Class AAA Boys
100 Meter Dash
Jefferson's Keyshawn Robinson got an excellent start and did not back off, taking the win in 10.70. That gives him
the 9th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Bridgeport's
Lucas Anderson was a very strong 2nd in 10.83. Those two were over 0.3 seconds ahead of the field. Only 0.16
separated the rest of the field with Buckhannon-Upshur's Taiwo Thropp taking 3rd in 11.15. Jefferson got a 4-5
finish with Caleb Shelton going 11.18 and Tay'Shaun Roper going 11.22.
RunWV's Current Score: 7 of 8.
200 Meter Dash
Jefferson's Keyshawn Robinson got out of the blocks very well and maintained his advantage throughout, taking
the win in 21.52 which is the 8th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 7th Best All-Time Class AAA State
Meet Performance. Bridgeport's Lucas Anderson was right on his heels throughout, scoring a 21.68 for an easy 2nd.
Buckhannon-Upshur's Taiwo Thropp got away from the field to take the 3rd spot in 22.22. Musselman's Ray Adames
was also under 22.50 with a 22.48. Oak Hill's Conlan Brooks was the only other one to go under 23 seconds with a 22.77.
RunWV's Current Score: 15 of 16.
400 Meter Dash
Jefferson's Keyshawn Robinson made up the stagger on everyone to his outside within the 1st 150 meters and dominated
the field, winning by over 1.6 seconds in a stellar 48.26. That gives him the 6th Best All-Time State Meet Performance
and the 5th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Buckhannon-Upshur's Taiwo Thropp also broke 50 in
taking 2nd in 49.91. Teammate Shawn Blandino moved from 5th to 3rd in the last 30 meters, finishing in 50.09. Musselman's
Ray Adames was 4th in 50.18. Jefferson's Justin Gottlieb was 5th in 50.66 with Oak Hill's Conlan Brooks
in 6th at 51.04.
RunWV's Current Score: 22 of 24.
800 Meter Run
University's Drew Zundell went out quickly and led the field into the break. He continued to lead until about 350
meters when Jefferson's Justin Gottlieb made the pass. Gottlieb would lead through the mid-way point at about 54
seconds with Zundell close behind. Those two had a gap on the field. Cabell Midland's Tristan Blatt was in 3rd
at 56 seconds with Woodrow Wilson's Aidan Kneeland in 4th at 57 seconds. I think it was University's Jack Overfield
coming through next, also at 57. After that I'm not sure...lots of guys wearing red and/or black. Gottlieb would start to
establish a gap through the turn and really start getting away on the backstretch. Blatt closed up on Zundell and made the
pass into 2nd shortly into the final turn. Gottlieb would power through the finish to win by over a second with a 1:53.69
to set a new State Meet Record and is the All-Time Best State Meet Performance and the All-Time Best Class
AAA State Meet Performance. Blatt pulled away for 2nd, scoring a very nice 1:54.92. Kneeland made the pass into 3rd
with about 50 meters to go and also made it in under 1:57 with a 1:56.75. University's Jack Overfield got by Zundell
late for 4th in 1:57.18 with Zundell 5th in 1:57.75. Hurricane's Nick Kennedy was 6th in 1:57.75. University's
ryan Blohm was 7th in 1:58.43 with Washington's Noah Schappell 8th in 1:58.85.
RunWV's Current Score: 28 of 32.
1600 Meter Run
This one went out hot with University's Drew Zundell leading the field out of the break. Hurricane's Nick Kennedy
then moved to the front, and at the end of 1 lap, it was Kennedy in the lead at 60 seconds with Zundell in 2nd, Woodrow Wilson's
Aiden Kneeland in 3rd, Hurricane's Ty Steorts in 4th and Cabell Midland's Tristan Blatt in 5th matching
that time. I think it was University's Ryan Blohm in 6th at 1:01 with University's Tyler Umbright in 7th also
at 1:01. I think it was George Washington's Gage Fox in 8th at 1:02. Zundell moved to the lead down the stretch of
lap 2 to lead the field through in 2:03 with Kennedy right on his heels. Blohm and Steorts were in a battle for 3rd with Blohm
having a slight edge with both at 2:05. Blatt was in 5th at 2:06. Umbright was in 6th at 2:07 with Kneeland in 7th at 2:08.
I think it was Hurricane's Aaron Kidd in 8th matching that time. Zundell continued to lead through lap 3 and started
to open a bit of a gap. He came through at 3:06 with Kennedy about 3 meters back at 3:07. Blohm was in 3rd at 3:10, opening
a bit of a gap of his own. Blatt and Steorts crossed together at 3:12 in 4th and 5th. Overfield was in 6th at 3:16 with
Kidd in 7th, also at 3:16. Wheeling Park's Ben Ashmore had moved into 8th at 3:17. On the final lap, Zundell pulled
away for the convincing win, scoring at 4:08.44, which is a new State Meet Record. It also stands as the Best All-Time
State Meet Performance and the Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Kennedy held the 2nd spot in 4:12.92
which is the 7th All-Time State Meet Performance and the 7th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance.
Blatt had passed Blohm, but Blohm got back by in the last few meters for 3rd in 4:13.94. Blatt was 4th in 4:14.11, and Steorts
was 5th in 4:15.50. Umbright held 6th in 4:20.14 while Kneeland fought back into 7th down the stretch, finishing in 4:21.57.
Ashmore just held onto the final spot in 4:21.87. 10 came in under 4:24.
RunWV's Current Score: 34 of 40.
3200 Meter Run
University's Drew Zundell led the field out of the break. Hurricane's Ty Steorts would move to the lead before
the 200 meter mark and would lead field through lap 1 in 1:07 with Zundell in 2nd also at 1:07. University's Ryan Blohm
was in 3rd at 1:08 with Hurricane's Aaron Kidd in 4th, matching that time. Bridgeport's Troy Zorick was in 5th,
also at 1:08. I think it was George Washington's Ryan Bazzle in 6th at 1:09 with Jefferson's Conner Myers in
7th at 1:10. I think Wheeling Park's Seth Franke was in 8th at 1:11. Steorts would continue to lead through lap 2
as that 4 pack started to get away from the field. Steorts and Zundell were at 2:17 while Blohm and Kidd were at 2:18. Zorick
was in 5th at 2:20. Bazzle was in 6th at 2:21 with Myers in 7th at 2:22. Franke was in 8th at 2:25. Steorts continued to
lead through 3 laps as that front pack remained in a single file line with Steorts and Zundell at 3:26 and Blohm and Kidd at
3:27. Zorick remained in 5th at 3:30 with Bazzle in 6th at 3:31 and Myers in 7th, also at 3:31. Franke remained in 8th
at 3:40. Steorts continued to lead through the half-way point, coming through at 4:35 and starting to open a small gap.
Zundell was still in 2nd at 4:36 with Kidd 3rd and Blohm 4th with both also at 4:36. Bazzle had moved into 5th at 4:42
with Zorick matching that in 6th. Myers was in 7th at 4:43. Franke was in 8th at 4:54. Steorts continued to lead through
5 laps, coming through at 5:43. Kidd had moved up to 2nd at 5:44 as the two from Hurricane had started to get away from the
two from University. Zundell was in 3rd at 5:46 with Blohm matching that in 4th. Bazzle was still in 5th at 5:58 with Zorick
matching that time in 6th. Myers was in 7th at 5:59. I'm not sure who ws in 8th at this point. On lap 6, Steorts and Kidd
created more distance. Steorts came throut at 6:52 with Kidd at 6:54. Zundell was at 6:57 with Blohm in 4th at 6:59. My notes
have Zorick moving back into 5th at 7:14, and Bazzle and Myers battling for 6th at 7:16. I show Franke and University's
Jacob West battling for 8th at 7:22. On lap 7, all the front gaps were getting bigger. Steorts was in 1st at 8:00.
Kidd was in 2nd at 8:03. Zundell was in 3rd at 8:10 with Blohm in 4th at 8:12. Again relying on notes, I show Zorick in
5th at 8:31, Bazzle in 6th at 8:32, Myers in 7th at 8:33, and I still show Franke and West battling for 8th at 8:36. On
the final lap, Steorts was not challenged and pulled even further away for the win in 9:04.77, giving him the 4th Best
All-Time State Meet Performance and the 4th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Kidd easily held the
2nd spot in 9:12.19, giving him the 9th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Zundell held the 3rd spot
in 9:18.58 with Blohm in 4th at 9:19.31. The next 4 places were decided by less than a second as a fast finish saw Franke
slide all the way up to 5th in 9:42.54. Bazzle held the 6th spot in 9:42.99 with Myers 7th in 9:43.11, and Zorick 8th in 9:43.49.
RunWV's Current Score: 41 of 48.
110 Meter High Hurdles
Huntington's Donovan Garrett got out well but was challenged through the mid-way point before pulling back away
slightly at the end to win in 14.97. Riverside's Jacob Alderson challenged for the win but then had to hold
off a challenge of his own, taking the 2nd spot by just 0.01 over Huntington Freshman Tayveon Wilson 15.10 to 15.11.
Martinsburg's Dominic Brinkley was the only other one to be within half a second with his 15.56.
RunWV's Current Score: 47 of 56.
300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles
Morgantow's Alex Tadros didn't lead early but ran a great turn to take the lead and the win in 40.32. Huntington's
Camryn Veazy closed well for 2nd in 40.73. Spring Valley's Dalton Ferguson scored 3rd in 41.33. Bridgeport's
Camden Hess was 4th in 41.68. Huntington's Khani Walker closed well in Heat 1 to score 5th in 41.76. Martinsburg's
Dominic Brinkley was the last one in under 42 seconds with a 41.98.
RunWV's Current Score: 54 of 64.
4x100 Meter Relay
Bridgeport got a stellar anchor leg from Lucas Anderson to blast from 4th to 1st, giving the group of Tanner
Hathaway, Timothy Jeffress, Tyler Martin, and Lucas Anderson the win in 43.13. Huntington ran a strong 2nd in 43.44
with Spring Mills also under 44 seconds at 43.76 in 3rd. Wheeling Park was 4th in 44.00 with Cabell Midland edging
Musselman for 5th 44.19 to 44.23.
RunWV's Current Score: 60 of 72.
4x200 Meter Relay
The Jefferson squad of Caleb Shelton, Keyshawn Robinson, Tay'Shaun Roper, and Owen Sarra won the event from Lane
1 of the 1st Heat. A runner pulling up with a hamstring issue at their regional relegated them to that spot as they
barely qualified for the State Meet. No matter. This group put together a 1:29.53 team to win the event by over a
second. Huntington won Heat 2 by nearly a second to take 2nd in 1:30.56. Wheeling Park scored 3rd in 1:31.49, just
ahead of Morgantown's 1:31.86. No one else was under 1:32 with just Cabell Midland and Buckhannon-Upshur going under 1:33.
I had guessed that Keyshawn Robinson would be on the 4x400 rather than the 4x200.
RunWV's Current Score: 66 of 80.
4x400 Meter Relay
On leg 1, Buckhannon-Upshur and Jefferson completed the handoff at about the same time. Buckhannon-Upshur would lead at
the break wit Jefferson just inside their shoulder. I think it was Martinsburg in 3rd. Jefferson took the lead down the
homestretch of the 2nd leg and led the field through at 1:43. Buckhannon-Upshur was in 2nd at 1:44. Martinsburg was in
3rd at 1:46 with Cabell Midland close behind. I think Wheeling Park was in 5th and Musselman in 6th. Buckhannon-Upshur
would retake the lead late in the 3rd leg and come through in 2:35 with Jefferson matching that time. Jefferson had actually
retaken the lead, but Buckhannon had a better handoff to reach the line first. Martinsburg and Wheeling Park came through
at 2:40 with Cabell Midland at 2:41. Musselman was in 6th at 2:42. Buckhannon-Upshur opened a small gap on the backstretch
and maintained it through the turn, but Jefferson would fight back and take the lead just before the finish line to give
the foursome of Tay'Shaun Roper, Christian Gottlieb, Owen Sarr, and Justin Gottlieb the win in 3:25.33. Buckhannon-Upshur
was 2nd in 3:25.42. They got a 49.5 anchor leg from Taiwo Thropp but Jefferson got a 49.1 from Justin Gottlieb.
Musselman fought back for 3rd in 3:32.81. Cabell Midland took the 4th spot over Martinsburg 3:33.58 to 3:33.98. Wheeling
Park scored 5th in 3:35.55. Morgantown and Oak Hill scored places from the 1st Heat.
RunWV's Current Score: 72 of 88.
4x800 Meter Relay
Hurricane got things off to a fast start with Nick Kennedy dropping a 1:54.9 opening leg. Cabell Midland was a strong
2nd on a 1:58.0 leg from Tristan Blatt. Buckhannon-Upshur was in 3rd at 2:01. University was in 4th and Jefferson in
5th. I think it was Spring Mills in 6th and George Washington in 7th at 2:03 and Huntington in 8th at 2:07. Leg two saw
Hurricane continue to be well in the lead at 3:54, with a 1:59.4 leg from Ty Steorts. Jefferson was up to 2nd
at 4:01 on a 1:59.7 leg from Conner Myers with University matching that in a very close 3rd. Cabell Midland was in
4th at 4:04. The camera didn't pick anything up after that. My notes say Wheeling Park came through at 4:10. On leg 3,
Hurricane got a 1:59.2 from Brady Dawkins to maintain their lead at 5:53. University was in 2nd at 6:00 following a
1:59.8 leg from Jack Overfield. Jefferson was in 3rd at 6:02. My notes show Cabell Midland in 4th at 6:12 and Wheeling
Park in 5th at 6:16. The final leg was fun as University's Drew Zundell dropping a 1:52.4 leg to hold off Jefferson,
who got a 1:51.9 leg from Justin Gottlieb. Both teams ran down Hurricane with about 200 meters to go. It's not like
their guy ran slow. Those other two were just flying. Anyway, the University group of Gavin Whorton, Ethan Conroy, Jack
Overfield, and Drew Zundell took the win in 7:53.44, giving them the 4th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and
the 4th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Jefferson was 2nd in 7:54.55 giving their group of Owen
Thompson, Conner Myers, Christian Gottlieb, and Justin Gottlieb the 5th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and
the 5th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Hurricane ran a great race for 3rd, also coming in under 8:00
with a 7:58.17. Wheeling Park held the 4th spot in 8:17.50. George Washington came up to 5th in 8:18.92 with Morgantown
in 6th in 8:20.6. Cabell Midland was 7th in 8:23.17. Buckhannon-Upshur was 8th in 8:26.34, taking the spot just in the last few meters.
RunWV's Current Score: 79 of 96.
Shuttle Hurdle Relay
Bridgeport took the lead on the 2nd leg and didn't look back as the unit of Camden Hess, Lucas Anderson, Cale Culicerto,
and Tyler Martin took the win by 0.8 seconds with at 56.61. Huntington was 2nd in a strong 57.41. Morgantown was 3rd
in 58.31. Woodrow Wilson ttok 4th in 59.19. Parkersburg South was 5th in 59.88, and Spring Valley also came in under 60
seconds as they snagged 6th from Heat 1 with a 59.98.
RunWV's Current Score: 85 of 104.
High Jump
Huntington got a big 1-2 finish from Zah Trelio Jackson and Michael Johnson as both cleared 6'6 with
Jackson getting it on his 1st attempt for the win. Riverside's Jacob Alderson and Woodrow Wilson's Ryan
Mukhtar each cleared 6'4 and tied for 3rd. 5 more jumpers cleared 6'2 with Ripley's Connor Casto getting to
that point with no misses to take 5th. Hedgesville's Xavier Kirk got it on his 1st attempt to take 6th. Wheeling
Park's Mykel Davis got it on his 2nd attempt for 7th, and Bridgeport's Tyler Martin got it on his 3rd
attempt for 8th.
RunWV's Current Score: 93 of 112.
Pole Vault
George Washington's Harry Wallace topped 13'0 on his 2nd attempt to take the win. Cabell Midland's Jorden
Cohen cleared through 12'6 with no misses to take 2nd. Spring Mills' Landon Neighly also cleared 12'6 in
taking 2nd. George Washington's James Wallace and Huntington's Collin Marsteller each cleared 12'0 and
tied for 4th. Hedgesville's Dominick Gagum also cleared 12'0 for 6th.
RunWV's Current Score: 101 of 120.
Long Jump
Huntington's Michael Johnson took the lead on his 1st attempt and then bettered it twice with a top jump of 22'9.50
to win it by nearly 2 feet. Riverside's Jacob Alderson went 20'11.75 on his final jump to move from 5th to 2nd.
John Marshall's Ashton Collett went 20'11.50 for 3rd. Huntington's Zaiden Scott went 20'10.50 for 4th.
Cabell Midland's Caden Bowen went 20'10 for 5th. Less than 2 inches from 2nd to 5th. Morgantown's Broderick
Washington and Huntington's Avonte Crawford also surpassed 20' in taking 6th and 7th, respectively.
RunWV's Current Score: 107 of 128.
Shot Put
Cabell Midland's Isaiah Hagley threw 57'4.75 on his opening throw of finals to take the win by nearly 2'. That gives
him the 8th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Ripley's
Frankie Winter threw 55'7.50 for 2nd. Cabell Midland's Michael Lunsford only got one legal throw, but
it was a 54'1.50, good enough to hold 3rd. Hurricane's Ethan Chill moved from 6th to 4th on his final attempt with
a 49'4.50. Cabell Midland's Matthew Edwards had his best throw on his final attempt to secure 5th with a 49'3.50.
South Charleston's Zimarian Lawton also had his best throw on his final attempt but settled for 6th with a 49'3.25.
No one else threw over 46'6.
RunWV's Current Score: 113 of 136.
Discus
Ripley's Frankie Winter dominated the event. All 5 of his legal throws were better than anyone else did. He saved the
best for last with a 165'9 heave, giving him the win by over 12'. Cabell Midland's Isaiah Hagley thew 153'4 for 2nd.
Teammate Michael Lunsford threw 151'11 for 3rd. Hampshire's Grant Hicks opened with a 148'7 which held up for
4th. Jefferson's Julian Matthews was the only other one able to go over 145' with his 145'2 for 5th.
RunWV's Current Score: 120 of 144.
The final score of 120 of 144 means that 83.3% of the people picked to place did indeed place. Congratulations to those that proved me wrong.
Exceeding Predictions
The following athletes exceed my predictions by 3 or more places and deserve special mention.
Tay'Shaun Roper, Jefferson -- 100 M (not picked, got 5th)
Tristan Blatt, Cabell Midland -- 800 M (picked 5th, got 2nd)
Aiden Kneeland, Woodrow Wilson -- 800 M (not picked, got 3rd)
Jack Overfield, University -- 800 M (picked 7th, got 4th)
Ty Steorts, Hurricane -- 1600 M (not picked, got 5th)
Seth Franke, Wheeling Park -- 3200 M (picked 8th, got 5th)
Connor Casto, Ripley -- 110 HH (not picked, got 5th)
Dalton Ferguson, Spring Valley -- 300 IH (picked 7th, got 3rd)
Khani Walker, Huntington -- 300 IH (not picked, got 5th)
Spring Mills -- 4x100 Meter Relay (picked 8th, got 3rd)
(Josiah Brown, Gradian Graham, Kam Taylor, Kenneth Ibeeze)
Morgantown -- 4x200 Meter Relay (picked 7th, got 4th)
(Isaiah Thompson, Noah Shepherd, Bobby Powell, Alex Tadros)
Cabell Midland -- 4x400 Meter Relay (picked 7th, got 4th)
(Caden Bowen, Tristan Blatt, Kevin Moloney, Jackson Stewart)
George Washington -- 4x800 Meter Relay (not picked, got 5th)
(Aidan Rogers, Gavin Baldwin, Robbie Brown, Gage Fox)
Spring Valley -- Shuttle Hurdle Relay (not picked, got 6th)
(Makieth Riddle, Kyndon Keesee, Britton Pulley, Dalton Ferguson)
Zah Trelio Jackson, Huntington -- High Jump (picked 6th, got 1st)
Jacob Alderson, Riverside -- High Jump (picked 8th, tied for 3rd)
Cohen Jordan, Cabell Midland -- Pole Vault (picked 6th, got 2nd)
Jacob Alderson, Riverside -- Long Jump (not picked, got 2nd)
Ashton Collett, John Marshall -- Long Jump (picked 6th, got 3rd)
Matthew Edwards, Cabell Midland -- Shot Put (not picked, got 5th)
The following teams deserve kudos for scoring seven points or more higher than I predicted.
Class AAA Boys Riverside +10.50 Cabell Midland +10 Huntington + 7.50