Class A Boys

100 Meter Dash
Buffalo's Jordan Tucker defended his title by getting out well and powering through the race to win by nearly 0.2 seconds in 11.25. South Harrison's Freddy Canary was the only other one to go under 11.50 with his 11.42. Notre Dame's Phil Chafin run 11.51 to take 3rd as only 4 ran under 11.70. One of my predicted placers didn't make the final
RunWV's Current Score: 5 of 6.

200 Meter Dash
South Harrison's Freddy Canary got out well, ran a great turn, and held off defending champion, Jordan Tucker of Buffalo, 22.32 to 22.41. Those two were well ahead of the field. Notre Dame's Phil Chafin was the only other one to go under 23 seconds with his 23.17.
RunWV's Current Score: 10 of 12.

400 Meter Dash
Meadow Bridge's Dakota Clere took the lead with just over 10 meters left and then just held off Wheeling Central's JaQuan Jackson for the win by 0.04 with Clere getting a 51.87 and Jackson a 51.91. Williamstown's Tom Bobbitt went from 5th to 3rd in the last 15 meters at 52.22. Magnolia's Brooks Parsons held the lead much of the final stretch before tying up and dropping to 4th. The top 5 were under 53 seconds. Three Sophomores and a Freshman were among the six placers.
RunWV's Current Score: 15 of 18.

800 Meter Run
Wirt's Glenn McMillan got out quickly, and then it was Williamstown's Chase Uppole moving to the lead at about 160 meters. Uppole continued to lead through the first lap at 58 seconds with McMillan in 2nd at 59 seconds. Wirt's Logan Kerby was in 3rd at 59 seconds. I think it was South Harrison's Garrett Wilkins in 4th and Tyler Consolidated's Daron Weekley in 5th, both at 60 seconds. Meadow Bridge's Dakota Clere was in 6th at 61. McMillan moved back to the front just as before they came out of the first turn. He held the lead through the backstretch before Kerby took over in the final turn. Down the stretch, it was all Kerby as he pulled away to win by nearly 3 seconds at 1:59.40. McMillan held on for 2nd at 2:02.22. Charleston Catholic's Greg Hart closed very well to edge past Uppole for 3rd in 2:03.51. Uppole was right behind at 2:03.54. Wilkins held 5th at 2:04.01. Weekley held the 6th spot at 2:05.55. Everyone else was over a second behind.
RunWV's Current Score: 19 of 24.

1600 Meter Run
The field once again went out pretty aggressively with Doddridge's Hunter Riffle taking the early lead, trailed closely by the Wirt tandem of Glenn McMillan and Logan Kerby. Riffle continued to lead through 300 meters. Shortly before the end of the first lap, Buffalo's Hayden Harrison made the move to the front, with Kerby and McMilland responding as each crossed in 1:03. Riffle was right behind at 1:04. Buffalo's Devin Rich was in 5th at 1:05, and Williamstown's Chase Uppole was in 6th, also at 1:05. The 2nd lap slowed dramatically. Harrison continued to lead the close race, with McMillan right on his shoulder with both crossing at 2:16. Kerby was just a step behind at 2:17. Riffle was another stride back, also at 2:17. Rich was right on Riffle's heels at 2:18. Uppole maintained 6th at 2:19. On the first turn of lap 3, McMillan moved to the front. He maintained that lead for most of the lap, but in the last 40 meters of the lap, Rich put on a burst and moved to the front, crossing at 3:28. Harrison responded immediately and moved into 2nd, also at 3:28. Kerby also responded and crossed simultaneously with McMillan, also at 3:28. They had opened a gap on Riffle, who came through at 3:30. Uppole had a pretty solid grasp on 6th at 3:34. On the final lap, Rich continued to lead through the first turn with Harrison chasing. Kerby had edged in front of McMillan. Kerby surged on the backstretch to take the lead just before the turn. He held the lead through the turn, and Harrison moved into 2nd, with Rich in 3rd, and McMillan starting to fall back. Coming out of the turn, the final push to the finish began with Kerby leading the way. Rich saw an opening and took it to move past Harrison, and with about 30 meters to go, moved past Kerby into the lead. to take the win at 4:29.08. Kerby and Harrison also made it in under 4:30 with 4:29.65 and 4:29.96, respectively. McMillan easily held the 4th spot at 4:31.81. Riffle easily held onto the 5th spot at 4:40.12. Uppole just held off Buffalo's Jon Wileman for 6th at 4:45.70, with both getting in under 4:46.
RunWV's Current Score: 24 of 30.

3200 Meter Run
Doddridge's Hunter Riffle and Wirt's Glenn McMillan were the early aggressors, but by the end of the first lap, Buffalo's Hayden Harrison had taken the lead at 1:06. Riffle was in 2nd and McMillan in 3rd matching that time. Tucker's Wesley Knotts was in 4th at 1:07. Buffalo's Jon Wileman was in 5th, also at 1:07. Doddridge's Trey Heaster was in 6th at 1:08. On the 2nd lap, Harrison continued to lead at 2:18 with Riffle and McMillan close behind at 2:19. Knotts remained in 4th at 2:21. Wileman continued to run in 5th at 2:22. Heaster continued in 6th at 2:24. Lap three saw much of the same with Harrison leading the way at 3:32 and Riffle matching that time and with McMilland right there as well at 3:33. They had established a large gap on the rest of the field at this point. Knotts was still running 4th at 3:41. Wileman was in 5th and Heaster in 6th with both at 3:43. At the halfway point, Harrison remained in the lead at 4:45 with Riffle continuing to shadow him and matching that time. The pair had started to open a gap on McMillan, who was still running 3rd at 4:47. Everyone else was at least 16 seconds back. Heaster had moved into 4th at 5:03 with Wileman in 5th also at 5:03. Doddridge's Brandon Lively had moved into 6th place at 5:05. On lap 5, it was still Harrison and Riffle with both coming through at 5:57. They had fully pulled away from McMillan, who was in complete control of 3rd in 6:04. Wileman had moved into 4th at 6:25 with Heaster in 5th with the same time. Magnolia's Soren Shade had now moved into 6th at 6:27. At the end of lap 6, not much had changed up front. Harrison continued to lead with Riffle sitting right behind with both coming through in 7:11. McMillan was still an easy 3rd at 7:27. Wileman was in 4th at 7:46. Lively had moved up to 5th at 7:48. Shade was in 6th at 7:50. Lap 7 saw much of the same with Harrison continuing to lead and Riffle right there with both at 8:24. I know McMillan remained in 3rd at this point, but neither my notes nor the camera caught the guys coming through the line. On the final lap, the race was on. Harrison would open a slight gap, and Riffle would counter. Riffle shot for the lead coming out of the turn, but Harrison was able to respond and pull away over the last 50 meters to take the win in 9:28.04 to Riffle's 9:30.14. No one else was within 30 seconds. McMillan easily held the 3rd spot at 10:06.38. Lively moved up to 4th and pulled away in the final stretch to get a 10:16.06. Wileman closed the last 50 well to make up about a 10 meter deficit and edge past Shade for 5th, 10:18.30 to 10:18.46. No one else made it in under 10:30.
RunWV's Current Score: 29 of 36.

100 Meter High Hurdles
Williamstown's Tim Wickham got out well and held off the late push of Richwood's Levi Mowery as both made it in under 16 seconds with a 15.74 and 15.79, respectively. No one else was under 16.50. Doddridge's Garrett Devericks was 3rd in 16.54. This pick set was a disaster as one of my placers false started in the finals and two didn't make the final. My 7th place pick did get one of the spots, courtesy of that false start.
RunWV's Current Score: 31 of 42.

300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles
St. Marys' Anthony Johnson surprised everyone by winning from Lane 8 in 40.08. Magnolia's Jared Kacor and Wheeling Central's John Burkhalter were also under 41 seconds at 40.37 and 40.88, respectively. The top 5 were all under 42 seconds. 5 of the top 6, and 6 of the top 7 return next year.
RunWV's Current Score: 35 of 48.

4x100 Meter Relay
The Doddridge squad of Dyllon Hayes, Dillon Underwood, Brian Nestor, and Brandon Smith just missed the State Meet record with a clocking of 44.38. Madonna was right on their heels at 44.51. They were the only teams under 45 seconds, but the top 7 were all under 46 seconds with Williamstown scoring a 45.12 and Tyler Consolidated and Buffalo each clocking at 45.41.
RunWV's Current Score: 40 of 54.

4x200 Meter Relay
Madonna's foursome of Ricky Daddario, Joey Ewuisik, Levi Shreve, and Marquise Jeter took the lead on the 3rd leg and held it throughout the 4th to take the win in 1:31.94. Doddridge was an easy second at 1:32.33, over 1.6 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. South Harrison moved up to 3rd from well back on the final leg, coming through in 1:33.98, the only other team under 1:34. Williamstown and Buffalo were 4th and 5th, respectively, with both geeting in under 1:34.5. Wheeling Central was the only other team under 1:36 in taking 6th.
RunWV's Current Score: 46 of 60.

4x400 Meter Relay
Doddridge led after the opening leg with Magnolia in 2nd, Williamstown in 3rd, and Wheeling Central in 4th. On the 2nd leg, Magnolia opened a nice gap, but Williamstown closed up and took the lead right before the handoff, crossing at 1:47. Magnolia matched that time, less than a stride behind. Doddridge was still in contact at 1:48. Wheeling Central was in 4th and Buffalo in 5th. Charleston Catholic and Pocahontas had run well in the first heat, meaning that there was little room to relax for the teams. On the beginning of the 3rd leg, Magnolia again moved to the lead, but Williamstown responded with the two teams running side-by-side down the backstretch. Williamstown surged to the front heading into the turn. Magnolia slingshotted around Williamstown coming out of the turn and held a slight lead all the way down the stretch and through the handoff with both teams crossing at 2:41. Wheeling central made the pass on Doddridge into 3rd at 2:44 with Doddridge right behind also at 2:44. On the final leg, Magnolia opened a slight gap, but Williamstown closed up to their shoulder with 200 meters to go. Williamstown made the pass on the outside to move into the lead with about 130 meters to go. With 100 meters to go the two teams were side-by-side to battle down the stretch. Williamstown held a slight advantage from about 90 meters until about 10 meters, but Magnolia was able to make the pass inside the last 10 meters to take the win. The unit of Riley Nice, Tim Weekley, Jared Kacor, and Brooks Parsons scored a 3:33.40 to Williamstown's 3:33.44. Wheeling Central controlled 3rd with a 3:36.67. Doddridge took the 4th spot at 3:39.56. Charleston Catholic and Pocahontas took 5th and 6th, respectively from the first heat.
RunWV's Current Score: 50 of 66.

4x800 Meter Relay
Wirt got a strong 1:59 opening leg from Glenn McMillan to take the lead. Williamstown got a 2:01 opener from Chase Uppole for 2nd. Doddridge was in 3rd at 2:03. Charleston Catholic was in 4th at 2:05. Buffalo was in 5th and Tyler Consolidated in 6th at 2:06. Wirt held the lead through the 2nd leg at 4:11. Doddridge and Buffalo crossed virtually simultaneously at 4:13 in 2nd and 3rd. Charleston Catholic had a slight lead on Williamstown for 4th with both at 4:15. Pocahontas had moved into 6th at 4:19. On the 3rd leg, Buffalo briefly caught up with Wirt before a strong last 100 moved Wirt back out front at 6:21. Buffalo was at 6:22. Williamstown was up to 3rd in 6:24. Doddridge was in 4th at 6:27 with Charleston Catholic in 5th at 6:28. I believe the Pocahontas remained in 6th, but neither notes nor video show it. Wirt got a 1:59 anchor leg from Logan Kerby to seal with win four their unit of Glenn McMillan, Brady Ohrn, Lee Sims, and Logan Kerby at 8:20.95. Buffalo closed with a 2:02 from Devin Rich to pull away for 2nd at 8:24.22. Doddridge got a 2:02 leg from Brandon Lively to move into 3rd at 8:30.19. Williamstown held the 4th spot at 8:31.73. Charleston Catholic held off Pochontas for 5th 8:36.12 to 8:36.50. These six were 10 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Only 8 teams made it in under 9:00.
RunWV's Current Score: 55 of 72.

Shuttle Hurdle Relay
Pocahontas' squad of Cade Walker, Stephen Mick, Dalton Irvine, and Stephen Simmons was the only team to come in under 61 seconds with their 1:00.59. Four more teams were under 62 seconds. Tyler Consolidated snagged 2nd from the third heat with a 1:01.29 after a lineup change. St. Marys was 3rd in 1:01.45. South Harrison scored 4th from the 3rd heat with a 1:01.62. Doddridge used a lineup changed to take 5th from the second heat in 1:01.80. Tucker scored 6th from the second heat. All six placers and the top 8 were faster than last year's champion. One of my predicted placers got hit with the dreaded DQ.
RunWV's Current Score: 59 of 78.

High Jump
Valley Wetzel's Tucker Cain was the only jumper able to clear 6'2 to take the win. Gilmer's Noah Aviles, Valley Wetzel's Cole McGee and Trinity's Pierce Griffith each cleared 6'0 in taking 2nd through 4th, respectively. One of my predicted placers didn't clear the opening height.
RunWV's Current Score: 64 of 84.

Pole Vault
Doddridge's Dyllon Hayes was the only vaulter to clear 13'6 in repeating as champion despite a lengthy absence during the season. Williamstown's Austin Raines was the only other vaulter to clear 13'0. Tyler Consolidated's Ted Cerny was the only other vaulter to clear 12'6. Doddridge's Michael Blankenship was the only other one to clear 12'0. No one else went higher than 11'0. One of my predicted placers no-heighted.
RunWV's Current Score: 69 of 90.

Long Jump
Meadow Bridge's Ryan Church won the even by 7 inches with his leap of 20'8.50. Tyler Consolidated's Tyler Anderson was the only other jumper to surpass 20' with his jump of 20'1.50. Church won by 7 inches, and the next five spots were decided by just over 6 inches. Valley Wetzel's Tucker Cain and Wahama's Austin Juelfs just missed the 20' mark with their jumps of 19'11.75 and 19'11.25, respectively. One of my predicted placers did not jump.
RunWV's Current Score: 74 of 96.

Shot Put
Gilmer's Nathan Stout set a State Meet Record with his toss of 53'2.50 to win the even by nearly 7 feet. Moorefield's Zack Liller's 2nd place toss of 46'4 was over 2 feet ahead of the rest of the field as no one else through over 44'0. Williamstown's Ben Harris and Doddridge's Devon Yeager were the only other ones to hit 43' in taking 3rd and 4th, respectively.
RunWV's Current Score: 80 of 102.

Discus
Gilmer's Nathan Stout won this even by 7 feet as well with his throw of 156'5. The Tucker duo of Eddie Kachmerak and Brody Straderman picked a good time to have great days in taking 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Kachmarek's throw of 149'1 was his best of the season by a whopping 17'. Straderman's 146'0 throw was his best of the season by over 8'. No one else was over 140'. Williamstown's Trevor Hoosier's 139'1 and St. Marys' Jacob Cox's 134'10 were the only other throws over 130'.
RunWV's Current Score: 84 of 108.

The final score of 84 of 108 means that 77.8 % of the people picked to place did indeed place. Congratulations to those that proved me wrong.

Exceeding Predictions
The following athletes exceed the predictions by 3 or more places and deserve special mention.

Dakota Clere, Meadow Bridge -- 400 M (picked 4th, got 1st)
Greg Hart, Charleston Catholic -- 800 M (not picked, got 3rd)
Chase Uppole, Williamstown -- 800 M (not picked, got 4th)
Devin Rich, Buffalo -- 1600 M (picked 5th, got 1st)
Garrett Devericks, Doddridge -- 110 HH (not picked, got 3rd)
Cody Wolfe, St. Marys -- 110 HH (not picked, got 4th)
Anthony Johnson, St. Marys -- 300 IH (picked 6th, got 1st)
Timothy Holster, Fayetteville -- 300 IH (not picked, got 4th)
Tyler Consolidated -- Shuttles (not picked, got 2nd)
(Joshua Peck, Ted Cerny, Hunter Wells, Andrew Kocher)
Pierce Griffith, Trinity -- High Jump (not picked, got 4th)
Ryan Church, Meadow Bridge -- Long Jump (picked 5th, got 1st)
Austin Juelfs, Wahama -- Long Jump (not picked, got 4th)
Eddie Kachmarek, Tucker -- Discus (not picked, got 2nd)

The following teams deserve kudos for scoring seven points or more higher than I predicted.

Class A Boys
St. Marys             +16
Meadow Bridge         +16 (2nd Straight Year on this List)
Tyler Consolidated    +10
Tucker                + 8