Class AAA Girls
100 Meter Dash
Jefferson nailed down a 1-2 finish with Brittany Carr and Chelsea Flinchum, and
Region II took five of the six places.
RunWV's Current Score: 5 of 6.
200 Meter Dash
Hampshire's Daytona Maher edged out in front of another Region II dominated field. As
in the 100, Region II took five of the six places. 3rd through 5th were separated by 0.02 seconds
in a tight finish.
RunWV's Current Score 10 of 12.
400 Meter Dash
Hurricane's Josie Crouch pulled away late and three runners ran under 59 to dominate the
field. Spring Valley's Savannah Rutherford and Fairmont Senior's Jenai Stubbs
were the others under 59 seconds. Crouch's 57.40 stands as the 7th Best All-Time State
Meet Performances, the 6th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance, and the
3rd Best AAA State Meet Performance this decade.
RunWV's Current Score: 15 of 18.
800 Meter Run
Hurricane's Josie Crouch overcame being boxed in for much of the first lap to run away
from the field in the 2nd. Elkins freshman Letitia Propst easily sped her way to 2nd. Wheeling
Park's Courtney Yaeger came from way back in the last 200 to pull into the extremely
rare tie with Pakersburg freshman Tori Boggs. The top 7 all ran under 2:25. Crouch's
2:18.10 is the 9th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance and the 5th Best Class AAA
State Meet Performance this decade.
RunWV's Current Score: 19 of 24.
1600 Meter Run
There was still a pack of five heading into the last lap, with another not far off. But Wheeling
Park's Courtney Yaeger pulled out a 73 second final lap, and powered away from the field
down the stretch. Preston's Ari Kasprowicz edged out University's Hallie Portner for the runner-up
spot. Preston's Ashley Teets also ran under 5:15 in finishing 4th. Hurricane's
Alex Dent ran 5:15.84 to give us five finishers under 5:20. Preston's Jordan Hamric
finished 6th, giving Preston three of the top six, and giving Region I five of the six placers.
Yaeger's 5:08.79 goes in the books as the 9th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance. The
first 11 girls ran under 5:30.
RunWV's Current Score: 24 of 30.
3200 Meter Run
There was a pack of nine through the first four laps as the group all cross in 5:46 or 5:47. It was
still an 8 runner pack after five laps. After six laps, it had dropped to six, but they were all
still in it. At the gun, the six were still within three seconds of her. Wheeling Park's Courtney
Yaeger, as she would do the following day in the 1600, pulled away from most of the field on
the final lap, dropping a 73 final lap on her competition. Preston's Jordan Hamric made a race
of it, but Yaeger got away in the final 100. The first five all ran under 11:17. The top 6 all ran
11:20 or better. The first nine were under 12:00. Yaeger's 11:07.73 is the 6th Best All-Time
State Meet Performance, the 4th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance, and the 3rd Best
Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade. Hamric's 11:10.26 ranks as the 9th Best Class
AAA State Meet Performance and the 6th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade.
Teets' 11:13.05 stands as the 10th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance. Four of the six
placers came out of Region I.
RunWV's Current Score: 30 of 36.
100 Meter High Hurdles
Parkersburg South's Kelsey Watkins took control of the race about mid-way through and won
convincingly. Nicholas' Alexis Shearer and Greenbrier East's Lauren Asbury also
ran under 16 seconds.
RunWV's Current Score: 34 of 42.
300 Meter Low Hurdles
There was George Washington's Bailey Rhodes, and then there was everyone else. Rhodes finished
over a second ahead of the field. The next six were within 1 second of each other.
RunWV's Current Score: 38 of 48.
4x100 Meter Relay
Jefferson cracked the 50 second barrier, and Brittany Carr overcame pre-meet favorite Wheeling Park
in the final leg. Those two over at least 0.8 seconds faster than everyone else. Woodrow Wilson also
ran under 51 seconds. Jefferson's 49.83 stands as the 7th Best All-Time State Meet Performance,
the 7th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance, and the 2nd Best Class AAA State Meet Performance
this decade. Wheeling Park's 50.04 is the 4th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade.
Jefferson's crew consisted of Nicole Himes, Chelsea Flinchum, Heather Reynolds, and Brittany Carr.
Wheeling Park's group was Dashayla Bell, Mone Walker, Caitlyn O'Leary, and Austyn Creighton. Three
of Jefferson's four return next year (though they could be at different schools), and all four of Wheeling
Park's group return.
RunWV's Current Score: 42 of 54.
4x200 Meter Relay
Jefferson used a stellar anchor leg from Brittany Carr to pull past Wheeling Park for the win as
the two teams finished over 3 seconds ahead of the competition. Three of Jefferson's four return next
season (though it's possible that they'll be at different schools), and all four of Wheeling Park's
girls return. Jefferson's 1:44.49 ranks as the 8th Best All-Time State Meet Performance, the
8th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance, and the Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this
decade. Wheeling Park's 1:45.14 will stand as the 3rd Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this
decade. Jefferson's unit consisted of Nicole Himes, Chelsea Flinchum, Heather Reynolds, and
Brittany Carr. Wheeling Park's group included Dashayla Bell, Monae Walker, Caitlin O'Leary, and
Austyn Creighton.
RunWV's Current Score: 47 of 60.
4x400 Meter Relay
Parkersburg used a 60.2 anchor leg from Janey Hall to surge past Hampshire down the homestretch.
Hampshire finished less than a second back with a stellar performance. Buckhannon-Upshur was less than
a second behind Hampshire, and Cabell Midland was about a second behind Buckhannon.
RunWV's Current Score: 53 of 66.
4x800 Meter Relay
Hurricane took the early lead with a 2:22.5 lead leg from Alex Dent. Preston was close behind.
Hurricane still led after two legs with Parkersburg and Preston close behind. Preston received a
strong leg from Jordan Hamric to take the lead after three legs. But Hurricane had Josie
Crouch to run the anchor. She quickly made up the gap and sped away from the field to help Hurricane
win the event by over 13 seconds. Crouch's split was 2:19. Preston held on for 2nd, just ahead of
Parkersburg. University and Ripley also came in under 10:00. Hurricane's 9:38.16 ranks them as tied
for 4th Best All-Time State Meet Performance, tied for 3rd Class AAA State Meet Performance,
and tied for 3rd Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade. Hurricane's unit included
Alex Dent, Sarah Davis, Sahara Assi, and Josie Crouch. That's three Sophomores and a Freshman.
Items of note from the relay (and this is assuming that people actually ran in the order indicated on
the final results), Hallie Portner
closed in 2:24 for University. Tori Boggs went 2:24 for Parkersburg on the 2nd leg. Ashley
Teets opened with a 2:24 for Preston. There may have been others, but I'm going from my notes.
RunWV's Current Score: 58 of 72.
Shuttle Hurdle Relay
Wheeling Park dominated the field, winning by over 2.5 seconds. 2nd through 6th was decided by 0.79 seconds.
Wheeling Park's 1:04.52 set a Stae Meet record. That gives them the 3rd Best All-Time State Meet Performance.
The difference is in the conversions from the 1995 distance. They also record the 3rd Best Class AAA
State Meet Performance and the Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade. Wheeling Parks
Shuttle team was Miranda Rios, Ashley Dolan, Alicia Bonar, and Hannah Gompers.
RunWV's Current Score: 63 of 78.
Long Jump
George Washington's Brittany Pratt soared past the 17' mark with her leap of 17'3.75". Huntington's
Talequia Hamilton and Woodrow Wilson's Michelle Oye were the only other jumpers to top 16 feet.
Hamilton and Oye are Freshmen, as is 4th place finisher Shardinae Adams of Lewis County.
RunWV's Current Score: 66 of 84.
High Jump
Bridgeport's Kendall McCaugherty capped her High School career by repeating as the High Jump champion.
Her 5'4 jump topped the field. Bridgeport placed three girls in the top four.
RunWV's Current Score: 70 of 90.
Shot Put
Hurricane's Christy Austin topped the field by nearly 3 feet.
RunWV's Current Score: 75 of 96.
Discus
Preston's Elsie Smith had only thrown over 100' once in her career (the Regional Championship). She
had failed to record a mark at both her Conference Championship and the Gazette Relays. On the final
throw of her High School career, Smith launched the discus 12 feet further than she ever had before and
picked up the shocking victory. This was also the first time her father had seen her compete. Smith had
dedicated this season to her former throws coach, Richard Goff, who passed away earlier this year at the
age of 41. What a very fitting way for this athlete to go out. Martinsburg's Miranda Hicks was
the only other thrower to top 110 feet.
RunWV's Current Score: 78 of 102.
Pole Vault
George Washington's Brittany Pratt scored another victory as she topped Parkersburg's Caitlin Meeks
on misses as both cleared 9'6.
RunWV's Current Score: 83 of 108.
The final score of 85 of 108 means that 76.9 % of the people picked to place did indeed place. Congratulations to those that proved me wrong.
Exceeding Predictions
The following athletes exceeded expectations by 3 or more places and deserve special mention.
Daytona Maher, Hampshire -- 100 M (picked 6th, got 3rd)
Daytona Maher, Hampshire -- 200 M (picked 5th, got 1st)
Jenai Stubbs, Fairmont Senior -- 400 M (not picked, got 3rd)
Letitia Propst, Elkins -- 800 M (picked 6th, got 2nd)
Ashley Teets, Preston -- 1600 M (not picked, got 4th)
Hannah Gompers, Wheeling Park -- 100 HH (not picked, got 4th)
Kelsey Watkins, Parkersburg South -- 300 LH (not picked, got 2nd)
Susie Godwin, Buckhannon-Upshur -- 300 LH (not picked, got 4th)
Parkersburg -- 4x400 M (picked 4th, got 1st)
(Katie Roberts, Tori Boggs, Brianna Maze, Janey Hall)
Hampshire -- 4x400 M (picked 5th, got 2nd)
(Rana Conneway, Samantha Jendras, Amber Gano, Daytona Maher)
Preston -- 4x800 M (picked 5th, got 2nd)
(Ashley Teets, Ari Kasprowicz, Jordan Hamric, Rebecca Verbonitz)
Michelle Oye, Woodrow Wilson -- Long Jump (not picked, got 3rd)
Shardinae Adams, Lewis -- Long Jump (not picked, got 4th)
Emily Cline, Greenbrier East -- High Jump (not picked, got 3rd)
Tiffany Oldaker, Bridgeport -- High Jump (not picked, got 4th)
Iesha Robinson, Martinsburg -- Shot Put (not picked, got 4th)
Elsie Smith, Preston -- Discus (not picked, got 1st)
Jaclyn Schiffour, Hurricane -- Pole Vault (not picked, got 3rd)
The following teams deserve kudos for scoring seven points or more higher than we predicted.
Class AAA Girls Preston +17 Hampshire +15 Huntington +11 George Washington + 9 Elkins + 7
Class AAA Boys
100 Meter Dash
Woodrow Wilson's Marquel Ali powered past the competition in the last 20 meters to repeat as
champion. Hurricane's Terrell Martin showed no signs of injury in surging into 2nd. Hedgesville's
Jordan Reed used a stellar start to claim 3rd place. Those three were under 11 seconds. Ali's
trials time of 10.79 ranks as the 5th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade.
RunWV's Current Score: 5 of 6.
200 Meter Dash
Hurricane's Terrell Martin avenged his defeat in the 100 by surging past Woodrow Wilson's
Marquel Ali in the final 30 meters to win the event. Martin's 21.84 time (an FAT equivalent hand-time
if my understanding is correct), ranks as the 3rd Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade.
RunWV's Current Score: 10 of 12.
400 Meter Dash
Hurricane's Terrell Marin duplicated his win from a year ago, and in similar fashion, with Martin
just powering away from everyone down the stretch. Bridgeport's Wes Eades ran under 50 seconds as
well. Jefferson's Brandon Hyler snared 3rd place from the 1st heat. Martins 48.76 was the 5th
Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade.
RunWV's Current Score: 15 of 18.
800 Meter Run
Cabell Midland's David Bias gave us yet another repeat winner when he again claimed the 800 Meter
Title. Bias went out hard, along with St. Albans' Andy Bailey as the pair toured the first lap in
56 seconds. Bias pulled away from Bailey with about 200 Meters to go, but had to hold off a strong late
charge from Martinsburg's Khiry Timbers. Bailey held on for 3rd as the top 3 came in under 2:00.
Bias and Timbers were under 1:57. Bias' 1:56.22 ranks as the 2nd Best Class AAA State Meet Performance
this decade. Timbers' 1:56.59 ranks as the 6th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade.
Of considerable note, both Timbers and Bailey are Sophomores.
RunWV's Current Score: 19 of 24.
1600 Meter Run
North Marion's Zach Tennant pulled away from the field on the 3rd lap and continued to stretch that
lead until he was out of reach. The leaders had gone out in a fairly pedestrian 2:17 for the first two laps,
but Tennant opened up for a 64 on the 3rd lap and a 63 on the closing lap. Cabell Midland's David Bias
outkicked Wheeling Park's Ryan Beabout for 2nd as the top three finished in under 4:30. Tennant's
time of 4:24.67 land him the 6th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade.
RunWV's Current Score: 24 of 30.
3200 Meter Run
Wheeling Park's Ryan Beabout started to pull away from the field on the 2nd lap. By the end of the
first mile, he had established a 6 second lead. That lead had stretched to 11 seconds by the end of the
6th lap and 15 seconds by the end of the seventh. He was able to cruise home to a 13 second victory and
a place in the books as a repeat champion. Cabell Midland's David Bias pulled away from South Charleston's
David Caldwell in the final lap to claim 2nd. Jefferson's Cory Hampshire outkicked Elkins'
Alex Zurbuch for 4th. Wheeling Park's Russell Mulley pulled a 66 on the last lap to pass
five people to claim the final spot. The first five were all 9:51 or better. Beabout's 9:27.35 is the
6th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade.
RunWV's Current Score: 29 of 36.
110 Meter High Hurdles
Cabell Midland's Drake Kinzel avenged his Gazette Relays loss to Greenbrier East's John Gadomski
with a clean run and the only sub-15 second run in the field. Gadomski held off Jefferson's David Acly
for 2nd.
RunWV's Current Score: 34 of 42.
300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles
Cabell Midland's Drake Kinzel got his first leg of the double in the morning session with a full
second victory in the 300's. John Marshall's Mark Sampson sped to 2nd place. Buckhannon-Upshur's
Michael Meadows was also under 40.5.
RunWV's Current Score: 38 of 48.
4x100 Meter Relay
Hedgesville displayed their depth with a solid victory in the 4x100. Woodrow Wilson used a strong anchor leg
from Marquel Ali to just edge past Jefferson for 2nd. Wheeling Park and Riverside were also under 44
seconds. Hedgesville's 43.18 put them in a tie for the 4th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade.
Hedgesville's foursome consisted of Adam Leonard, Taylor Hockman, Jonathan Chambers, and Jordan Reed.
RunWV's Current Score: 44 of 54.
4x200 Meter Relay
Hedgesville ran away with the 4x200 by over a second as a precurson to their 4x100 win later in the day. Riverside
ran a solid second as they were the only two teams to go under 1:31. Wheeling Park was the only other team under
1:32. Hedgesville's time is the 5th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade. Hedgesville's
unit included Jonathan Chambers, Taylor Hockman, Adam Leonard, and Jordan Reed.
RunWV's Current Score: 50 of 60.
4x400 Meter Relay
If only I had split Hurricane's Terrell Martin's anchor leg myself. Then I could say with complete confidence
just how fast he ran. It's reported anywhere from 46.5 to 47.2. What I can tell you is that it was 47.98 from when
the leader crossed to start the 4th leg to when Martin finished....and Hurricane was in 4th when the exchanges happen.
I can also tell you that the people he ran down were no slouches. Wheeling Park's Brandon McKinley, who
finished 6th in the 400 open, Cabell Midland's Drake Kinzel, who won the 300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles,
and Martinsburg's Khiry Timbers, who placed 3rd in the 400 open. This ranks up there for me as not far off
Eric Ryan's 1:51.8 leg as one of the best relay legs I've ever seen. Hurricane finished up over a second ahead of
2nd place Martinsburg and ran under 3:25. Martinsburg ran under 3:26. Cabell Midland and Wheeling Park both ran
3:27's. Hurricane's 3:24.67 ranks as the 10th Best All-Time State Meet Performance, the 10th Best Class
AAA State Meet Performance, and the Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade. Martinsburg's
3:25.95 ranks as the 6th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade. Hurricane's unit was Dakota
Litton, Zack DeWitt, Nick Mohebbi, and Terrell Martin. Martinsburg's group included Donell Ferguson, Lamar
Harvey, Zane McDonald, and Khiry Timbers.
RunWV's Current Score: 55 of 66.
4x800 Meter Relay
Cabell Midland ran away from the field as expected, and won by nearly 7 seconds. David Bias ran a 1:57.5
anchor leg to seal the deal for Midland. St. Albans won the battle for 2nd place. University took the 3rd spot.
Wheeling Park used a 1:59 anchor leg from Ryan Beabout to move into 4th, just ahead of George Washington
as 2nd through 5th all finished between 8:15 and 8:19. Jefferson took the last spot.
RunWV's Current Score: 59 of 72.
Shuttle Hurdle Relay
Cabell Midland continued their season-long dominance in the shuttles with a standout time of 56.22. On a dry
track, the State record may have been in jeopardy. Hedgesville started off a series of strong relays with a
second place finish as they, too, ran under 58 seconds. The top 8 all ran under 60 seconds. Midland's 56.22
was the Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade. Cabell Midland's team consisted of Brian
Dilcher, Drake Kinzel, John Thompson, and Ryan Ramsby.
RunWV's Current Score: 64 of 78.
Long Jump
Bridgeport's Wes Eades soared past the field winning by over a goot. His 22'8.25 jump was the only 22'
jump in the group. The next four placers were separated by just 2 inches. Cabell Midland's Ryan Ramsby,
Buckhannon-Upshur's Cody Servetas, Hedgesville's Taylor Hockman, and Robert C. Byrd's Jordan
Swiger all surpassed 21'. Jefferson's Dewey McDonald finished 6th to give Region II five placers
in the event. Eades' 22'8.25 jump is the 4th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade.
RunWV's Current Score: 69 of 84.
High Jump
St. Albans' Trevor Wilburn was the only jumper to top 6'6. Only Robert C. Byrd's Jordan Swiger
and Hedgesville's Chris Deaner were able to clear 6'4. Wilburn's 6'6 along with previous State Meet
jumps of 6'2 and 6'0 will put him at the 5th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this decade.
RunWV's Current Score: 74 of 90.
Shot Put
Hedgesville's Denver Effland moved from 5th to 1st on his final toss, becoming the only one in the
field to top 51'. Three others topped 50' and all six placers were over 49'. Cabell Midland's Cole Bowers,
Hedgesville's Maurice Newby, and Martinsburg's Dustin Peters were the ones to top 50'.
RunWV's Current Score: 80 of 96.
Discus
Dustin Peters won the event in his final throw, sailing the discus 11' further than his opponents. His 159'9 toss
was the only toss over 150'. Of the remaining competitors, only Wheeling Park's Seth Myers and Hampshire's
Matt Davis topped 140'. Peters' 159'9 throw stands as the 4th Best Class AAA State Meet Performance this
decade.
RunWV's Current Score: 85 of 102.
Pole Vault
Wheeling Park's Eric Ripley took the title over Cabell Midland's Brian Dilcher on misses as both topped
13'. Wheeling Park's James Oliver and Parkersburg South's Joe Reed each topped 12'6.
RunWV's Current Score: 88 of 108.
The final score of 88 of 108 means that 81.5 % of the people picked to place did indeed place. Congratulations to those that proved me wrong.
Exceeding Predictions
The following athletes exceed our predictions by 3 or more places and
deserve special mention.
Brandon Hyler, Jefferson -- 400 M (picked 6th, got 3rd)
Michael Meadows, Buckhannon-Upshur -- 300 IH (picked 6th, got 3rd)
David Acly, Jefferson -- 300 IH (not picked, got 4th)
Hedgesville -- 4x100 (picked 4th, got 1st)
(Jonathan Chambers, Taylor Hockman, Adam Leonard, Jordan Reed)
Taylor Hockman, Hedgesville -- Long Jump (not picked, got 4th)
Denver Effland, Hedgesville -- Shot Put (picked 5th, got 1st)
Brian Dilcher, Cabell Midland -- Pole Vault (not picked, got 2nd)
The following teams deserve kudos for scoring seven points or more higher than we predicted.
Class AAA Boys Hedgesville +18 Cabell Midland +15 Jefferson +10 Hurricane + 9