ONA — University and Morgantown put on impressive performances in tough conditions Saturday in the state cross-country meet on the soggy 3.1-mile course at Cabell Midland High School.
University’s boys won its third consecutive Class AAA state championsip, finishing with 30 points.
Morgantown’s girls did even better with five runners making the top seven to prevail with 21 points to also win their third straight state title.
Josh Edwards won the individual title in 15:51 while battling heavy rain. It was his third consecutive individual state championship. He finished second overall as a freshman.
Three UHS teammates made the podium in Rocco DeVincent in third, Drew Zundel in fourth and Ryan Blohm in fifth. Jacob West placed 17th.
Edwards, who will head to Oregon after graduation, went out front early and pretty much coasted home.
“Got a little wet when I stepped to the line, then it started raining,” he said. “That’s cross-country. Go out and race. One thing is I shouldn’t have worn track spikes. Not big on plans. Things change on the course. I’m confident in myself, my capabilities. Nothing’s guaranteed.”
The depth for the Hawks just overwhelmed the field.
“It’s good to get motivated,” Edwards said. “Legacy is defined by showing what you can do. We know how to run motivated. When I got here (freshman) it was a complete cultural change. I know we can do it. It’s sad to leave.”
Wheeling Park was second in Class AAA with 84 points and Hurricane third with 92.
Morgantown’s Irene Riggs won in 18:24.88. Rounding out the romp for the Mohigans are Lea Hatcher in third, Jennifer O’Palko in sixth, Sophie Renner in seventh and Amelia Summers in eighth for their third straight state championship.
For Riggs, it was her second individual state title and the Mohigans’ third in the last three years.
University was second with 89 points and Cabell Midland third with 116.
Preston’s Allie Martin was second individually with a time of 18:59.69.
“Decided to start fast and see what happens,” Riggs said about her plans. “The main objective was bring the state title back. Coach (Michael) Ryan is a great coach. He dedicates his time. The hard work pays off. Three in a row, excited about that.”
Winfield got things started Saturday with a sweep in Class AA. The Generals had 72 points to 100 for No. 2 Fairmont Senior and 112 for No. 3 Wayne.
Rachael Withrow, second a year ago, led Winfield with the win in 20:04. Teammate Marian Al-Soubi was fifth.
In the boys, Winfield outdueled Frankfort to win with 46 points. Frankfort had 50 and Oak Glen 95. Winfield’s Brayden Marshall used a sprint down the home stretch of the Chris Parsons Track to take first in 16:24.
In Class A, Doddridge had another battle with Williamstown in the girls and won this time with 34 points. Williamstown was second with 53.
Individually, Trinity’s Jenna Barnett was 24th with a time of 22:48.52.
Williamstown won the Class A boys’ race with 30 points and had five runners in the top 10.
Trinity placed seventh overall as a team with 144 points. Its top finisher was Peyton Dixon, who finished 21st overall with a time of 19:21.08.
Wheeling Central’s Aidan Scott paced the individual race, winning in 17:29 in the final race of the day.
“Don’t give up now, almost done,” Scott said in a post-race interview.
–Story by David Walsh
