Class AAA Girls
100 Meter Dash
Shady Spring's Tyra Massey took over halfway through and pulled away to win in 12.24.
That time is Tied for the 10th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance.
Huntington's Safiyyah Mitchell was 2nd in 12.41, just getting past Morgantown's Sabra
Matheney who rode an excellent start to a 3rd place finish in 12.49. Cabell Midland's
Jakeya Perrin and Morgantown's Jahmia Bridges-Butler were under 12.70 in taking
4th and 5th, respectively.
RunWV's Current Score: 5 of 6.
200 Meter Dash
Huntington's Safiyyah Mitchell pulled away for the win in 25.61. 2nd through 4th were
separated by just 0.03 seconds with Morgantown's Jahmia Bridges-Butler taking 2nd in 25.85,
Jefferson's Michaela Ashford taking 3rd in 25.87, and Spring Mills' Sydnei Taylor
taking 4th in 25.88. These four were well ahead of the rest of the field. The pre-race
favorite ran the fastest time in the trials, but got gunned down for a false start in the finals.
RunWV's Current Score 10 of 12.
400 Meter Dash
Spring Mills' Sydnei Taylor led from start-to-finish, almost got caught with about
70 meters to go and then pulled away to win by almost a second in 58.04. Shady Spring's
Tyra Massey edged Cabell Midland's Alyssa Long for 2nd, 58.89 to 58.92. Morgantown's
Amber Dombrowski joined them under 60 seconds with a 59.43.
RunWV's Current Score: 14 of 18.
800 Meter Run
Morgantown's Skylar Brooks took the field out hard over the first 200, but by the end
of the first lap, it was University's Sarah Wills in the lead, coming through in 1:07.
Lewis County's Emily Louk was in 2nd at 1:08. That time was matched by Winfield's Mary
Zulauf, Brooks, Hurricane's Anna Gordon, and Parkersburg's MaryKat Bolton,
who were running in 3rd through 6th, respectively. Wills continued to lead through 500 meters,
but Zulauf and Brooks were starting to close. Just past the 500 mark, Zulauf accelerated and
made the pass into the lead at about 570 meters. Wills responded and held her to the outside,
but Zulauf accelerated again just as the turn started to get to the inside. Now, Gordon was
also coming up. Zulauf started to pull away at about 650 meters, and Gordon sped around Wills
into 2nd. Zulauf came into the homestretch with about a 2 stride lead and powered away to win
by over 3 seconds in 2:17.34. Gordon held on for 2nd in 2:20.65, while Wills held off Louk for
3rd 2:20.91 to 2:21.16. Winfield's Grace Cole was 8th coming out of the turn, but moved
up to 5th in 2:21.92. Bolton claimed the 6th spot in 2:22.32. The top 9 were all under 2:24.
RunWV's Current Score: 17 of 24.
1600 Meter Run
On the opening lap, the field went out fairly aggressively with University's TaShala Turner
leading them through in 1:13. That time was matched by University's Sarah Wills, University's
Mikaela Mitchell, Jefferson's Abby Colbert, and Cabell Midland's Gretchen Mills.
Morgantown's Samantha Hatcher was just one second back in 6th place. After two laps, it was
Turner at the front in 2:34. Wills was right on her shoulder and Colbert was just one step
back with both equaling the 2:34. Winfield's Rachel Englund had moved into 4th at 2:35.
Hatcher was in 5th also at 2:35 with Mills in 6th matching also with a 2:35. Early in the 3rd
lap, Colbert made a play for the lead, but Wills and Turner responded to hold her off and the
began to open a gap on her with Wills in particular pushing the pace. At the end of 3 laps,
Wills had asserted herself, moving out to a 2 second lead in 3:51. Turner was in 2nd at 3:53.
Colbert was in 3rd at 3:54. Hatcher had moved into 4th at 3:55. Englund was right behind with
the same time. Mitchell was in 6th at 3:58. On the final lap, Wills continued her pressure and
extended her lead to an eventual 4 second victory in 5:04.87. Hatcher made a move into 2nd on the
backstretch and through the turn, but Turner battled back and pulled away to regain 2nd place
in 5:08.85. Colbert also fought back past Hatcher to regain 3rd in 5:10.27. Hatcher held the
4th spot in 5:11.35. Hedgesville's Jessie Hogbin just squeezed past Englund in the last
few meters to snag the 5th spot in 5:14.28 to Englund's 5:14.52. The top 7 were under 5:18
RunWV's Current Score: 22 of 30.
3200 Meter Run
The girls' 3200 opened in the rain. The pace went out briskly with University's Mikaela
Mitchell leading the field through the first lap in 1:15. Jefferson's Abby Colbert
and University's TaShala Turner matched that in 2nd and 3rd, respectively. University's
Sarah Wills was in 4th at 1:17. Hedgesville's Jessie Hogbin was in 5th at 1:18.
I think it was Morgantown's Avigail Radabaugh in 6th at 1:19. After two laps, there
were only minor changes. Colbert had moved into the lead at 2:39 with Mitchell right there
as well. Turner was in 3rd at 2:40 with Wills also hitting 2:40. Hampshire's Hannah Lipps
had moved into 5th at 2:41. Hogbin was in 6th at 2:42. After three laps, Colbert remained at
the front in 4:02 with Mitchell also at 4:02. Turners and Wills were right behind in 4:03.
Lipps was next through in 4:04. A significant gap had opened back to Hogbin in 6th. At the
halfway point, things were little changed. During laps 3 and 4, Mitchell challenged for, and
took, the lead briefly before Colbert quickly took it back. But down the final stretch of lap
four, Mitchell took the lead, and Colbert didn't take it back. Mitchell led at the halfway
point in 5:25 with Colbert and Turner also hitting that time. Wills was right there as well
in 5:26. Lipps was hanging on to the pack in 5:28. Hogbin was holding 6th at 5:37. But then,
Colbert moved to the front again. On lap five, it was Turner moving to the front with Mitchell
following and then Wills. Colbert didn't go back to the front this time. At the end of five
laps, it was Turner in the lead at 6:49 with Wills in 2nd with the same time. Mitchell was
right on their heels at 6:50 with Colbert a stride back, but matching the 6:50 time. Lipps
was holding 5th, but had completely lost the front four now, coming through in 6:56. But she
had stretched her lead over Hogbin to 10 seconds. On lap 6, Colbert made another push, edging
up past Mitchell briefly befor Mitchell pushed back out and the University trio started to
open a gap on Colbert. At the end of 6, it was Wills with the slightest of leads over Turner
and Mitchell just a stride back with each at 8:14. Colbert was in 4th at 8:17. Lipps remained
in 5th at 8:24. Hogbin was still solidly in 6th at 8:36. On lap 7, the front three took
complete control, and it was apparent it would be a University 1-2-3 finish. Heading into
the turn with 600 to go, Mitchell surged into the lead. Coming out of the turn Turner moved
back to the front and Wills followed. At the end of 7 laps, Turner and Wills crossed side-by-side
with Mitchell just one step back with each at 9:39. Colbert was in 4th at 9:49. Lipps was in
5th at 9:53 and closing on Colbert. Hogbin remained in 6th at 10:05. On the final lap, Mitchell
made a push at the 300 meter mark and briefly took the lead. Turner battled back and took it back
heading into the turn, but Wills quickly followed. The pair started pulling away from Mitchell.
Down the homestretch it was turner pulling gradually away from Wills to take the win in 10:55.72,
a time that stands as the 6th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 5th Best
All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Wills followed in at 10:57.14, which stands
as the 8th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 7th Best All-Time Class AAA
State Meet Performance. Mitchell just missed joining them under 11:00 with her 11:00.52,
which is the 9th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Colbert pulled back
away from Lipps to take 4th in 11:11.64. Lipps was 5th in 11:18.07. Hogbin held the 6th spot
in 11:25.14. The top 8 were under 11:32.
RunWV's Current Score: 28 of 36.
100 Meter High Hurdles
Class AAA Girls High Hurdling was impressive this year. Huntington's Safiyyah Mitchell,
who earlier in the year set a new All-Time Best, led from the gun, but didn't get the win without
challenge as both George Washington's Malika Houston and Winfield's Mary Lawman
nearly pulled even with her at about the 4th hurdle. She started to pull back away from them,
and then it was John Marshall's Torie Derrow finishing strong to move into 2nd. Mitchell
won it with a 14.41, slightly off her 14.40 time in the trials that set a new State Meet Record
and stands as the Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the Best All-Time Class
AAA State Meet Performance. Derrow's late charge up to 2nd ended with a time of 14.55,
which is the 3rd Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 3rd Best All-Time Class
AAA State Meet Performance. Houston took the 3rd spot with a 14.63, which is the 7th
Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 7th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet
Performance. Lawman was 4th in a strong 14.81. Morgantown's Jahmia Bridges-Butler
nearly joined them under 15 seconds with a 15.03. Hurricane's Lexi Crompton was 6th
in 15.15.
RunWV's Current Score: 34 of 42.
300 Meter Low Hurdles
Huntington's Safiyyah Mitchell controlled the race from the beginning and had a significant
lead heading into the final straight. She powered home in a new State Meet Record time of 43.10
which is also a new All-Time Best and is the All-Time Best State Meet Performance and
the Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. She won by over a second and a half.
George Washington's Malika Houston overtook Parkersburg's Lauren Leaman late to
take 2nd in 44.77 to Leaman's 45.11. Those two were well almost a second and a half ahead of
the rest of the field no one else came in under 46.50. 4th through 7th places were decided by
less than 0.4 seconds with Hurricane's Lexi Crompton scoring 4th with 46.60 and George
Washington's Deaira Brown getting 5th in 46.69.
RunWV's Current Score: 39 of 48.
4x100 Meter Relay
Morgantown's foursome of Victoria Hartsell, Justice Washington, Jahmia Bridges-Butler, and
Sabra Metheney took the come-from-behind win in 49.50, edging out Jefferson's 49.54. They
were well ahead of 3rd place Winfield, who clocked a 50.20. No one else went under 51 seconds,
but the top 11 were all under 52, making the battle for the last 3 spots a close one.
RunWV's Current Score: 44 of 54.
4x200 Meter Relay
Winfield's group of Alley Jordan, Carly Hinkle, Taryn Napier, and Mary Lawman dominated
the field with a 1:46.19 clocking, taking the win by over 1.3 seconds. Jefferson was the only
other team to go under 1:48 with their 1:47.56. Wheeling Park was 3rd in 1:48.42.
RunWV's Current Score: 49 of 60.
4x400 Meter Relay
Winfield led after one leg. Cabell Midland got a stellar leg from Jakeya Perrin to take
the lead after two legs at 2:01. Winfield was in 2nd at 2:03. Shady Spring was in 3rd at
2:06 with Morgantown 4th in 2:08. Winfield got a big 3rd leg from Taryn Napier to
retake the lead, passing in 3:03. Cabell Midland held the 2nd spot in 3:05. Shady Spring
remained in 3rd at 3:09 with Morgantown close behind at 3:10. On the final leg, Winfield
pulled away for to win by over 4 seconds as the squad of Grace Cole, Carly Hinkle, Taryn
Napier, and Mary Zulauf scored a 4:04.64, which is the 10th Best All-Time Class AAA
State Meet Performance. Cabell Midland held the 2nd spot in 4:09.03. Morgantown picked
up a sub-59 leg from Amber Dombrowski to move into 3rd in 4:09.52, just ahead of Shady
Spring's 4:09.86. Only Parkersburg, from the heat before with a 4:11.97, good for 5th, was
under 4:16. George Washington got 6th in 4:16.26.
RunWV's Current Score: 53 of 66.
4x800 Meter Relay
Morgantown got a 2:22 opening leg from Amber Dombrowski to take the early lead with
Cabell Midland right behind in 2:23. Parkersburg was in 3rd at 2:25. Winfield had a better
hand-off than others and shot into 4th at 2:26 with Wheeling Park and George Washington had
the same time. On the 2nd leg, Cabell Midland opened a nice gap, but Winfield closed it up
before the line and took the lead just before the line on a 2:22 leg from Grace Cole
with both at 4:48. University had moved up into 3rd on a really strong leg from TaShala
Turner in 4:51. Morgantown was in 4th at 4:53. My notes nor my camera show 5th and 6th.
On the 3rd leg, Winfield took control on a 2:22 from Rachel Englund. Morgantown got a
2:21 from Samantha Hatcher to move into 2nd place in 7:14. Cabell Midland held 3rd at
7:17. University was in 4th at 7:22. Hurricane had moved into 5th at 7:24. Wheeling Park
was in 6th at 7:25. On the final leg, Winfield would need a 2:21 to get the record. Mary
Zulauf would come through for them with a 2:20 leg, possibly upper 2:19 to finish in 9:30.56,
to give the foursome of Isabella Robinson, Grace Cole, Rachel Englund, and Mary Zulauf
a new State Meet Record, a new All-Time Best, and is the Best All-Time State Meet
Performance and the Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. It wasn't without
a little suspense, though, as Morgantown's Skylar Brooks pulled close with 300 meters
to go before Winfield pulled back away. Brooks clocked a 2:21 to give Morgantown 2nd in 9:35.51.
That gave their foursome of Amber Dombrowski, Hannah Pineault, Samantha Hatcher, and Skylar
Brooks the 5th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 4th Best All-Time Class
AAA State Meet Performance. Cabell Midland got a 2:21 anchor from Alyssa Long to
get 3rd in 9:38.52. University got a 2:17 from Sarah Wills to get 4th in 9:39.87.
Hurricane held the 5th spot at 9:52.08 with Wheeling Park taking 6th in 9:55.65. No one else
went under 10:00.
RunWV's Current Score: 58 of 72.
Shuttle Hurdle Relay
Winfield's team of Jordan Pauley, Lauryn Bady, Keaton Broughton, and Mary Lawman took
the lead on the 2nd and never relinqueshed it in taking the win in 1:03.05, which is the 2nd
Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 2nd Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet
Performance. Parkersburg kept it close with a 1:03.57, which is the 3rd Best All-Time
State Meet Performance and the 3rd Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance.
As expected, John Marshall moved Torie Derrow onto this relay, and they were rewarded
with a 3rd place finish and a time of 1:04.37, which gives the unit of Amelia Nelson, Hannah
Walker, Tahya Stewart, and Torie Derrow the 9th Best All-Time State Meet Performance
and the 9th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. Wheeling Park was the only
other team to go under 1:06 with a 1:05.94. Greenbrier East was the only other team under 1:07.
RunWV's Current Score: 63 of 78.
High Jump
Only Winfield's Carly Hinkle and John Marshall's Torie Derrow were able to go higher
than 5'2 with both clearing 5'6. Hinkle took the win on misses with Derrow 2nd. Ripley's Lauren
Miller, Hurrican'es Lexi Crompton and Winfield's Hannah Cartwright each
cleared 5'2 in taking the next 3 spots.
RunWV's Current Score: 69 of 84.
Pole Vault
Capital's Haley Snodgrass and Washington's Lauren Zaglifa each cleared 10'6
with Snodgrass taking the top spot and Zaglifa 2nd. Winfield's Shannon Riley and
Ripley's Maddi Randolph each cleared 10'0 in taking 3rd and 4th, respectively.
RunWV's Current Score: 74 of 90.
Long Jump
Jefferson's Michaela Ashford soared 18'0.75 to take the win and score the 6th Best
All-Time State Meet Performance and the 6th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance.
Spring Mills' Sydnei Taylor and George Washington's Malika Houston both jumped
17'9 with Taylor getting 2nd on the tie-breaker. Greenbrier East's Maddie McClintic
edged Winfield's Mary Lawman for 4th, 17'6.50 to 17'6.25. Morgantown's Annalisa
Huckaby jumped 17'3 for 6th. Everyone else was at least 6" behind.
RunWV's Current Score: 79 of 96.
Shot Put
Huntington's Ericka Budd topped 40' with a toss of 40'4.75 to win the event and grab
the 10th Best All-Time Class AAA State Meet Performance. She also won the event by
over 2'. Capital's Kiauna Facemyer was 2nd with a throw of 38'1.25. Point Pleasant's
Aislyn Hayman was the only other thrower to top 37' with a throw of 37'4.50.
RunWV's Current Score: 83 of 102.
Discus
Huntington's Ericka Budd scored another win with a toss of 125'6. Point Pleasant's
Aislyn Hayman threw 123'9 for 2nd, and Musselman's Dominique Hailey was 3rd
with a throw of 121'3. Everone else was over 10' behind these three.
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 exceeded expectations by 3 or more places and deserve special mention.
Jakeya Perrin, Cabell Midland -- 100 M (not picked, got 4th)
Jahmia Bridges-Butler, Morgantown -- 200 M (picked 5th, got 2nd)
Sydnei Taylor, Spring Mills -- 400 M (picked 4th, got 1st)
Emily Louk, Lewis County -- 800 M (not picked, got 4th)
Abby Colbert, Jefferson -- 1600 M (not picked, got 3rd)
John Marshall -- 4x100 M (not picked, got 4th)
(Amelia Nelson, Kaitlyn Groves, Tahya Stewart, Torie Derrow)
Jefferson -- 4x200 M (not picked, got 2nd)
(Michaela Ashford, Alexus Hockman, Kaiella Smith, Aisha Grant)
Sydnei Taylor, Spring Mills -- Long Jump (picked 5th, got 2nd)
The following teams deserve kudos for scoring seven points or more higher than I predicted.
Class AAA Girls Jefferson +25 John Marshall +12 Cabell Midland + 9