MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – At the tail end of a cold front came breezy, 70-degree weather – just in time for the Region I cross-country meet.
Whether the temperature played a role in it or not, Morgantown came out victorious over host, rival and second-place finisher University.
“This week was all mental preparation,” Morgantown coach Mike Ryan said. “We let our legs get back underneath us knowing we had to come out here to UHS’ home course and – with them being five-time defending champions – be serious.”
The girls’ team had three runners finish in the top 5, claiming the top three spots. Sophomore Lea Hatcher placed 1st clocking 17:32.31, freshman Irene Riggs took 2nd (18:05.44), and Athena Young placed 3rd just behind Riggs (18:12.69).
“My goal was actually 17:30, so I was right on (that today),” Hatcher said.
Hatcher will look to outdo her third-place finish at states last year and said she’ll be focusing on her time above all else next Saturday.
“I think giving myself more personal goals makes me more motivated, especially for states. It’s not necessarily about the placement,” Hatcher continued. “Our main goal (as a team) is to win on both sides.”
University claimed the bottom two spots in the top 5 with Zoe Shetty placing 4th and Caroline Kirby taking 5th with times of 18:16.78 and 18:17.21, respectively. Closing out the top 10 is Preston’s Allie Martin (6th), Isabella DiSaia (Wheeling Park, 7th), Emma Williams (UHS, 8th), Chloe Stark (PHS, 9th) and Cadence Vincent (Buckhannon-Upshur, 10th).
Morgantown claimed the Region I team title with 29 points, while University took 2nd (44 points) and Preston took 3rd (71 points) to qualify for states.
The Mohigans boys’ team also brings home the regional title, handily beating University and Preston with 43 total points. The Hawks (2nd, 54 points) and Preston (3rd, 56 points) finished out the state qualifying spots.
University’s Josh Edwards repeated as the Region I overall winner, taking 1st with a low time of 15:53.66.
“It feels good to repeat,” Edwards said. “It’s what I expected to happen. It’s what I should be doing – keeping it consistent.”
Edwards, who placed second at states last year, relayed he plans on claiming first this time around, naturally.
“I have a race strategy – I’m not gonna say it now – but I know what the course is like and from getting other people’s opinions I have a plan.”
“Josh fires everyone up and is going to in and push hard,” UHS coach Ed Frohnapfel said. “Usually when you see your teammate doing well it pulls everyone up (and) Josh is focused on that team win at states. We had two of our top five out on the boys’ side, but I know we’ll do better when (they) come back.”
Morgantown’s Jackson Core placed 2nd clocking 16:11.09, while University’s Rocco DeVincent (3rd, 16:22.44), Preston’s Cole Friend (4th, 16:23.59) and Jordan Thomas (UHS, 5th, 16:33.84) finished out the top 5. Jackson Snyder (6th, MHS), Trey Tatham-Smith (7th, PHS), Hayden Thomas (8th, PHS), Quinn Jacquez (9th, MHS), and Vincent Diprosperis (10th, Wheeling Park) closed the top 10.
“I think the Manhattan Invitational paid off well,” Morgantown coach Mike Ryan said. “As I said (afterward) it gave us confidence and it carried into practice and today’s (race). We came up with a game plan that didn’t go as we had planned, but the result was still there.
“We had a lot of (personal records) today. It was the first time Jackson Snyder went under 17th place, Jackson Core also set a PR out there. On the girls’ side, we had a lot of PRs: Irene and Amelia Summers, both freshmen, coming into their first regional championship and setting records is all I can ask for.
“(Now) we have one more race to win.”
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