May 19, 1999
Coach Steve Taylor from Virginia Tech wishes to announce a running camp to take place during the first week of August. Details regarding the camp can be found at the following address:
January 3, 1999 We have a correction on the last news update. Coach Rich Hoffman (Penn State-Erie) pointed out our neglect of the National Meets prior to the Footlocker Meet's existence. We reported that only 1 West Virginia runner had ever qualified for nationals. The Footlocker Cross Country Meet was previously known as the Kinney Cross Country Meet, and during that time, West Virginia was represented 3 times at the national meet. In 1981, St. Marys' Steve Taylor placed 7th in the national meet with a time of 15:05. In 1982, two West Virginia athletes qualified for the National Meet: Brian Redman of Piedmont, WV finished 23rd in the meet with a time of 15:30, and Steve Taylor came away with a 3rd place finish with a time of 14:53. December 9, 1998 We have some of the results from the Footlocker Southeast Regional Cross Country Meet held November 28 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The top 8 individuals in the seeded races advance to nationals held December 12. To the best of our knowledge, only 1 West Virginia runner has ever qualified for nationals. Mikey Cox of Athens places 4th in the regional in 1992 with a time of 15:29. Here are how some of this year's competitors fared. Girls Seeded Race (At Least 107 Finishers): 27. Holly Hunter East Fairmont 19:01 61. Ryann Metheny Elkins 19:49 Sophomore Girls (87 Finishers): 29. Jessica Taylor Fayetteville 21:06 Jr. High Girls (46 Finishers): 3. Chelsea Metheny Elkins 20:56 Boys Seeded Race (224 Finishers): 16. Josh Watson Magnolia 15:43 81. Shawn Greene St. Albans 16:30 100. Mikey Guinn St. Albans 16:40 110. Larry Atkins Huntington 16:46 165. Ricky Moore Wheeling Park 17:18 Junior Boys (221 Finishers): 11. Shaun Spielman Berkley Springs 16:37 44. Aaron Phillips PikeView 17:27 Freshman Boys (129 Finishers): 5. Kenny Beerbower Fairmont Senior 16:40 25. Stephen Hiser University 17:21 This is not a complete list of West Virginia competitors at this meet, but for the time being, these are all we know the results for.
November 9, 1998
The following was sent to us today. Some of you may be interested or know someone who might be.
Dear Coach,
My name is Terry Drake. This summer I am putting together a unique opportunity for your athletes and possibly even yourself.
This summer, June 29 through July 13, I will be taking a group of high school and college students to Europe (England, Ireland, and Scotland) for two weeks of competition, training, and fun.
The concept of this trip is to provide each athlete with a fantastic experience. Not only will they be rewarded with a unique cultural experience, but also each athlete will gain valuable experience and expertise from World Class Athletes, and nationally recognized coaches.
Among those traveling with us will be Steve Scott, American Record holder in the mile: Irv Ray, Head coach at California Baptist University: and Terry Drake, former Head cross country coach at Kansas State University and Olympic Trials Qualifier in the steeplechase. Throw and Jump coaches will be provided to us in Europe, so your throwers and jumpers will gain expert knowledge in a unique way. How can you benefit? Not only will your athletes learn some valuable lessons from some of the worlds best, but also if you can bring 13 athletes, your trip will be provided free of charge.
To learn more about this unique opportunity, please feel free to e-mail me at tdrake@usd497.k12.ks.us
I will then get you the needed information you request.
Don't miss out on this exciting adventure.
Sincerely,
Terry Drake
October 16, 1998
Several reports have the 3 runners that were hospitalized being released.
October 15, 1998
We at RunWV wish to offer our condolences to the family, team members, classmates and friends of Seth Burton. The Fairmont Senior student was a member of the #1 ranked Polar Bears cross country team. Mr. Burton was killed in an auto accident prior to the NCAC Conference championship meet to be held at Apple Valley Golf Course in Fairmont, WV. Three other members of the Fairmont Senior team were also seriously injured in the accident. Randy Melgarejo, Jay Urse and Justin Underwood were transported to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown as a result of the two car collision taking place around 3:00 P.M. Wednesday afternoon. Also involved in the accident were team member Mike Bartolf and in a second vehicle, Catherine Wilmouth and her son Andy Wilmouth (also a West Fairmont runner). Everyone's thoughts and prayers should be with each individual involved in the crash and those that know them. If you wish to see additional information, please visit the web site of the Fairmont Times, the local paper of the Fairmont Senior Polar Bears. Here is the address http://www.timeswv.com/localsto.html This address will be active for today only, after that it will lead to other Fairmont Times news.
Unlike many other sports, Cross Country and Track allow the participants to get to know each other. There are no helmets hiding the faces, no separate benches. We see our opponents up close and often many times over the course of the season. Many hours of jogging the course prior to the meet, sitting between track events, and waiting for post meet ceremonies allow the runners to interact with each other, to get to know one another outside of the lines of the sport. Some of my fondest memories of high school sports revolve around the friendships I developed with members of other track teams. That is one reason Cross Country and Track are so special. Your opponents are not just numbers on a chart, they are faces, they are people, they are friends. Runners (and former runners) in general are a different breed. They revel in toiling in everything from the hot dog days of summer to the biting cold of a rainy November morning, from 100 meters of asphalt to 3.1 miles of muddy backwoods trails. Often they sit for hours between lung burning events or run miles in packs before a leg testing sprint to the chute. This combination of variety and closeness with your competitors often lead runners to a state of zaniness. Most runners I know are considered a little crazy by their friends, perplexing to their coaches and are among the most happy, smiling people you will ever meet. I'm not sure if crazy people gravitate to running or if running makes the people who do it crazy. Regardless, I wouldn't have it any other way.
The closeness that allows friendships to form among rivals also brings us closer to the pain of losing a kindred spirit. Whether or not you actually knew Seth Burton, you couldn't help but feel the grief when you heard the news of his death. Seth Burton was a runner. Seth Burton was like you, and like me, and like every other person who has decided it would be fun to put one foot in front of the other as fast or as long as you could and see how many people you could beat while doing it. The next time you're running, coaching or cheering, don't forget to remember how lucky you are to be a part of it all. The experience of being involved is a gift that everyone should cherish.
October 11, 1998
Just a quick update on some things that are going on here at RunWV.com. For those of you who have set up a direct link to the cross country page, you may have missed what we're doing with football. Check each Monday morning for an estimate of the WVSSAC standings (official standings don't come out until Wednesday). Look for scores from throughout the state, and vote in our Football Fans' poll. Meanwhile, here in Cross Country land, our coaches poll is now being carried in several state newspapers. So coaches, be sure and get your votes in each week. Also, we're not getting a lot of information from the Eastern Panhandle (Jefferson, Hedgesville, etc.) or the Huntington area. If you've had meets in that area that are not already on our site, please send them to us. Fax to (304) 624-5675 or E-Mail to runwv@hotmail.com.
September 27, 1998
We're back in full swing with several more meets to add over the next week. The Cross Country Poll has now branched into coaches' votes and fans' votes. The voting is now also tabulated weekly, so be sure you vote each week. (p>Coaches, we need you to start sending us more meets. We know a lot of you visit the site, and we know you've had meets. Please send us any information you can, even if it is only results for your runners. Thanks for your help and support.
September 24, 1998
Due to some software difficulty, the site didn't see much updates over the last week. The problem has now been fixed and we will shortly be getting on even more results. Sorry for the delay.
Be sure to vote in our Fan's Poll if you haven't voted since the last poll was posted. Just click on submit your vote on the main screen.