Class AAA Girls
100 Meter Dash
Capital's Candace Morris made it three titles in a row by pulling away over the second half of the race to win in
12.29. Her trials time of 12.14 is the 8th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 6th Best All-Time Class
AAA State Meet Performance. Morgantown's Izayah Everett got out well and held on for 2nd by less than a hundredth
of a second over the late push of Huntington's Ciera Thacker with both recording a 12.49. Huntington's Siraye
Harper edged Jefferson's Lorelei Bangit for 4th 12.56 to 12.57.
RunWV's Current Score: 6 of 8.
200 Meter Dash
Jefferson's Lorelei Bangit broke away from the field in the straight to win convincingly in 25.23. Bridgeport's
Giana Cox snagged the 2nd spot in 25.66. Huntington's Ciera Thacker got out well and held the 3rd spot in
25.72, just ahead of Morgantown's Izayah Everett's 25.77, and Martinsburg's Eva Craigie's 25.79.
RunWV's Current Score 13 of 16.
400 Meter Dash
Jefferson's Lorelei Bangit asserted herself over the 2nd half of the race and pulled away to win by over 2.5 seconds
with a stellar 56.10 time. That gives her the 5th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 3rd Best All-Time
Class AAA State Meet Performance. Woodrow Wilson's Mya Wooten closed well to move from 5th to 2nd in the final
100 Meters to finish in 58.64. South Charleston's Jayla Woods ran a strong 3rd to go under 59 seconds with a 58.92
from Lane 1. Preston's Ella White made a couple passes in the final 100 to move into 4th in 59.27. Greenbrier East's
Annie Whited did the same to move into 5th in 59.38. Spring Mills' Teondra Gravier joined them under 60 seconds
with a 59.99.
RunWV's Current Score: 21 of 24.
800 Meter Run
I think it was Martinsburg's Kayla Nelson and Ripley's Ellie Hosaflook leading the field out of the break.
Morgantown's Irene Riggs moved into the lead at about 150 meters with Jefferson's Hannah Phillips trailing
close behind. At the 400 mark, it was Riggs in the lead at 1:05 with Phillips about a stride behind in 1:06. Morgantown's
Jennifer O'Palko was in 3rd at 1:08. Hurricane's Audrey Hall was in 4th matching that time. Nelson
and Hosaflook were in 5th and 6th at 1:09. I believe it was Morgantown's Anna Lester in 7th at 1:09 with University's
Adelyn Tager in 8th at 1:10. Riggs started to pull away from Phillips on the backstretch and was not threatened
down the stretch as she finished in 2:14.68. That gives her the 10th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance.
While she wasn't threatened, the gap did close as Hall ran a really strong final 200 to move into the 2nd spot in 2:15.53,
getting by Phillips coming out of the final turn. Phillips clocked a nice 2:16.00 for the 3rd spot. O'Palko was all alone
in 4th in 2:18.05. Tager closed well to finish 5th in 2:19.56. Preston's Ella White moved up into 6th in 2:21.42.
Hosaflook held onto 7th in 2:23.20 with Lester holding on to 8th in 2:24.71.
RunWV's Current Score: 28 of 32.
1600 Meter Run
Morgantown's Irene Riggs assumed the lead just over 100 meters in and did not look back as she buried the field early.
Riggs would tour the first lap in 1:08. I think Hurricane's Audrey Hall moved into the 2nd spot just before the line
at 1:13. I'm not certain who is in 3rd. I think it is South Charleston's Renae Gonzalez. I think it is Morgantown's Amelia Summers and Jennifer O'Palko
in 4th and 5th at 1:14. It might have been Bridgeport's Kaitlin Pappas in 6th, Jefferson's Hannah Phillips in
7th, and Ripley's Ellie Hosaflook in 8th. Riggs extended her lead on lap two as she came throug in 2:21. Hall
remained in 2nd at 2:29. University's Adelyn Tager had moved all the way up to 3rd in 2:30. O'Palko was in 4th
in 2:33 with that matched by Phillips in 5th, Summers in 6th, and Pappas in 7th. Hosaflook was in 8th at 2:34. Riggs
continued to extend her lead on lap 3, coming that at 3:36. Hall was in 2nd at 3:46 with Tager still in reach at 3:47.
Summers had move into 4th at 3:54 with Phillips matching that in 5th. Pappas was in 6th at 3:55. O'Palko was in 7th at
3:56. Hurricane's Ella Hardin had moved into 8th place shortly before the line, crossing at 4:01. On the final
lap, Riggs brought it home to finish in 4:50.25, which is the 3rd Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the
3rd Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Hall pulled away in the final lap and closed hard to just get
in under 5:00 with a 4:59.53. Tager held the 3rd spot in 5:06.11. Phillips made a late pass into 4th to finish in 5:08.42
with Summers holding 5th in 5:08.83. Pappas was 6th in 5:16.76 with O'Palko 7th in 5:17.60. Hardin pulled away to keep the
8th spot in 5:21.95.
RunWV's Current Score: 36 of 40.
3200 Meter Run
Morgantown's Irene Riggs assumed the lead from the start and left little doubt of her intentions, covering the first
lap in 1:10, to stake an 8 second lead after just one lap. I believe Bridgeport's Kaitlin Pappas was in 2nd at 1:18
with that matched by Hurricane's Ella Hardin in 3rd, Morgantown's Amelia Summers in 4th, Morgantown's Madeline
Gump in 5th, and University's Claire von Boetticher in 6th. Ripley's Ellie Hosaflook was in 7th at 1:19,
and I think it was St. Albans' Abigail Torman in 8th at 1:20. Riggs led the field through lap 2 in 2:23. A pack of
6 followed, running in single file with Pappas in 2nd, Summers in 3rd, and Hardin in 4th and 2:37. Gump was in 5th and von
Boetticher in 6th at 2:38 and Hosaflook in 7th at 2:39. The camera did not pick up 8th, nor did my notes. Riggs stretched
her lead to over 20 seconds on lap three, coming through in 3:35. Pappas remained in 2nd at 3:58 with Summers in 3rd at 3:59
and Hardin in 4th matching that time. Gump was in 5th at 4:00 with von Boetticher in 6th at 4:01. Hosaflook was in 7th at
4:05. Again, neither notes nor camera picked up 8th. At the mid-way point, Riggs was now ahead by over 30 seconds, coming
through in 4:50. Pappas was in 2nd at 5:22. Summers was in 3rd at 5:23 with Hardin matching that time in 4th. Gump remained
in 5th at 5:25. von Boetticher was in 6th at 5:26. Hosaflook remained in 7th at 5:39. I think it was St. Albans' Abigail
Torman in 8th at this point at 5:44. After 5 laps, Riggs was ahead by over 40 seconds, coming through in 6:08. Pappas
remained in 2nd at 6:47 with Summers in 3rd at 6:49. Hardin was in 4th at 6:50 with Gump in 5th at 6:51. von Boetticher
was still 6th at 6:54. Two came through at 7:16 in the battle for 7th, with that being Hosaflook and Torman. Riggs continued
to extend her lead, finishing lap 6 at 7:29. Pappas was still in 2nd at 8:15. Hardin surged into 3rd at 8:18 with Gump and
Summers matching that time in 4th and 5th. von Boetticher remained 6th at 8:22. Torman was in 7th at 8:53 with Hosaflook in
8th at 8:55. Riggs finished lap 7 at 8:50, now having lapped all by the top 6. The battle for 2nd was heating up with Gump
and Summers just squeezing past Pappas before the line and all 3 hitting 9:40. Hardin had dropped off the group but was still
solidly 5th at 9:46. von Boetticher was still 6th at 9:50. Torman was in 7th at 10:27 with University's Caroline Ballard
now in 8th at 10:29. Riggs sailed home for the easy win in 10:10.02, setting a new State Meet Record and giving her
the All-Time Best State Meet Performance and the All-Time Best Class AAA State Meet Performance. Summers and
Gump also broked 11:00, going 10:56.58 and 10:58.98, respectively, to give Morgantown a huge 1-2-3 finish. Pappas held the
4th spot in 11:06.70 with Hardin in 5th at 11:08.39. von Boetticher was all alone in 6th at 11:14.18. Torman held off
Ballard for 7th, 11:47.84 to 11:49.53.
RunWV's Current Score: 43 of 48.
100 Meter High Hurdles
A fine race between Hurricane's Lily Haught and Parkerburg's Addison Gherke ended with Haught getting the win
in 14.55, stumbling just after the finish line and ending up flat on her back. Gherke was closing and finished a really
nice 14.61. Haught ran a 14.28 in the trials which set a new State Meet Record and stands as the Best All-Time
State Meet Performance and the Best All-time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Gherke's 14.61 is the 9th Best
All-Time State Meet Performance and the 9th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Musselman's Ciara
Puller got the 3rd spot in 15.36 with Parkersburg's Lily Wharton in 4th in 15.43 and Riverside's Aliyah Smith
in 5th at 15.48.
RunWV's Current Score: 50 of 56.
300 Meter Low Hurdles
Hurricane's Lily Haught took control from the gun, had made up the stagger on the next 3 lanes to her outside by the
2nd hurdle and ran away for the 1.7 second win in 43.58. That gives her the 3rd Best All-Time State Meet Performance
and the 2nd Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Buckhannon-Upshur's Dezi Pugh ran a steady race to
take the 3rd spot in 47.32. Jefferson's Hope Gestl was 4th in 47.81, and Wheeling Park's Sophie Abraham went
47.99 in the 1st heat to snag 5th.
RunWV's Current Score: 56 of 64.
4x100 Meter Relay
Jefferson's squad of Arayia Maiben, Lorelei Bangit, Imani Wood, and Jazmyn Taylor controlled the race from the beginning
and took home the win 48.92, giving them the 8th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 8th Best All-Time Class
AAA State Meet Performance. Morgantown picked up the 2nd spot in 49.49. Spring Mills was 3rd in 50.12. Bridgeport got
a strong anchor to take 4th in 50.34. Musselman edged Woodrow Wilson for 5th, 50.50 to 50.51.
RunWV's Current Score: 62 of 72.
4x200 Meter Relay
The Huntington foursome of Audrey Flynn, Jessica West-Gore, Siraye Harper, and Ciera Thacker moved from no better than
5th after two legs to the win on a pair of strong legs, with Thacker moving to the lead with about 50 meters to go to take the
win in 1:44.94. Jefferson had a bad hand-off from 2 to 3 and settled for 2nd in 1:45.29. Spring Mills got by Woodrow Wilson
for 3rd, 146.00 to 1:46.15. Martinsburg and Morgantown were also under 1:47.
RunWV's Current Score: 70 of 80.
4x400 Meter Relay
I love it when the team title comes down to the 4x400, and we got that this year. Morgantown came into the event with a 2
point lead. Jefferson had the best Regional time and Morgantown was 2nd, but I had picked Morgantown to win it with Jefferson
2nd. It was going to be fun. And it was. After one leg, Morgantown ws in the lead at roughly 1:00. At the break line on
leg 2, Morgantown was in front, and Jefferson had moved into 2nd. Jefferson closed up on Morgantown, but Morgantown pulled
away down the stretch. Morgantown led through 2 legs at 2:03. I believe it was Woodrow Wilson in 2nd at 2:05 with Jefferson
in 3rd at 2:07. Spring Mills was in 4th. Jefferson moved back into 2nd on the backstretch and challenged for the lead near
the 200 meter, and took it. But Morgantown retook the lead coming out of the turn and stretched it back out, crossing the line
at 3:05. Jefferson was narrowly holding the 2nd spot at 3:07 with Woodrow Wilson matching them. Spring Mills remained in
4th at 3:09. Early in the final leg, Morgantown opened a lead just over 10 meters. It remained close to that with 200 meters
to go, and Spring Mills came strong up the backstretch to move into 3rd. The lead shrank significantly through the turn, and
coming out Morgantown was ahead by fewer than 5 meters. Jefferson made the pass as they passed the awards podium with about
50 meters to go and snagged the win and a tie for the team title. Hannah Phillips split 57.5 to secure the win and
the share of the team title for Jefferson. The unit of Imani Wood, Jade Matthews, Sylvia Trevathan, and Hannah Phillips
got the win in 4:04.83. Morgantown held the 2nd spot in 4:06.07 to maintain their share of the team title. Woodrow Wilson
stormed back into the 3rd spot, finishing in 4:07.97. Spring Mills held 4th in 4:09.89. Parkersburg was 5th in 4:10.84 with
Preston in 6th at 4:12.73. George Washington grabbed 7th from the 1st heat in 4:12.82. University took the final spot in 4:16.57.
RunWV's Current Score: 78-88.
4x800 Meter Relay
Morgantown led the field through the first leg at 2:22 with Preston close behind at 2:23. University was in 3rd at 2:36. After
two legs, it was still Morgantown in the lead at 4:48. University had moved into the 2nd spot at 4:51. I think Jefferson
was in 3rd at 4:57 with Cabell Midland in 4th at 4:58. Preston was in 5th 4:59. I think it was George Washington in 6th at
5:01. Hurricane was in 7th at 5:03. Morgantown continued to lead through the 3rd leg, coming through at 7:15. University
was in 2nd at 7:20. Jefferson was 3rd at 7:28. I think George Washington was in 4th at 7:34, Preston in 5th at 7:35, Cabell
Midland in 6th at 7:36. I'm not sure who was in 7th. I think Hurricane was in 8th at 7:42. Morgantown got a sub-2:20 leg
from Amelia Summers, and they needed every bit of it because University got a stellar 2:15.5 leg from Adelyn Tager,
but Morgantown's foursome of Anna Lester, Madeline Gump, Sophie Renner, and Amelia Summers held on for the win in 9:35.12.
That gave them the 8th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 7th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance.
University's close call 9:35.78 for 2nd gave their group of Haley Kramer, Clair von Boetticher, Helen Honecker, and Adelyn
Tager a tie for the 10th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and a tie for the 9th Best All-Time Class AAA State
Meet Performance. Jefferson solidly held the 3rd spot in 9:48.85. Preston took the 4th spot in 9:56.12. Hurricane got
an excellent 2:15 leg from Audrey Hall to move up to 5th in 9:58.05. Cabell Midland held the 6th spot at 10:07.27.
George Washington was 7th but got hit with a DQ for a late exchange. That moved Parkersburg into the 7th spot at 10:21.54
and Woodrow Wilson into 8th at 10:23.19, getting a last few yards pass for the spot.
RunWV's Current Score: 85 of 96.
Shuttle Hurdle Relay
The Parkersburg unit of Daysha Hastings, Claire Tatterson, Lily Wharton, and Addison Gherke took the lead late in leg 1
and obliterated the field with a 1:02.06, winning by over 3 seconds. A couple very safe exchanges kept them from being in the
1:01s. They still landed the 2nd Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 2nd Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet
Performance. Jefferson held off Huntington for the 2nd spot 1:05.49 to 1:05.68. Woodrow Wilson picked up 4th place from
Heat 1 with a 1:07.51. Washington was also under 1:08 with a 1:07.76 for 5th. This one was a disaster for me as I only got 4
placers correct.
RunWV's Current Score: 89 of 104.
High Jump
Parkersburg South's Mya Baruwa hadn't gone higher than 4'10 all season, and she missed it once here. Then she got 5'0
on her 2nd try. Standing in 4th place at the time, she was able to top 5'2 on her 2nd attempt, and no one else was able to
match her, and she scores the upset victory. Woodrow Wilson's Somalia Nelson jumped clean through 5'0 to take 2nd.
Cabell Midland's M.J. Daniels cleared 5'0 on her 1st attempt to score 3rd. Spring Mills' Briana King was the
only other jumper to clear 5'0 in taking 4th.
RunWV's Current Score: 95 of 112.
Pole Vault
Mogantown's Morgan Ryan vaulted cleanly through 10'6 to take the win. Bridgeport's Sallyanna Hamrick also cleared
10'6 but had misses along the way to take 2nd. The Ripley duo of Mya Phalen and Jazmin Parsons each cleared
10'0 with Phalen getting in on her 2nd attempt and Parsons on her 3rd to take 3rd and 4th, respectively. Parsons' clearance
launcher her from 8th to 4th in the standings. Hedgesville's Clover Stamat and Cabell Midland's Jordyn Taylor
each vaulted cleanly through 9'6 to tie for 5th. 3 others cleared 9'6.
RunWV's Current Score: 101 of 120.
Long Jump
Martinsburg's Eva Craigie is making 18'0 jumps a habit. This is the 5th meet this year that she's gone that far. Her
top jump was her 3rd attempt when she sailed 18'4.25, which won the event by nearly a foot. That also gives her the 5th Best
All-Time State Meet Performance and the 5th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Spring Valley's
Haleigh Crum went 17'4.75 in the prelims to score 2nd. Buckhannon-Upshur's Chloe Cale saved her best for last,
going 17'2.25. She had already sewn up 3rd place, but it's nice to hit that 17'0 jump. Hedgesville's Jordan Macher
was 4th with a 16'6.75 with Woodrow Wilson's Nevaiah Simmons in 5th with a 16'6.25. This was another rare 8 for 8
performance for me in this event. Makes up a little bit for the Shuttle disaster.
RunWV's Current Score: 109 of 128.
Shot Put
Jefferson's Hannah Shanley sent her 1st attempt 35'11.75, and no one was able to match it throughout the competition.
Teammate Brianua Goins sent her 1st one 35'7, and no one was able to beat that either, giving Jefferson a huge 1-2 finish.
Woodrow Wilson's Bella Staples threw 35'3.75 for 3rd, and only Preston's Sierra Davis was able to go over 34'0
among the rest of the field with her 34'0.75.
RunWV's Current Score: 115 of 136.
Discus
Woodrow Wilson's Bella Staples launched her 5th attempt 131'10, nearly 17' further than any other meet this season,
to move from 3rd to 1st. That also gives her the 7th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Preston's
Sierra Davis took the 2nd spot with a 125'8. Wheeling Park's Adriana Fazzini threw 122'4 for 3rd. Cabell
Midland's Ava Wortman and Jefferson's Haley Shanley were the only other ones to top 110'0 with Wortman getting
a 110'3 and Shanley a 110'1.
RunWV's Current Score: 121 of 144.
The final score of 121 of 144 means that 84.0% of the people picked to place did indeed place. That's my weakest set among the girls meets. Congratulations to those that proved me wrong.
Exceeding Predictions
The following athletes exceeded expectations by 3 or more places and deserve special mention.
Izayah Everett, Morgantown -- 100 M (picked 6th, got 2nd)
Siraye Harper, Huntington -- 100 M (picked 7th, got 4th)
Gabby Reep, Bridgeport -- 100 M (not picked, got 6th)
Giana Cox, Bridgeport -- 200 M (picked 5th, got 2nd)
Izayah Everett, Morgantown -- 200 M (not picked, got 4th)
Jayla Woods, South Charleston -- 400 M (picked 8th, got 3rd)
Ciara Puller, Musselman -- 100 HH (picked 7th, got 3rd)
Lily Wharton, Parkersburg -- 100 HH (picked 8th, got 4th)
Dezi Pugh, Buckhannon-Upshur -- 300 LH (picked 7th, got 3rd)
Sophie Abraham, Wheeling Park -- 300 LH (not picked, got 5th)
Paige Conrad, University -- 300 LH (not picked, got 6th)
Morgantown -- 4x100 Meter Relay (picked 5th, got 2nd)
(Belecia McKendall, Grace Devall, Josie Johnson, Izayah Everett)
Bridgeport -- 4x100 Meter Relay (picked 8th, got 4th)
(Sallyanna Hamrick, Gabby Reep, Savannah Courtney, Giana Cox)
Preston -- 4x800 Meter Relay (picked 7th, got 4th)
(Hallie Simmons, Sophia Saurino, Delilah Myers, Ella White)
Woodrow Wilson -- Shuttle Hurdle Relay (not picked, got 4th)
(Mia Houck, Lexi Thomas, Nevaiah Simmons, Nevaeah Howard)
Hurricane - Shuttle Hurdle Relay (not picked, got 6th)
(Madison Francis, Lily Haught, Kayson Burns, Lauren Dye)
Mya Baruwa, Parkersburg South -- High Jump (not picked, got 1st)
Macie Maynard, Spring Valley -- High Jump (not picked, tied for 5th)
Mya Phalen, Ripley -- Pole Vault (picked 7th, got 3rd)
Jordyn Taylor, Cabell Midland -- Pole Vault (picked 8th, tied for 5th)
Clover Stamat, Hedgesville -- Pole Vault (not picked, tied for 5th)
Chloe Cale, Buckhannon-Upshur -- Long Jump (picked 6th, got 3rd)
Nevaiah Simmons, Woodrow Wilson -- Long Jump (picked 8th, got 5th)
Peyton Thacker, Martinsburg -- Shot Put (not picked, got 5th)
Bella Staples, Woodrow Wilson -- Discus (picked 6th, got 1st)
The following teams deserve kudos for scoring seven points or more higher than I predicted.
Class AAA Girls Woodrow Wilson +14 Parkersburg South +10 Morgantown + 7