Class AAA Boys
100 Meter Dash
I figured this one might be a mess, and it kind of was. Brooke's Gavin Lewis
came away with the win after posting the best time in the trials. It was a close one
with the top 5 being separated by just 0.11. Lewis clocked an 11.23. Martinsburg got
a big run from Eric Mitchell for 2nd in 11.27. Winfield's Evan Fairchild
snagged 3rd in 11.29. Hurricane's Jared Zickafoose was 4th in 11.31. Musselman's
Deonte Glover was 5th in 11.34. With just 0.11 separating 1st from 5th, there was
another 0.11 back to Parkersburg's Logan Wooddell in 6th at 11.45. One of my
predicted placers didn't make the final.
RunWV's Current Score: 4 of 6.
200 Meter Dash
Riverside's Darius Booker just barely outdueled Martinsburg's Eric Mitchell
for the win 22.31 to 22.32. Mitchell gets the "IN YOUR FACE, RUNWV!" award for the meet.
I didn't pick him to place in the 100 or the 200, and he got 2nd in both (and anchored the
4x100 to win after being picked 4th), leading Martinsburg to the team championship after
being picked 9th. Shady Spring's Stephen DeMoss scored a 3rd place finish in
22.61 with Parkersburg's Logan Wooddell picking up 4th in 22.65. Hurricane's
Jared Zickafoose and Musselman's Deonte Glover were also under 23 in taking
5th and 6th, respectively. Two of my predicted placers failed to make the final.
RunWV's Current Score: 8 of 12.
400 Meter Dash
Spring Valley's Jacob Kilgore powered down the stretch for the come-from-behind
win in 49.09. George Washington's Will Walker also came from behind to snag 2nd
at 49.71. Parkersburg's Logan Wooddell was out very aggressively and led most
of the race, and held on for 3rd, just missing the 50 second barrier at 50.10. Shady
Spring's Stephen DeMoss picked up 4th place from the first heat in 50.55.
Buckhannon-Upshur's Brandon Mallette and Ripley's Antonio Jones were also
under 51 seconds in taking 5th and 6th, respectively.
RunWV's Current Score: 13 of 18.
800 Meter Run
Spring Valley's Jacob Kilgore led from the gun and took the field through the
first lap in 57 seconds. Capital's Geandre Jones was right on his heels with
the same time. Cabell Midland's Will Sheils was in 3rd, also at 57 seconds.
Parkersburg's Nic Cheuvront had a slight edge over Ripley's Antonio Jones
for 4th, with the clock still reading 57 seconds. I believe it's one of the Hurricane
crew in 6th at this point, probably Jacob Harmon at 58 seconds. The entire field
went through before the clock rolled over to 61 seconds. On the 2nd lap, on the backstretch,
Jones moved to challenge Kilgore, and Kilgore fended him off. Heading into the final
turn, Cheuvront somehow squeezed through past Jones on the inside to move into 2nd. It
was a battle down the final stretch with Kilgore just managing to hold off Cheuvront for
the win with Kilgore clocking a 1:56.03 and Cheuvront a 1:56.24. Jones held the 3rd
spot with a 1:56.97. Sheils was 4th in 1:57.44. Hedgesville's Daniel Beavers
came up for 5th in 1:58.69. Cabell Midland's Jeremiah Parlock used a big finish
to move from 10th at the 600 meter mark to finish 6th in 2:00.05. 8 came in under 2:01.
RunWV's Current Score: 17 of 24.
1600 Meter Run
This was my most anticipated race of the weekend as a strong, closely packed field toed
the line. Parkersburg's Nic Cheuvront staked the early lead, and held the lead
through the first lap in 1:03. Musselman's Shane Rigsby was in 2nd at 1:04.
Morgantown's Anthony Laurita was in 3rd, University's Tristan Harvey was
in 4th, University's Seth Edwards was in 5th, and I think Cabell Midland's Jeremiah
Parlock was in 6th, with all at 1:04. The entire field was through under 1:06. At
the end of the 2nd lap, Harvey was challenging Cheuvront for the lead with both clocking
a 2:11. Laurita was in 3rd, also at 2:11. Rigsby was in 4th at 2:12 with Parlock at
his side. University's Alex Minor had moved into 6th, also at 2:12. The top 11
were all through before the clock rolled to 2:14. On the 3rd lap, Parlock made a move
into the lead on the backstretch. Then began a series of move/counter-move. Minor matched
the move of Parlock to pull even with Cheuvront. Cheuvrton responded to keep him from
getting by. Then Harvey surged to pull even with them both. Minor surged again in
the homestretch of the lap to move into the lead, coming through in 3:16. Harvey was in
2nd at 3:17. Cheuvront was right behind, still in 3:17. Parlock also came through before
the clock rolled to 3:18. Laurita was still in the hunt as well at 3:18. I think it
was Morgantown's Connor Riley in 6th at 3:19. On the final lap, Minor opened to
about a 10 meter lead with 300 meters to go. Cheuvront made the pass on Harvey into
2nd. With 200 to go, Minor still lead, but Cheuvront and Harvey were closing. Heading
into the final stretch, Minor still lead, but Cheuvront and Harvey had nearly made up all
the gap. With about 75 meters to go, Cheuvront moved to the lead. With about 50 to go,
Harvey passed Minor, and Cheuvront was pulling away. Cheuvront continued to pull away
to take the win in 4:18.26, over a second ahead of the University duo. Minor fought
back to reclaim 2nd in the last 5 meters with both he and Harvey getting in under 4:20,
Minor getting a 4:19.69 and Harvey getting a 4:19.92. Laurita held off Parlock for 4th,
4:20.88 to 4:21.47. Riley easily held the 6th position at 4:23.10. The top 7 were under
4:28. The top 11 were under 4:35.
RunWV's Current Score: 21 of 30.
3200 Meter Run
This race went out a little more aggressively than last year, with the first 8 all
coming through in 1:07, and the top 14 all at 1:09 or better. Last year, 1:10 led
the first lap. Morgantown's Anthony Laurita led the pack, followed by Hurricane's
Jake Henley, University's Seth Edwards, Musselman's Shane Rigsby,
University's Alex Minor, and Elkins' Matt Wallace. After two laps, things
looked much the same with Laurita leading at 2:17, and that time being matched by
Henley and Edwards in 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Rigsby was in 4th, Minor in 5th,
and Wallace in 6th, each at 2:18. 7 came through at 2:18 or better. 8 were at 2:19
or better. Those 8 had opened a 3 second gap on the rest of the field. Little had
changed after 3 laps. Laurita still maintained the lead at 3:28, but with that time
matched by Henley, Rigsby, and Edwards in the 2nd through 4th spots. Minor and Wallace
were still right there as well at 3:29. The pack was now down to 7 as Musselman's
Jared Hallow was the only other one still there, matching the 3:29 from 5th
and 6th. At the beginning of the 4th lap, Laurita made a surge. Rigsby was the only
one to match the move. They had put three seconds on the field. Laurita and Rigsby
were through in 4:35. Edwards was in 3rd at 4:38, with Henley in 4th with the same
time. Minor was in 5th with the same time. Wallace was in 6th at 4:39 and Hallow
remained in contact at 4:40. On lap 5, Laurita and Rigsby continued to battle with
Laurita maintaining the lead, but both crossing at 5:46. Edwards was in 3rd at 5:51.
Henley was in 4th with the same time. Minor was in 5th, also with a 5:51. Wallace
was in 6th at 5:52. Hallow had lost contact at 5:56. On the 6th lap, Laurita opened
clsoe to a 5 meter gap on Rigsby, but Rigsby closed it up before the end of the lap.
Both came through at 6:58 with Laurita still in front. Edwards was in 3rd at 7:04.
Minor and Henley both came through at 7:05. Wallace was still in 6th at 7:07. On the
7th lap, Rigsby made the pass on Laurita coming out of the final turn and opened about
a 3 meter gap. Rigsby came through in 8:10 and Laurita in 8:11. Edwards remained in
3rd at 8:16. Minor was in 4th at 8:18. Henley was in 5th at 8:19. Wallace was in 6th
at 8:21. On the backstretch of the final lap, Rigsby stretched his lead out to about
5 meters. Laurita closed it back to about 3 meters with 200 meters to go. Rigsby held
that gap through the turn, but Laurita had one more final push for the finish line,
and Rigsby couldn't match it. Laurita made the pass with about 60 meters to go and
pulled away for the nearly 2 second win in 9:15.89. That will stand as the 10th
Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 8th Best All-Time Class AAA State
Meet Performance. Rigsby finished a very strong 2nd at 9:17.64. Edwards pulled
away to control 3rd in 9:21.82. Minor held off Wallace for 4th, 9:29.36 to Wallace's
9:30.51. Hallow came from way back, closing the last lap in 63 seconds to move into
6th and within 1.5 seconds of 4th. The top 7 were under 9:35. No one else was under 9:47.
RunWV's Current Score: 26 of 36.
110 Meter High Hurdles
Wheeling Park's Richard Cummings took the win in 15.33. Parkersburg South's
Micah Boles was 2nd in 15.47, just ahead of Parkersburg's Erik Musgrave
in 15.49. Buckhannon-Upshur's Blake Wolverton was 4th in 15.62. George Washington's
Will Walker was in the lead before clubbing the 7th hurdle and stumbling. He
was able to recover enough to hold 5th at 15.66. Huntington's Dezmon Bradshaw
was also under 16 seconds in 6th.
RunWV's Current Score: 31 of 42.
300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles
George Washington's Will Walker dominated the race with a 38.40, winning by almost
1.5 seconds. Wheeling Park's Richard Cummings also made it in under 40 seconds
with a 39.89. Parkersburg South's Micah Boles was in control of 2nd before
stumbling off the last hurdle and rolling across the finish line in 3rd at 40.14.
Greenbrier East's Mason Tincher, Brooke's Jacob Kennedy and Parkersburg's
Erik Musgrave were all within 0.04 and at 40.70 or better in taking 4th through
6th, respectively.
RunWV's Current Score: 37 of 48.
4x100 Meter Relay
The Martinsburg squad of Jaylen Carson, Will Lewis, Juwan Green, and Eric Mitchell
took the narrow win over Hurricane and Jefferson as the three were separated by just 0.10.
Martinsburg clocked a 43.28. Hurricane scored a 43.34, edging past Jefferson's 43.38.
Winfield was 4th in 44.13. Cabell Midland edged past Hedgesville for 5th, 44.40 to 44.42.
The top 7 were under 44.70.
RunWV's Current Score: 42 of 54.
4x200 Meter Relay
Hurricane and Winfield both squeezed in under the 1:30 mark with Hurricane's group of
James McDougale, Brandon Howard, Jared Zickafoose, and Peyton Smith getting a
1:29.74 to Winfield's 1:29.85. Those two were over a second ahead of the field.
Martinsburg was 3rd in 1:31.11. Hedgesville was 4th in 1:31.78. Jefferson edged past
Buckhannon-Upshur for 5th, 1:32.15 to 1:32.17. The top 7 were under 1:32.3.
RunWV's Current Score: 47 of 60.
4x400 Meter Relay
Winfield took the early lead with a 51.7 opening leg. After two legs, it was still
Winfield at 1:44. Parkersburg was in 2nd with the clock still reading 1:44. I believe
it was Parkersburg South in 3rd at 1:45. Cabell Midland was in 4th, also at 1:45.
Buckhannon-Upshur held a slight edge over Jefferson for 5th with both at 1:46. After
three legs, it was still Winfield in the lead at 2:36, though Buckhannon-Upshur had
actually pulled slightly ahead heading into the handoff on the 50.5 leg of Marcus Lofton.
Winfield got a much better
handoff to retake the lead. Buckhannon-Upshur also come through in 2:36. Parkersburg
South was in 3rd at 2:37. Cabell Midland was in 4th with the clock still reading 2:37.
Parkersburg was in 5th at 2:38. I don't know who was in 6th. Neither my notes nor the
video show it. On the backstretch of the final leg, Parkersburg's Logan Wooddell
was flying, moving Parkesburg into the lead. Buckhannon-Upshur responded and took the
lead shortly thereafter. With 200 meters to go, there were still five teams in contention
with Buckhannon at the front, Parkersburg in 2nd, Winfield in 3rd, Parkersburg South in 4th,
and Cabell Midland in 5th. That order held through the turn with about even spacing
between each place. Winfield exploded out of the turn and made the pass into the lead
with about 20 meters to go and took the win for their unit of Bryce Humphreys,
Eric Johns, Ryan Daly, and Evan Fairchild in 3:27.10. They got a 50.3 anchor leg
from Fairchild. Buckhannon-Upshur held 2nd at 3:27.51. Parkersburg held 3rd at 3:28.17
after the 50.2 anchor leg from Wooddell.
Parkersburg South was 4th in 3:29.09. Cabell Midland, running without the injured
Daniel Jarrell was 5th in 3:30.65. Morgantown was 6th in 3:31.73.
RunWV's Current Score: 52 of 66.
4x800 Meter Relay
Parkersburg took the early lead on a 1:57.4 leg from Nic Cheuvront. University
was in 2nd on a 2:00 leg from Alex Minor. Capital was in 3rd at 2:01. Cabell
Midland was in 4th at 2:02. Winfield was in 5th in 2:03 with Hurricane matching that time
in 2:03. After two legs, it was Cabell Midland at 4:04, followed by Parkersburg at 4:05,
University at 4:06, Capital at 4:07, and Winfield just ahead of Hurricane with both at
4:08. The third leg got down to business with University's Seth Edwards clocking
a 1:57.6 to give University a very slight lead over Cabell Midland, who got a 1:58.7 leg
from Will Sheils. Both were through in 6:03. They had gapped the field significantly.
Parkersburg was in 3rd at 6:12. Hurricane was in 4th with Capital in 5th with both at
6:13. Morgantown was in 6th at 6:14. On the final leg, University held the lead
throughout the first lap. Cabell Midland challenged for the lead on the backstretch,
but University held them off, maintaining the lead heading into the turn. Cabell Midland
regathered some momentum coming out of the turn and challenged for the lead again.
University was able to match for a little while, but Cabell Midland took the lead with
about 75 meters to go and powered home for the win. I have to go with the order listed
in the results that would indicate that the 1:57.0 final leg was run by Nick Salmons
to give the Cabell Midland crew of Jeremiah Parlock, Jonathan Hathaway, Will Sheils,
and Nick Salmons the win at 8:00.29. University got a 1:58.5 leg out of Tristan
Harvey to finish in 8:02.16. Capital got a big 1:57.7 out of Geandre Jones
to move into 3rd at 8:10.18. Parkersburg held off Hurricane for 4th 8:16.08 to 8:16.40.
Morgantown was 6th in 8:20.10. The top 8 were under 8:25.
RunWV's Current Score: 57 of 72.
Shuttle Hurdle Relay
Wheeling Park's squad of Timothy Goldbaugh, Jake Pedelose, James Coles, and Richard
Cummings took the win by over a second with a 57.46. Martinsburg picked up 2nd with
a 58.47. Huntington picked up 3rd place from the 3rd heat with a 58.77. No one else was
under 59 seconds. Only the six placers were under 60 seconds. Three teams got DQ'd,
including two of my placers.
RunWV's Current Score: 60 of 78.
High Jump
Winfield's Christian Smith picked up the win over Parkersburg South's Evan
DeGraef on misses as both cleared 6'6. No one else cleared higher than 6'2. Martinsburg's
Juwan Green and Musselman's Kegan Davis cleared 6'2 in taking 3rd and 4th,
respectively. Only Nitro's Luke Nichols was able to clear 6'0 among the rest of
the field.
RunWV's Current Score: 66 of 84.
Pole Vault
Capital's Tristan Slater repeated as champion again with a vault of 14'0. Winfield's
Christian Smith also cleared 14'0 in taking 2nd. Ripley's Zane Griffith
and Cabell Midland's Nick Molina cleared 13'6 in tying for 3rd. Morgantown's
Matthew Keaton also cleared 13'6 in taking 5th. Washington's Aaron Tackett
cleared 13'0 to take 6th. 7 cleared 13'0. 9 cleared 12'6.
RunWV's Current Score: 72 of 90.
Long Jump
Huntington's Ryan McGuffin jumped 22'6.25 to take the win over Parkersburg South's
Anthony Bibbs by 4" with Bibbs going 22'2.25. They were nearly 10" ahead of the
rest of the field. Only Martinsburg's Juwan Green went past 21'0 among the rest
of the field. The other three placers, Levi Whitt of Greenbrier East, Christian
Smith of Winfield, and Jaylen Carson of Martinsburg each went at least 20'10.
8 jumpers went at least 20'6, and 10 topped 20'0.
RunWV's Current Score: 77 of 96.
Shot Put
A strong showing in a close contest saw 4 throwers top 51'0 with George Washington's
Nick Peyatte taking the win at 52'8. Point Pleasant's Cody Mitchell was
2nd with a 52'3. George Washington picked up 3rd and 4th as well with Trevor Patton
and David Smith throwing 51'9.25 and 51'9, respectively. Cabell Midland's Hunter
Hicks just missed the 50' mark with his throw of 49'6. Only the top 6 threw 47'0,
and only 9 threw 45'0. Two of my predicted placers didn't make the final
RunWV's Current Score: 81 of 102.
Discus
The top six all topped 150', with Huntington's Hunter Ashley taking the win at
157'8. Cabell Midland's Hunter Hicks threw 154'11 for 2nd. Wheeling Park's
Theo Blackson edged Parkersburg South's Tim Ferguson by 3", 152'5 to 152'2.
Martinsburg's Matt Berlo was 5th with a 151'2, and George Washington's Nick
Peytaae was 6th at 151'0.
RunWV's Current Score: 86 of 108.
The final score of 86 of 108 means that 79.6% of the people picked to place did indeed place. Congratulations to those that proved me wrong.
Exceeding Predictions
The following athletes exceed my predictions by 3 or more places and deserve special mention.
Eric Mitchell, Martinsburg -- 100 M (not picked, got 2nd)
Evan Fairchild, Winfield -- 100 M (not picked, got 3rd)
Eric Mitchell, Martinsburg -- 200 M (not picked, got 2nd)
Stephen DeMoss, Shady Spring -- 400 M (not picked, got 4th)
Alex Minor, University -- 1600 M (not picked, got 2nd)
Blake Wolverton, Buckhannon-Upshur -- 110 HH (not picked, got 4th)
Richard Cummings, Wheeling Park -- 300 IH (picked 5th, got 2nd)
Martinsburg -- 4x100 M (picked 4th, got 1st)
(Jaylen Carson, Will Lewis, Juwan Green, Eric Mitchell)
Hedgesville -- 4x200 M (not picked, got 4th)
(Ocla Fitzwater, Darryl Brown, Sam Irwin, Kyrae Ramos)
Parkersburg -- 4x800 M (not picked, got 4th)
(Nic Cheuvront, Will Lancaster, Evan Wooten, Scott Barker)
Hedgesville -- Shuttle (not picked, got 4th)
(Jimmy Bishop, Isaiah Redman, Darryl Brown, Jeff Clevenger)
Levi Whitt, Greenbrier East -- Long Jump (not picked, got 4th)
Trevor Patton, George Washington -- Shot Put (not picked, got 3rd)
Hunter Ashley, Huntington -- Discus (picked 4th, got 1st)
The following teams deserve kudos for scoring seven points or more higher than I predicted.
Class AAA Boys Martinsburg +26 Parkersburg +12 (2nd straight year on this list) Greenbrier East + 9 Wheeling Park + 8 (2nd straight year on this list) Capital + 8 Hedgesville + 8 Winfield + 7