Class AAA Girls
100 Meter Dash
St. Albans' Anacia Hines ran away from the field with her 12.28 time being almost
0.25 faster than anyone else. The next four spots were separated by just 0.16 with Huntington's
Safiyyah Mitchell taking 2nd in 12.52. Wheeling Park's Nakysha McGhee
edged Hedgesville's Emily Ambuul for 3rd with both scoring a 12.60. Ripley's
Caylee Painter was also under 12.70 with her 12.66 clocking.
RunWV's Current Score: 5 of 6.
200 Meter Dash
St. Albans' Anacia Hines again took the win, crossing 0.25 ahead of the field with
her 25.35. Hedgesville's Emily Ambuul pushed through late to take 2nd in 25.60.
Huntington's Safiyyah Mitchell was also under 26 seconds with her 25.70. Shady
Spring's Tyra Massey edged Morgantown's Jahmia Bridges-Butler 26.00 to 26.01
for 4th. The top 7 were all under 26.30.
RunWV's Current Score 11 of 12.
400 Meter Dash
Winfield's Mary Zulauf got away at the beginning of the home stretch and then held
on for the win in 59.01. Hurricane's Anna Gordon just edged Washington's Rhonda
Rogombe for 2nd with both getting a 59.31. Wheeling Park's Natalie Wiethe and
Greenbrier East's Maddie McClintic also ran under 60 seconds in taking 4th and 5th,
respectively.
RunWV's Current Score: 15 of 18.
800 Meter Run
Morgantown's Skylar Brooks took the lead from the gun and led the field through the
first lap in 1:10. Hurricane's Anna Gordon and Woodrow Wilson's Emily Fedders
crossed together in 1:11. Jefferson's Abby Colbert was in 4th, also with a 1:11.
Winfield's Mary Zulauf was in 5th, also at 1:11. I think it was Wheeling Park's
Madison Jebbia in 6th with the clock still at 1:11. Gordon made the pass into the
lead before the halfway mark of the turn. She applied pressure and opened a small gap,
but Brooks and Zulauf responded. Heading into the final turn it was Gordon with about
a 2 meter lead on Brooks and Zulauf about another meter behind that. Gordon quickly pulled
away, and Zulauf made the pass on Brooks heading out of the turn. Gordon powered home
for a 2:17.25, a convincing win by over 2 seconds, and meaning she took the 2nd lap in
66 seconds. Brooks battled back and got by Zulauf with about 15 meters to go to take
2nd with Brooks clocking at 2:19.38 and Zulauf getting a 2:19.77. No one else was under
2:22. Colbert held off the late charge of Hedgesville's Jessie Hogbin for 4th
with the pair finishing at 2:22.32 and 2:22.83, respectively. Elkins' Skylee Watson
came up for the 6th spot in 2:23.61. The top 8 were under 2:25.
RunWV's Current Score: 19 of 24.
1600 Meter Run
Jefferson's Abby Colbert led the field through the first lap in 1:14. There was
a good pack at 1:15 with Morgantown's Victoria Cooke in 2nd, Lewis' Emily Louk
in 3rd, University's TaShala Turner in 4th, Woodrow Wilson's Emily Fedders
in 5th, and Elkins' Olivia Underwood in 6th. The front 9 were all at 1:15 or better.
On the 2nd lap, the pace slowed, but the field still started to spread. Colbert retained
the lead at 2:35, followed closely by Cooke with the same time. Fedders was right there
at 2:36, with Louk not far behind with the same time. Underwood had a slight lead over
Turner for 5th with both at 2:37. The pace at the front picked back up a little on lap
3 with Fedders moving into the lead and then Colbert responded and pulled just about even
with her at the end of the lap, with both crossing at 3:54. They had started to open a
gap on Cooke who still came through at 3:55. Hedgesville's Jessie Hogbin had moved
into 4th at 3:59, a time matched by Turner and Underwood in 5th and 6th, respectively. On
the final lap, Colbert took the lead back early in the turn but could not shake Fedders.
The pair pulled well away from the field. Fedders moved back to the front with about 240
meters to go, but Colbert responded and retook the lead within 20 meters. Fedders again
moved to the front with about 130 meters to go only to have Colbert respond again to retake
the lead heading into the homestretch. Colbert was able to pull away a little down the
stretch to get the win in 5:07.30. Fedders crossed in 5:07.98, a season best by nearly
20 seconds. Hogbin used a big last lap to move into 3rd at 5:12.28. Cooke held onto
4th at 5:14.65. Turner kicked late to squeeze past Underwood for 5th, 5:17.54 to 5:17.85.
The top 7 were under 5:20.
RunWV's Current Score: 24 of 30.
3200 Meter Run
After last year's blistering early pace, this year went out much more conservative with
Jefferson's Abby Colbert leading the way at 1:19 with Woodrow Wilson's Emily
Fedders matching that time. Hedgesville's Jessie Hogbin was in 3rd at 1:20.
Hampshire's Hanna Lipps was in 4th also at 1:20. Lewis' Emily Louk was in
5th, and I think it's Hurricane's Abbie Short in 6th with both at 1:21. On the
2nd lap, Lipps moved into the lead at 2:43, followed closely by Colbert with the same time.
Fedders was in 3rd at 2:44 with University's TaShala Turner in 4th with the same
time. Short was in 5th at 2:45 and Morgantown's Victoria Cooke was in 6th with the
same time. On lap 3, Colbert recaptured the lead, but by less than a body-width over Lipps
with both coming through at 4:04. Fedders and Turner came through in 3rd and 4th with both
at 4:05. Cooke was in 5th at 4:08. Louk was back in 6th at 4:10. At the halfway point,
there was still a lead pack of four with Colbert in the lead at 5:30 and that time being
matched by Lipps and Fedders. Turner was right on their heels at 5:31. They had opened
a nice gap on Cooke, who was in 5th at 5:35. There was another gap back to Louk in 6th
at 5:39. On lap 5, the lead pack dwindled to 3 with Colbert still in the front at 6:54,
but with Fedders and Turner right behind at 6:55. Lipps remained in contact at 6:57. Cooke
continued to hold 5th at 7:04 with Hogbin moving back into 6th at 7:10. On lap 6, the
three-pack remained tight with all coming through in 8:21 with Colbert in first, Turner
moving into 2nd, and Fedders in 3rd. They had moved to 4 seconds ahead of Lipps in 4th at
8:25, but she had solidified her hold on that position, now 10 seconds ahead of Cooke at
8:35. Hogbin continued to hold 6th at 8:40. On lap 7, the lead pack started to spread.
Colbert took control of the lead at 9:45, about 5 meters ahead of Turner at 9:46 who was
about 3 meters up on Fedders at 9:46. Lipps remained within striking distance at 9:51.
Cooke was still in 5th at 10:06, and Hogbin held 6th at 10:10. On the final lap, Colbert
continued to pull away to take the win by over 5 seconds in 10:59.05 which is the 8th
Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 6th Best All-Time Class AAA State
Meet Performance. Fedders made the pass on Turner with 300 meters to go and pulled
away to take 2nd in 11:04.76. Turner held the 3rd spot at 11:09.29. Lipps easily held
the 4th spot at 11:14.25. Hogbin used a strong last lap to move into 5th at 11:30.79
with Cooke holding on for 6th at 11:35.98. 7 were under 11:40.
RunWV's Current Score: 30 of 36.
100 Meter High Hurdles
St. Albans' Anacia Hines made it two in a row in a contest the was closer than the
final times indicate. Hines clocked a 14.52, which is the 2nd Best All-Time State Meet
Performance and the 2nd Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. George
Washington's Malika Houston was right on her heels, tumbling across the finish line at 14.64
which is the 5th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 5th Best All-Time
Class AAA State Meet Performance. John Marshall's Torie Derrow also went down,
but after the finish line, crossing at 14.76 which is the 8th Best All-Time State Meet
Performance and the 8th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Those
three were nearly half a second ahead of the rest of the field. Hurdlers were strong this
year with five going under 15 seconds in the trials.
RunWV's Current Score: 35 of 42.
300 Meter Low Hurdles
Huntington's Safiyyah Mitchell took over the race about halfway through the turn and
powered down the stretch to a State Record 43.67. Obviously, that stands as the Best
All-Time State Meet Performance and the Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance
and is an All-Time, Any Meet State Record. Parkersburg's Sarah Bever pulled
into 2nd going over the last hurdle to finish in 45.45. Greenbrier East's Mallory
Baker was 3rd in 46.05. Buckhannon-Upshur's Leah Stankus finished 4th in a
closely contested race for the final spots that say 8 in total go under 47 seconds.
RunWV's Current Score: 39 of 48.
4x100 Meter Relay
Hurricane's foursome of Audrey Barber, Lexi Crompton, Lauren London, and Abbey Hudson
just edged out Wheeling Park at the line 49.65 to 49.66. Winfield also squeezed in under
50 seconds with a 49.96. Jefferson and Brooke were under 51 in taking 4th and 5th, respectively.
RunWV's Current Score: 43 of 54.
4x200 Meter Relay
Wheeling Park's group of Morgan Glass, Kayley Miller, Nakysha McGhee, and Natalie Wiethe
was the only one able to get in under 1:45 with a 1:44.82. Winfield held off Spring Mills
for 2nd 1:45.24 to 1:45.33. Greenbrier East and Jefferson were under 1:47 in taking 4th
and 5th, respectively.
RunWV's Current Score: 47 of 60.
4x400 Meter Relay
Cabell Midland's squad of Ripley Haney, Jakeya Perrin, Adria Fox, and Alyssa Long
took the lead on the 2nd leg and never relinquished it, though Washington on the anchor
leg of Rhonda Rogombe pulled almost even with them, but she had used up too much
getting there, and Long was able to pull back away for the win. Of course, Cabell Midland
wasn't just racing Washington. They were also racing the clock as Winfield ran a really
strong time in the first heat. I had picked them to win it from the first heat, and they
nearly pulled it off. Cabell Midland clocked a 4:06.01 to Wifield's 4:06.35. That 2nd
place was significant for Winfield because they came in needing 2nd to tie for the team
championship. 1st would win it. Anything lower than 2nd and the title would go to Hurricane.
Washington got a 4:07.01, and Greenbrier East also scored a good one from the first heat
with a 4:07.80. Parkersburg was also under 4:10 in taking 5th with a 4:08.93. Brooke
got 6th with a 4:10.73.
RunWV's Current Score: 51 of 66.
4x800 Meter Relay
Winfield got a 2:17.5 opening leg from Mary Zulauf to take a lead that they would not
relinquish. Hurricane got a 2:18 opening leg from Anna Gordon. Lewis County was in
3rd at 2:26. Morgantown was in 4th at 2:27. I think it was Parkersburg in 5th and University
in 6th at 2:28. After two legs, Winfield had opened a good gap on the field, coming through in
4:44. Hurricane was in 2nd at 4:50. University was up to 3rd in 4:56. I think Parkersburg
was in 4th and Wheeling Park in 5th, both at 5:02, and I think it was Lewis in 6th at 5:03.
After 3 legs, Winfield was well out in front at 7:12. Hurricane was in control of 2nd at 7:21.
University was in 3rd at 7:26. Morgantown was in 4th at 7:32. I think it was Parkersburg in
5th at 7:33, and Wheeling Park in 6th at 7:35. Winfield put it away on the final leg with
their foursome of Mary Zulauf, Shannon Riley, Sydney Hancock, and Rachel Englund finishing
up at 9:37.64 which is the 8th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 7th Best
All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. There was a great battle for 2nd down the stretch
as University briefly took the lead, but Hurricane battled back to take the spot at 9:48.83.
University got a 2:22 from TaShala Turner to nearly snag the 2nd spot at 9:48.94.
Morgantown got 4th at 9:55.73. Parkersburg took 5th at 9:58.73, and Jefferson got a 2:21 leg
from Abby Colbert to move up to 6th.
RunWV's Current Score: 57 of 72.
Shuttle Hurdle Relay
In perhaps the most impressive performance of the meet, the Hurricane unit of Lauren
London, Abby Watson, Lexi Crompton, and Audrey Barber crushed the State Meet and All-Time
records with a 1:00.88. That is, of course, the Best All-Time State Meet Performance
and the Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance and the Best All-Time, Any
Meet Performance. Parkersburg finished a distant second, but also broke the old State
Meet Record with a 1:03.58. In a super year for Shuttles, Winfield got 3rd and tied the old
State Meet Record with a 1:03.86. Wheeling Park was also under a 1:05 with a 1:04.98. John
Marshall also went under 1:06 in taking 5th.
RunWV's Current Score: 61 of 78.
High Jump
Washington's Rhonda Rogombe cleared 5'6 to repeat as champion. That, combined with
her previous State Meet performances, gives her the 9th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet
Performance. Ripley's Laurel Miller cleared 5'4 to take 2nd. The Winfield duo
of Hannah Cartwright and Carly Hinkle also cleared 5'4 to take 3rd and 4th,
respectively. John Marshall's Torie Derrow and Wheeling Park's Sydney Moffett
cleared 5'2 to take 5th and 6th, respectively. One of my predicted placers was taken out
of the event. And, like a couple times in Class AA, my 7th place pick ended up placing.
RunWV's Current Score: 66 of 84.
Pole Vault
Hurricane's Lauren London cleared 11'0 to win the title. That, combined with her
previous State Meet Performances, gives her the 6th Best All-Time State Meet Performance
and the 5th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Three vaulters cleared
10'6 with Winfield's Allie Perry and Shannon Riley and Capital's Haley
Snodgrass taking 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, respectively. Winfield's Morgan Gray
and Parkersburg's Brooke Miller each cleared 10'0 to take 5th and 6th, respectively.
RunWV's Current Score: 71 of 90.
Long Jump
George Washington's Malika Houston took the win by just 1/2 inch over Spring Mills'
Sydnei Taylor with Houston jumping 17'4.50 and Taylor jumping 17'4. Morgantown's
Annalisa Huckaby just missed the 17'0 mark with a jump of 16'11. Hurricane's
Lauren London jumped 16'9.25 to take 4th by an inch over Jefferson's Michaela
Ashford's 16'8.25. Brooke's Cheyenne Hudson jumped 16'7.50 to take the final
spot. 8 jumpers topped 16'3.
RunWV's Current Score: 76 of 96.
Shot Put
Hurricane's Abby Watson was the only thrower to top 40'0 with her toss of 40'0.25
to repeat as champion. Huntington's Ericka Budd came out on top fo a very close
race for 2nd as just 1 inch separted her and Parkersburg's Whitney McAtee and
Buckhannon-Upshur's Megan Wilfong. Budd threw 38'11.25. McAtee threw 38'11.
Wilfong threw 38'10.25. No one else threw over 37'0.
RunWV's Current Score: 81 of 102.
Discus
Hurricane's Abby Watson led a strong field with a toss of 132'5, which stands
as the 6th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 5th Best All-Time
Class AAA State Meet Performance. Huntington's Ericka Budd thew 128'4,
which is good enough to be the 10th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance.
Musselman's Dominique Hailey had a season best throw by 12'0 at 126'4 to take 3rd.
Point Pleasant's Aislyn Hayman threw 124'7 for 4th. Parkersburg's Whitney
McAtee threw 123'8 for 5th. Buckhannon-Upshur's Megan Wilfong got 118'5
for 6th. 7 throwers threw 115'0, but no one else went further than 98'0.
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 exceeded expectations by 3 or more places and deserve special mention.
Emily Fedders, Woodrow Wilson -- 1600 M (not picked, got 2nd)
Jessie Hogin, Hedgesville -- 1600 M (picked 6th, got 3rd)
Torie Derrow, John Marshall -- 100 HH (picked 6th, got 3rd)
Leah Stankus, Buckhannon-Upshur -- 300 LH (not picked, got 4th)
Hurricane -- 4x100 M (not picked, got 1st)
(Audrey Barber, Lexi Crompton, Lauren London, Abbey Hudson)
Greenbrier East -- 4x200 M (not picked, got 4th)
(Raechyl Beard, Destiny Brown, Mallory Baker, Maddie McClintic)
Washington -- 4x400 M (not picked, got 3rd)
(Ashley Warner, Roxanne McFarlin, Mya Linden, Rhonda Rogombe)
Hannah Cartwright, Winfield -- High Jump (picked 6th, got 3rd)
Shannon Riley, Winfield -- Pole Vault (picked 6th, got 3rd)
Ericka Budd, Huntington -- Discus (picked 5th, got 2nd)
Dominique Hailey, Musselman -- Discus (not picked, got 3rd)
The following teams deserve kudos for scoring seven points or more higher than I predicted.
Class AAA Girls Winfield +11 Woodrow Wilson +10 Washington + 8 Musselman + 7 Parkersburg + 7