 as the top 9 were all under 1:33.75.
RunWV's Current Score: 47 of 60.
4x400 Meter Relay
Bridgeport led through the first leg with Keyser in 2nd and Winfield in 3rd. Fairmont Senior
got a really strong leg from Keishawn Cottingham to move from 7th into the lead after two legs
at 1:44 with Keyser and Winfield close behind, both also in the 1:44's. Bridgeport was in
4th at 1:45. North Marion was in 5th at 1:47 with Oak Glen in 6th, also at 1:47. On the 3rd
leg, Winfield got a 50.9 from Phillip Englund to move into the lead at 2:35. Bridgeport
moved into 2nd at 2:36 with Keyser in 3rd at 2:38 with Fairmont Senior in 4th with the same
time. Oak Glen was in 5th at 2:41 with North Marion right behind them. On the final leg,
Winfield got a 50.5 from Greg Moore to secure the win, and they had to have it because Bridgeport
got an excellent anchor leg from Hayden Hess (call it 49.7 or so), who pulled even with Moore late in the leg
before Moore pulled back away. Winfield's foursome of Eric Boggess, Aaron Withrow, Phillip
Englund, and Greg Moore clocked at 3:26.49, which is the 3rd Best All-Time Class A-AA
State Meet Performance. Bridgeport's runner-up time of 3:27.02 gives the 5th Best All-Time
Class A-AA State Meet Performance to their squad of Kyle McCarthy, Tyler Norman, Terry
Massey, and Hayden Hess. Fairmont Senior easily held the 3rd spot in 3:30.72. Keyser
finished solidly in 4th at 3:32.09. Oak Glen was 5th in 3:33.30 with North Marion taking the
final spot in 3:34.39.
RunWV's Current Score: 52 of 66.
4x800 Meter Relay
Bridgeport had the early lead at 2:04 with Fairmont Senior matching that time in 2nd. North
Marion was in 3rd at 2:05 with Winfield in 4th at 2:06. Philip Barbour was in 5th at 2:07.
I'm not sure who was in 6th. On the 2nd leg, Fairmont Senior moved firmly to the front in 4:10.
Winfield closed well to move into 2nd in 4:12. North Marion was in 3rd at 4:15 with Bridgeport
in 4th at 4:16. I think it was Oak Hill and Philip Barbour next at 4:18. There were some
lead changes on the 3rd leg as North Marion moved up to take the lead on the 1st lap. Then
Fairmont Senior would take it back on the backstretch and pull away. Fairmont Senior came
through 3 legs at 6:17 with Winfield in 2nd at 6:20. Philip Barbour moved up to 3rd in 6:23,
and Oak Glen moved up to 4th in 6:25. Bridgeport was in 5th at 6:26 with North Marion dropping
back to 6th, also at 6:26. On the final leg, Fairmont Senior was not challenged, and the
group of Tyler Hayes, Caleb Carlson, Ethan Kincell, and Tavian Richardson took the win
in 8:18.76. Philip Barbour moved up to 2nd in 8:23.86. North Marion got a strong 1:57
anchor leg from Michael Garrett to move back into 3rd in 8:24.68. Oak Glen easily
held the 4th spot in 8:26.57. Oak Hill took the 5th spot late in 8:31.49. Winfield held
on for 6th in 8:32.54.
RunWV's Current Score: 57 of 72.
Shuttle Hurdle Relay
Fairmont Senior got out quickly and never trailed and was never threatened as the foursome
of Conner Rush, Camden Longwell, John Smith, and Daxx Leonard clocked a 56.67, which
is the 2nd Best All-Time Class A-AA State Meet Performance. Point Pleasant was a very
strong 2nd in 58.31. No one else was under 1:01. Philip Barbour was 3rd in 1:01.00. Keyser
was 4th and Herbert Hoover 5th as they battled each other in the 3rd heat, 1:01.02 to 1:01.07.
Frankfort took the final spot in 1:01.41.
RunWV's Current Score: 63 of 78.
High Jump
North Marion's Michael Garrett cleared 6'6 to take the title. Oak Hill's Michael
Beasley was the only other jumper to clear 6'2. Herbert Hoover's Logan Cogar was
the only other jumper to clear 6'0 for 3rd. A trio of jumpers cleared 5'10 with no misses
to tie for 4th: Westside's Jace Colucci, Liberty Harrison's Tanner Moore, and
Weir's Jake McCoy.
RunWV's Current Score: 68 of 84.
Pole Vault
In an event that lasted an hour or more past the 4x400 races due to the delays from Friday
and late start from Saturday, it was Berkeley Springs' Avery Lackey taking the win
by clearing 12'6 on his 2nd attempt. Clearing 12'6 on their 3rd attempt and scoring a tie
for 2nd was Winfield's Greg Moore and Keyser's Brendan Pattison. Liberty Harrison's
Tanner Moore and Roane's Cael McCutcheon cleared 12'0 with no misses to tie
for 4th. Point Pleasant's Steven Trent cleared 11'6 with no misses for 6th. One of my
predicted placers scratched from the event.
RunWV's Current Score: 73 of 90.
Long Jump
Roane's Jordan Coon sailed a whopping 23'1 on his final jump to take the win. It was
a rare 23'0 jump and stands as the 8th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the
2nd Best All-Time Class A-AA State Meet Performance. Oak Hill's Michael Beasley
was outstanding as well with a 22'7.75 jump, which is the 4th Best All-Time Class A-AA
State Meet Performance. Frankfort's Logan Crock hit 20'8.75 twice for 3rd. Fairmont
Senior's John Smith went 20'8.50 on his 1st attempt for 4th. Keyser's John DelSignore
went 20'2.75 on his 1st attempt for 5th. PikeView's Christian Cole went 20'1.50 for 6th.
RunWV's Current Score: 77 of 96.
Shot Put
All four of Oak Glen's Kellen Tropeck's legal throws topped 50'0 with the best being
53'7.50. Robert C. Byrd's Brock Robey was 2nd with a 48'3.50 toss. Independence's
Michael Powers edged Bridgeport's Micah Swann 48'0 to 47'11.50. for 3rd.
Winfield's Chase Brown was 5th with a 47'1.50, nipping Point Pleasant's Trevon
Franklin's 47'0.
RunWV's Current Score: 82 of 102.
Discus
Oak Glen's Kellen Tropeck sent his 2nd throw 158'3, and that was enough for the win,
but just barely as Robert C. Byrd's Andrew Sponaugle sailed one 157'8 for 2nd. Everyone
else was over 16' behind. Wyoming East's Michael Elkins was the only other thrower
over 140' with his 1441'6. Winfield's Kadin Jarrouj sent one 137'4 for 4th. Chapmanville's
Kevin Hanshaw sent his 1st throw 134'1, which was good enough to hold 5th. Fairmont
Senior's Zach Frazier took the final spot by just an inch with a 132'2 toss.
RunWV's Current Score: 85 of 108.
The final score of 85 of 108 means that 78.7% of the people picked to place did indeed place. Congratulations to those that proved me wrong.
Exceeding Predictions
The following athletes exceed the predictions by 3 or more places and
deserve special mention.
Kieshawn Cottingham, Fairmont Senior -- 400 M (not picked, got 3rd)
Bluefield -- 4x100 Meter Relay (not picked, got 3rd)
(Juice Edwards, JJ Davis, Tyrese Hairston, Isaiah Johnson)
Wayne -- 4x200 Meter Relay (not picked, got 4th)
(Tanner Owens, Landon Wolfe, Isaac Dean, Ethan Bowens)
Tanner Moore, Liberty Harrison -- High Jump (not picked, tied for 4th)
Avery Lackey, Berkeley Springs -- Pole Vault (picked 4th, got 1st)
The following teams deserve kudos for scoring seven points or more higher than I predicted.
Class AA Boys Fairmont Senior + 8 Keyser + 8 North Marion + 8