Class AAA Girls
100 Meter Dash
Capital's Candace Morris exploded out of the blocks and dominated the race to repeat as champion in 12.33. She
ran a 12.04 in the Preliminaries to capture a new Class AAA State Meet Record, the 3rd Best All-Time State
Meet Performance, and the Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. University's Sierra Lanham
was an easy 2nd in 12.64. Jefferson's Trinity Blue took the 3rd spot in 12.83. Huntington's Ciera Thacker
was a close 4th in 12.88. Morgantown's Isayah Everett was 5th in 12.93, and Musselman's Ciara Puller
was also under 13 seconds in 6th with a 12.99.
RunWV's Current Score: 6 of 6.
200 Meter Dash
In what I think was the closest race of the State Meets, Jefferson's Lorelei Bangit led out of the turn, Capital's
Candace Morris took the lead shortly after the turn, Bangit then fought back, and the two crossed the line nearly
simultaneously. Ultimately, it was Morris who took the win by just 0.002...2 thousandths of a second. Both she and Bangit
recorded times of 25.76 in taking those top two spots. Jefferson's Trinity Blue wasn't far out of the mix in
3rd with a 25.98. Huntington's Ciera Thacker was 4th in 26.34, taking the spot in a close finish over Martinsburg's
Eva Craigie in 5th in 26.39 and University's Sierra Lanham in 6th in 26.43.
RunWV's Current Score 12 of 12.
400 Meter Dash
Jefferson's Lorelei Bangit got out well and pretty much dominated the race while repeating as champion in 57.24,
just missing the top 10 list. Martinsburg's Eva Craigie narrowly took the 2nd spot in 58.77. Woodrow Wilson's
Mya Wooton was close behind in 3rd in 58.96, and Preston's Ella White was in that mix as well, finishing
4th in 59.04. Parkersburg South's Marimo Akita took the 5th spot in 1:00.06. Wheeling Park's Abby Barki
just squeezed into the final spot in the final few meters, finishing in 1:00.12. Ripley's Opal Huffman ran 2nd
for about 350 before her legs gave out and she dropped to 7th in 1:00.14.
RunWV's Current Score: 17 of 18.
800 Meter Run
Morgantown's Irene Riggs led through lap 1 with teammate Jennifer O'Palko right on her heels with both at
1:05. Morgantown was 1-2-3 with Lea Hatcher was in 3rd at 1:08. Hurricane's Audrey Hall was in 4th at 1:09
with Preston's Allie Martin matching that time in 5th. I think it was University's Adelyn Tager in 6th.
Riggs would pull away early in the 2nd lap and speed to the win in 2:14.86, which is the 10th Best All-Time Class AAA
State Meet Performance. Hatcher moved up to 2nd, winning a kick to the finish over Hall for the spot. Hatcher ran
2:17.87 for 2nd and Hall a 2:18.23 for 3rd. O'Palko held the 4th spot in 2:19.61 while Martin kept the 5th position in
2:22.44. Preston's Ella White closed well to take the 6th position in 2:25.08.
RunWV's Current Score: 22 of 24.
1600 Meter Run
Morgantown's Irene Riggs took control from the biginning, taking the first lap in 1:09. Teammate Lea
Hatcher was in 2nd at 1:12 with Preston's Allie Martin matching that time in 3rd. Hurricane's Audrey
Hall was in 4th at 1:13. Morgantown's Anna Lester was in 5th at 1:14 with Ripley's Ellie Hosaflook
matching that time in 6th. On lap 2, Riggs stretcher her lead to 8 seconds, coming through in 2:22. Martin was in
2nd at 2:30 with that time matched by both Hatcher and Hall, who were in 3rd and 4th respectively. Lester was in 5th
at 2:33 with Hosaflook in 6th at 2:34. On lap 3, Riggs took the lead out to 10 seconds, coming through in 3:37. Martin
remained in 2nd at 3:47 with Hall matching that time in 3rd. Hatcher was in 4th at 3:48. Lester was in 5th at 3:55
with Hosaflook still in 6th. The final lap saw Riggs cruise to the easy win in 4:51.25. That is the 3rd Best All-Time
State Meet Performance and the 3rd Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. A great race for 2nd ensued
as the next three finished within 0.7 seconds of each other. Hall had the most at the end to take 2nd in 4:58.68.
Martin held off a late charge by Hatcher to take 3rd in 4:59.20 to Hatcher's 4:59.31. I believe this is the first time
we've had 4 under 5:00 at the State Meet. Lester easily held the 5th spot in 5:11.48. Hosaflook was never challenged
for 6th, finishing in 5:22.95.
RunWV's Current Score: 28 of 30.
3200 Meter Run
Morgantown's Irene Riggs generated a gap on the very first lap, coming through in 1:10. Teammate Amelia
Summers was in 2nd at 1:13 with that time matched by Preston's Allie Martin and Hurricane's Ella Hardin
in 3rd and 4th, respectively. Morgantown's Madeline Gump was in 5th at 1:14 with that time matched by Hurricane's
Asha Bora in 6th and Ripley's Ellie Hosaflook in 7th. After two laps, Riggs had taken her lead out to 9
seconds, passing in 2:26. Summers was still in 2nd and Martin in 3rd with both at 2:35. Hardin was in the front of a
2:37 pack with Gump in 5th, Bora in 6th, and Hosaflook in 7th. After 3 laps, Riggs remained in the lead at 3:43. Martin
had moved into 2nd with Summers in 3rd. Hardin was in 4th, Gump in 5th, and Hosaflook in 6th. At the midway point,
Riggs remained far in front at 5:00 with Martin in 2nd and Summers in 3rd. Hosaflook had moved into the front of the chase
pack at 5:30 with that time matched by Hardin in 5th, Gump in 6th, and Bora in 7th. After 5 laps, Riggs was through in
6:18. Martin had a slight edge over Summers with both at 6:44. The chase pack remained together. After 6 laps, Riggs
had taken her lead to over 30 seconds, coming through in 7:36. Martin had taken control of the 2nd spot at 8:08. Summers
was in 3rd at 8:12. Gump was up to 4th in 8:25 with Hardin matching that time in 5th. Bora was in 6th at 8:26 with
Hosaflook matching that time in 7th. At the end of 7, Riggs was in the lead at 8:55. Martin was in 2nd. Summers was in
3rd. Gump was in 4th, Hardin was in 5th, and Bora was in 6th, having generated a gap. In the end, it was Riggs taking
the easy win in 10:14.16, which is a Class AAA State Meet Record, the Best All-Time State Meet Performance
and the Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Martin continued to pull away in the 2nd spot to finish
in 10:56.85. Summers easily held the 3rd spot in 11:06.78. Gump pulled away for 4th in 11:13.79. Hardin took the 5th
spot in 11:16.54. Hosaflook rebounded and ran a strong last lap to reclaim the 6th position in 11:24.51.
RunWV's Current Score: 34 of 36.
100 Meter High Hurdles
This race was closer than the final times indicate. It was pretty even through 5 hurdles. Parkersburg's Addson
Gherke started to pull into the lead, but she then clipped #7 with her trail leg, and Hurricane's Lily
Haught ran clean, took over the lead and pulled away to win convincingly in 14.87. Gherke was able to maintain
her footing and keep the 2nd spot in 15.28. Parkersburg's Lily Wharton took the 3rd spot in 15.50. Riverside's
Aliyah Smith scored 4th in 15.84. Huntington's Ikira Watts was 5th in 15.95. Jefferson's Briauna
Goins took the final spot in 16.20.
RunWV's Current Score: 39 of 42.
300 Meter Low Hurdles
Hurricane's Lily Haught took the lead about 100 meters in and pulled away to win by over a second in 44.95.
Parkersburg's Lily Wharton made a late pass on teammate Addison Gherke to snag 2nd in 46.06 to Gherke's
46.18. Huntington's Mallori Dunn-Martin closed really well in Heat 1 to take 4th in 47.55. Buckhannon-Upshur's
Dezi Pugh was 5th in 47.71. Wheeling Park's Lily Hanna was 6th in 48.68.
RunWV's Current Score: 44 of 48.
4x100 Meter Relay
Jefferson's squad of Arayia Maiben, Lorelei Bangit, Myah Powell-Utley, and Trinity Blue controlled the race and
took the win in 48.88, giving them the 6th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 6th Best All-Time
Class AAA State Meet Performance. Huntington avenged a 4x200 drop with a strong 2nd in the 4x100 with a 49.57.
Morgantown was a strong 3rd in 50.18. Spring Mills came out in front of a very close race for 4th in 50.65. Wheeling
Park was 5th in 50.68 with Hurricane 6th in 50.73. While they didn't place, I have to note that Candace Murray
took Capital from 7th, and maybe 8th, to 1st on her anchor leg in the 1st Heat.
RunWV's Current Score: 49 of 54.
4x200 Meter Relay
The Jefferson foursome of Arayia Maiben, Trinity Blue, Jayla Kidrick, and Lorelei Bangit flirted with the record
but settled for the 2.5 second win in 1:43.88. That gives them the 7th Best All-Time State Meet Performance
and the 7th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Woodrow Wilson took the 2nd spot in 1:46.38. Spring
Mills was 3rd in 1:46.77. Morgantown was a close 4th in 1:46.90. Huntington dropped the baton but still finished 5th
in 1:48.11. Excellent recovery. Wheeling Park was 6th in 1:48.68.
RunWV's Current Score: 55 of 60.
4x400 Meter Relay
The video on this one had a lot of glitches so my data isn't highly complete. At the end of the first leg, it appeared
that Hedgesville was in the lead with Wheeling Park in 2nd, Morgantown in 3rd, Parkersburg in 4th, Spring Mills in 5th,
and Huntington in 6th. After 2 legs, Morgantown was in front at 2:02. Hedgesville was in 2nd, Parkersburg in 3rd, Wheeling
Park in 4th, and Spring Mills in 5th. I think Buckhannon-Upshur was in 6th at 2:11. Morgantown continued to lead through
3 legs, Wheeling Park was in 2nd, Spring Mills was in 3rd, and Parkersburg was in 4th. Hedgesville had fallen to 5th,
the victim of a dropped baton following the prior exchange. At the finish, it was Morgantown's squad of Belicia
McKendall, Sasha Hunter, Lea Hatcher, and Yelena Davidson taking the event by nearly 7 seconds in 4:02.68. That gives
that group the 5th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 5th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet
Performance. Spring Mills took the 2nd spot in 4:09.66. Parkersburg kicked into the 3rd spot in 4:11.68. Hedgesville
rebounded to get 4th in 4:13.25. Wheeling Park took 5th in 4:14.63, and claiming 6th from the 1st Heat was Jefferson
in 4:19.84. They led pretty much the entirety of that heat, but had to hold off Ripley who got a sub-60 anchor leg from
Opal Huffman that took thrme from 6th to less than a second from 1st in that heat.
RunWV's Current Score: 60 of 66.
4x800 Meter Relay
Preston came through leg one with a slight lead over Morgantown with both at 2:22. Hurricane was in 3rd at 2:29. Ripley
was in 4th at 2:31. Cabell Midland was in 5th at 2:33 with Jefferson matching that time in 6th. Morgantown took over
on the 2nd leg, coming through in 4:48. Preston was in 2nd at 4:53. Ripley was up to 3rd in 4:59. Hurricane was in
4th at 5:04, and I think Jefferson was in 5th. Morgantown remained in the lead through leg 3, coming through in 7:17.
Preston was in 2nd at approximately 7:25. Cabell Midland had risen to 3rd in 7:33. I think it was University in 4th
at 7:34. Ripley was in 5th at 7:39, and I think Hurricane was in 6th at 7:40. Morgantown easily maintained their lead
on the final leg, giving the group of Sophie Renner, Madeline Gump, Anna Lester, and Amelia Summers the win in
9:39.72. This displayed the amazing depth of the Morgantown team as none of the three that placed in the open 800 were
on this relay unit. Preston easily held the 2nd spot in 9:48.92. University moved into the 3rd position in 9:56.08.
Hurricane moved up to 4th in 9:58.38. Ripley held the 5th spot in 10:04.73. Cabell Midland held the 6th position in 10:11.06.
RunWV's Current Score: 65 of 72.
Shuttle Hurdle Relay
The Parkersburg unit of Lily Wharton, Katie Rutherford, Kendal Domenick, and Addison Gherke never trailed in taking
the event in 1:04.28, just missing that top 10 list. Jefferson was an easy 2nd in 1:05.65. Buckhannon-Upshur snagged 3rd
from the 3rd heat in 1:07.94, where they made a comeback to take the heat over the final hurdle. Hurricane took the 4th
spot, also from the 3rd heat, in 1:08.13. Musselman was 5th in 1:08.82, just ahead of Huntington's 1:08.90.
RunWV's Current Score: 71 of 78.
High Jump
John Marshall's Camryn Mowder was the only jumper to go higher than 5'0, and she went 5'4 for the win. Wheeling
Park's Jailah Walker, Bridgeport's Abigale Stewart, and Woodrow Wilson's Somalia Nelson each cleared
5'0 in taking 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, respectively. Huntington's Jaela Hawkins and Ripley's Bella Skeen tied
for 5th with a 4'10 clearance.
RunWV's Current Score: 76 of 84.
Pole Vault
George Washington's Faith Smith took the win with an 11'0 vault. That gives her a tie for the 5th Best All-Time
Class AAA State Meet Performance. Hedgesville's Skylar Yates went 10'6 for 2nd. Morgantown's Morgan Ryan
cleared 10'0 for 3rd. Also clearing 10'0 were Bridgeport's Sallyanna Hamrick and Ripley's Mya Phalen, who
finished 4th and 5th, respectively. Ripley's Gwyneth Gandee took with at 9'6.
RunWV's Current Score: 80 of 90.
Long Jump
University's Sierra Lanham opened with a jump of 17'11.50, and no one else could match that as she scored the repeat
championship. That gives her a tie for the 9th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and a tie for the 8th Best
All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Martinsburg's Eva Craigie moved into 2nd on her final jump with a
leap of 17'1. Huntington's Siraye Harper was 3rd with a 16'11.25. Spring Valley's Haleigh Crum was 4th
with a 16'5.50. Buckhannon-Upshur's Chloe Cale was 5th with an opening leap of 16'5. Ripley's Tori Fisher
took 6th with a 16'3.75. The top 8 were all over 16'0.
RunWV's Current Score: 85 of 96.
Shot Put
Huntington's Markayla Moore gets the win on the tie-breaker over Jefferson's Brianua Goins. Both threw
35'2, but Moore's 2nd best throw was 2.5" better than Goins. Woodrow Wilson's Bella Staples opened with a 34'1.50
for 3rd. Musselman's Keleigh Chrisman was 4th with a 33'4.50. Preston's Sierra Davis was 5th with a 33'0.50.
Riverside's Mallory Crowder was 6th with a 32'8.
RunWV's Current Score: 90 of 102.
Discus
Preston's Sierra Davis sailed her first toss 125'2, and no one was able to match it. Buckhannon-Upshur's Cameron
Zuliani got close with a throw of 124'5 for 2nd. Those two were way ahead of the field. Wheeling Park's Adriana
Fazzini was 3rd with a 108'11. Jefferson's Helena Radford moved into 4th on her final throw of 105'6.
Jefferson's Haley Shanley was 5th with a 105'2. Cabell Midland's Ava Wortman was 6th with a 101'9.
RunWV's Current Score: 95 of 108.
The final score of 95 of 108 means that 88.0% of the people picked to place did indeed place. Without researching it, I think that may be my best set ever. Congratulations to those that proved me wrong.
Exceeding Predictions
The following athletes exceeded expectations by 3 or more places and deserve special mention.
Candace Morris, Capital -- 200 M (picked 6th, got 1st)
Mya Wooton, Woodrow Wilson -- 400 M (not picked, got 3rd)
Aliyah Smith, Riverside -- 100 HH (not picked, got 4th)
Mallori Dunn-Martin, Huntington -- 300 LH (not picked, got 4th)
University -- 4x800 Meter Relay (picked 6th, got 3rd)
(Haley Kramer, Claire von Boetticher, Helen Honecker, Adelyn Tager)
Sallyanna Hamrick, Bridgeport -- Pole Vault (not picked, got 4th)
Eva Craigie, Martinsburg -- Long Jump (picked 6th, got 2nd)
Haleigh Crum, Spring Valley -- Long Jump (not picked, got 4th)
Keleigh Chrisman, Musselman -- Shot Put (not picked, got 4th)
The following teams deserve kudos for scoring seven points or more higher than I predicted.
Class AAA Girls Capital + 9 Hurricane + 9 Woodrow Wilson + 8 Martinsburg + 7