Class AAA Boys
100 Meter Dash
Parkersburg's Chandler Hamilton surged late to nip Washington teammates
Ian MacLeod and Derrick Brunson at the line. The top six all made
it in under 11.40.
RunWV's Current Score: 4 of 6.
200 Meter Dash
Parkersburg's Chandler Hamilton took the lead coming out of the first 100
and powered away for the win. Huntington's Ryan McGuffin moved up to 2nd.
As with last year, I knew this one was tricky, and it bit me again. 3 of my 6
placers didn't make the final.
RunWV's Current Score: 7 of 12.
400 Meter Dash
With pre-race favorite Jacob Kilgore getting nailed with one of the many
false starts in this meet, it became anyone's race. It was Jefferson's Martinez
Grant pulling out the win in the final 20 meters. Hedgesville's Jacob
Ervin nipped Washington's Derrick Brunson at the line for 2nd. Shady
Spring's Stephen DeMoss gave us four under 50.43.
RunWV's Current Score: 11 of 18.
800 Meter Run
Spring Valley's Jacob Kilgore erased some of the disappointment in his 400
Meter Dash disqualification by running away with the 800. His 1:54.90 is another
in a recent string of sub-1:55 champions. He led from start to finish, taking the
first lap in 55 seconds, and taking the win by nearly 1.8 seconds. Parkersburg's
Nic Cheuvront outdueled Jefferson's Andrew Milliron for 2nd. Ripley's
Antonio Jones pulled close to Kilgore with 200 meters to go and held on for
4th as the top four all made it in under 1:58. Greenbrier East's Garrett Clemons
and Hurricane's Jimmy Grant were under 1:59 in rounding out the places. It
was another strong year for the 800 at 8 athletes came in under 2:00.
RunWV's Current Score: 16 of 24.
1600 Meter Run
Jefferson's Andrew Milliron took the field at fast, covering the first lap
in 61 seconds. University's triumvirate of Andy Paladino, Tristan Harvey,
and Alex Minor were in the 2nd through 4th spots, each at 1:02. Elkins'
Matt Wallace was in 5th, and Morgantown's Connor Riley was in 6th,
also at 1:02. The first 9 came through in 62 seconds seconds, and all 16 competitors
covered the first lap in under 65 seconds. Milliron continued to lead through two
laps, covering the first half in 2:06. Harvey moved up to 2nd, just a couple strides
back in 2:07. Paladino was in 3rd with Minor holding 4th with both at 2:08. Wallace
remained in 5th, also at 2:08. Greenbrier East's Levi Snedegar had moved into
6th at 2:09, followed closely by Riley. Those 7 had opened about a 15 meter gap on
the rest of the field. Milliron continued to be trailed closely by Harvey on lap
3 with both crossing at 3:13. Minor had moved onto their heels, crossing in 3:14.
Paladino had dropped back a couple strides at 3:15. Wallace remained in 5th at 3:16
and Riley had moved back into 6th at 3:18. On the final lap, Milliron pulled away
convincingly for the win, with most of the final gap occurring over the last 250
meters. He closed in 63 seconds to take the win by nearly 6 seconds. Harvey held
onto 2nd, with Minor in 3rd and Paladino in 4th. Riley made the move past Wallace
down the stretch to take 5th. Wallace held onto 6th. The top 3 were under 4:25.
The top 7 made it in under 4:30.
RunWV's Current Score: 20 of 30.
3200 Meter Run
This race went tactical from the gun as no one pushed the early pace. Everyone in
the field crossed in either 1:10 or 1:11 with Jefferson's Andrew Milliron
and Jackson Jacobs at the front of the pack along with Morgantown's
Anthony Laurita. Lap 2 saw much of the same with everyone coming through
between 2:24 and 2:26. Now it was George Washington's Matthew Brafford
with the slight lead. Milliron was in 2nd. Cabell Midland's Jonathan Hathaway
was in 3rd. Laurita was in 4th. University's Seth Edwards and Andy
Paladino were running in 5th and 6th, respectively. More of the same on lap
3, though a couple started to drop off the pack. Most of the group, however
came through in 3:35 or 3:36. Brafford still had the slight lead. Oak Hill's
Cody Gillespie made a surge up to 2nd as the lap closed. St. Albans'
Jon Sandy had moved into 3rd. Edwards was in 4th. Milliron was in 5th
and Jacobs was in 6th. Things finally started to string out a little on lap 4.
As the first half of the race closed, Brafford continued to lead at 4:47 with
Milliron right on his inside shoulder. Laurita was a stride back, also in 4:47.
Paladino was in 4th, also at 4:47. Hathaway was in 5th at 4:48, and Preston's
Colin Radabaugh had moved into 6th, also at 4:48. Lap five saw more
separation. Milliron moved to the front at 5:57. Laurita was in 2nd at 5:58.
Paladino and Brafford also crossed in 5:58 in 3rd and 4th, respectively. Radabaugh
was up to 5th with Hathaway in 6th. Milliron started to pull away late in lap 6,
coming through in 7:08. Laurita and Paladino were holding 2nd and 3rd at 7:10.
Brafford was holding 4th but had dropped off the other three, crossing in 7:13.
Radabaugh was holding 5th at 7:16. Jacobs had moved back into the top 6 at 7:18.
On lap 7, Milliron extended his lead, coming through in 8:18. Paladino put a gap
on Laurita, crossing in 8:22 to Laurita's 8:26. Jacobs have made a big move into
4th at 8:29. Radabaugh was right behind in 5th at 8:30. Brafford was in 6th at
8:31. On the final lap, Milliron left no doubt, pulling away for the 8 second
win in 9:25.55. Paladino easily held the 2nd spot at 9:33.75. Radabaugh closed
in under 66 to make the big move into 3rd. Jacobs held the 4th spot with Laurita
coming in 5th at the front five were all under 9:40. Brafford just edged Hathaway
at the line for the final spot with both getting in the 9:41's.
RunWV's Current Score: 25 of 36.
110 Meter High Hurdles
Parkersburg's Evan Rhodes picked up a big win for the Big Reds after teammate
and Landon Miller was victim to one of the many false starts in the meet during
the prelims. He pulled away over the last few hurdles for the win. Wheeling Park's
Richard Cummings edged Lewis County's Dustin Martin for 2nd as both
came in under 15.00. One of my predicted placers false started in the trials and
another fell in the finals.
RunWV's Current Score: 29 of 42.
300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles
Parkersburg took control of the team race back with a 1-2 finish in this event from
Evan Rhodes and Landon Miller. Rhodes dominated the race, clocking under
38 seconds. Miller was a surprise, hitting his best time of the year by over 1.5
seconds and edging out George Washington's will Walker, Lewis County's Dustin
Martin, and Hedgesville's Joshua Taggart-Perez for the spot. Taggart-Perez
had 2nd well in hand but hit the last hurdle and landed awkwardly and was passed
by Miller, Walker, and Martin. The four were separated by just 0.4 seconds and
all come in at under 40 seconds.
RunWV's Current Score: 34 of 48.
4x100 Meter Relay
The Huntington unite of Brandon Morrison, Clark Wilson, Ryan McGuffin, and Paden
Christian justed edged out Jefferson by 0.07 seconds for the win. Martinsburg joined
Jefferson and Huntington under 44 seconds.
RunWV's Current Score: 37 of 54.
4x200 Meter Relay
Parkersburg's foursome of Chandler Hamilton, Landon Miller, Dan Fox, and Logan Woodell
gave us our 2nd straight year of getting a team in under 1:30 with their 1:29.80 clocking.
Buckhannon-Upshur was the only other team to get in under 1:31. Three others came through
under 1:32.
RunWV's Current Score: 41 of 60.
4x400 Meter Relay
Parkersburg sealed their great Saturday with the group of Chandler Hamilton, Logan Woodell,
Nic Cheuvront, and Evan Rhodes taking the title with by over 1.8 seconds in 3:26.24. They
used a 50.5 anchor leg from Rhodes to seal the deal. Jefferson took the 2nd spot with a
3:28.06. Washington and Martinsburg also came in under 3:30.
RunWV's Current Score: 46 of 66.
4x800 Meter Relay
The University foursome of Andy Paladinom, Tristan Harvey, Seth Edwards, and
Alex Minor took th elead on the 2nd leg and never relinquished it. Hurricane
had the lead at the end of the first leg at 2:02, followed by Jefferson also at 2:02,
Morgantown, University, Capital, and Cabell Midland at 2:03. On the 2nd leg,
University took the lead at 4:04. Capital had moved up to 2nd at 4:06. Cabell
Midland was in 3rd at 4:07. Morgantown was in 4th at 4:09. Jefferson was in 5th
at 4:10, and Hurricane was in 6th at 4:11. On the 3rd leg, University stretched
their lead to 5 seconds, coming through at 6:05. Jefferson had moved back up to
2nd at 6:10. Morgantown was in 3rd at 6:12. Cabell Midland was in 4th at 6:13.
Capital was in 5th at 6:14. Hurricane was in 6th at 6:16. At the finish line,
it was University holding their lead without challenge at 8:06.78. Jefferson
easily outdistanced the remainder of the field to also come in under 8:10. No one
else was under 8:15. Morgantown took the 3rd spot with Cabell Midland in 4th.
Capital was the final team under 8:20 in 5th. Hurricane just edged past Hedgesville
at the line for 6th.
RunWV's Current Score: 51 of 72.
Shuttle Hurdle Relay
Huntington's quartet of Brandon Morrison, Zack Adkins, Ryan McGuffin, and Ryan Gatrell
sped away for the win in 57.06. Only Parkersburg joined them under 58 seconds. No one else
was under 59 seconds. One of my predicted placers got hit with a false start.
RunWV's Current Score: 56 of 78.
High Jump
Oak Hill's Marc Logan won the title over Parkersburg South's Evan DeGraef on
misses as both cleared 6'4. Only 8 competitors cleared the opening height of 6'0. As with
last year, two of my predicted placers were among those that didn't clear the opening height.
RunWV's Current Score: 60 of 84.
Pole Vault
Capital's Tristan Slater won the event at 14'6. That combined with his 14'6 vault
from last year stands as the 10th Best All-State State Meet Performance and the
8th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Ripley's Zane Griffith
and Winfield's Chris Cochran each cleared 14'0 in taking 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
7 vaulters cleared 13'0. Slater and Griffith are both Sophomores, so the event should be
in good hands for the next couple years.
RunWV's Current Score: 64 of 90.
Long Jump
Jefferson's Martinez Grant repeated as champion with a leap of 22'5, taking the event
by over a foot. Parkersburg South's Anthony Bibbs and Parkersburg's Dan Fox
each hit the 21' mark to take 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Hurricane's Garrett DeFries
missed the mark by just 1/4" in taking 4th. 8 jumpers hit 20'0 this year.
RunWV's Current Score: 68 of 96.
Shot Put
Point Pleasant's Tannor Hill won the event with a toss of 49'6. Parkersburg South's
Dylon Rippeto and George Washington's Nick Peyatte surpassed 48' in taking
2nd and 3rd, respectively.
RunWV's Current Score: 72 of 102.
Discus
Parkersburg South's Dylon Rippeto sailed the Discus 165'3 to win the even by nearly
13'. That mark stands as the 9th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance.
Point Plesant's Cody Mitchell joined him over 150' with a 152'6 toss, and Wheeling
Park's Theo Blackson missed joining that group by 5". The top 5 threw over 148'0.
This was the only event for Class AAA Boys in which all six of my predicted placers actually
placed.
RunWV's Current Score: 78 of 108.
The final score of 79 of 108 means that 72.2% of the people picked to place did indeed place. That's a little better than last year but still one of my worst showings ever. Congratulations to those that proved me wrong.
Exceeding Predictions
The following athletes exceed my predictions by 3 or more places and deserve special mention.
Derrick Brunson, Washington -- 100 M (not picked, got 3rd)
Darius Booker, Riverside -- 200 M (not picked, got 4th)
Martinez Grant, Jefferson -- 400 M (picked 4th, got 1st)
Stephen DeMoss, Shady Spring -- 400 M (not picked, got 4th)
Colin Radabugh, Preston -- 3200 M (picked 6th, got 3rd)
Jackson Jacobs, Jefferson -- 3200 M (not picked, got 4th)
Landon Miller, Parkersburg -- 300 IH (not picked, got 2nd)
Cabell Midland -- 4x100 M (not picked, got 4th)
(Andrew Hogue, Daniel Jarrell, Josh Ellis, Jacob Morgan)
Cabell Midland -- 4x200 M (not picked, got 4th)
(Andrew Hogue, Daniel Jarrell, Jacob Morgan, Jesse Myers)
Washington -- 4x400 M (picked 6th, got 3rd)
(Ian MacLeod, Jake Kidwell, Kendall Coles, Derrick Brunson)
Mark Logan, Oak Hill -- High Jump (picked 5th, got 1st)
Zane Griffith, Ripley -- Pole Vault (picked 5th, got 2nd)
Aron Tackett, Washington -- Pole Vault (not picked, got 4th)
Daniel Fox, Parkersburg -- Long Jump (picked 6th, got 3rd)
Theo Blackson, Wheeling Park -- Discus (picked 6th, got 3rd)
The following teams deserve kudos for scoring seven points or more higher than I predicted.
Class AAA Boys Washington +16 (2nd straight year on this list) Parkersburg +11 Jefferson +10 Parkersburg South +10 Oak Hill + 8 (2nd straight year on this list) Wheeling Park + 7.50