MORGANTOWN — The 2023 spring sports season continues to wind down this weekend as the state track and field meet will be held at Laidley Field in Charleston Friday and Saturday. All five local area schools will be sending runners to the state capital to compete in various events with hopes of both team and individual state titles being earned.
Both Morgantown and University will look to defend team titles in Class AAA as the Mohigan girls and the Hawks boys will strive to repeat as overall state champions.
The Mohigans are sending over 40 athletes to Charleston as state qualifiers and coach Steve Blinco expects to hear the names of MHS athletes being called early and often.
“This team will be a lot of fun to watch on Friday and Saturday,” Blinco said. “I know they are ready to go down to states and leave their mark. We have a chance for some individual success in many events. We are ready to compete with anyone and in any conditions. Spring prepared us for anything this week.”
Most notably, MHS senior and national Gatorade Player of the Year for cross-country, Irene Riggs, will be running her final races as a Morgantown High student-athlete. She will look to capture individual titles and help secure a team title, in the 800, 1600, and 3200-meter races. In the shorter distances, MHS senior sprinter Izayah Everett will look to cap off an impressive season with a state title.
Crosstown rival UHS will also be well-represented in Charleston. The Hawks pose the heaviest threat in the distance races as the boys are aiming to repeat as overall state title winners and repeat in many of the longer-distanced races.
Led by senior Ryan Blohm and junior Drew Zundell, the Hawks boys have a strong chance at securing some top spots in both individual races and relays.
For the UHS girls, 12 athletes will make the trip to compete in a mix of track and field events, both short and distance races. The Hawks will also send a shuttle hurdle relay team of Paige Conrad, Mairin Gillespie, Elizabeth West, and Keira Dunn.
In the AA/A division, Trinity Christian and Clay Battelle will each send athletes in a mix of both track and field events.
For the Cee-Bees, 12 athletes (six boys, six girls) will compete in Charleston. The girls’ 4×200 relay team of Raegan Darling, Keelee Rose, Maggie Lamley, and Ava Hall will highlight the meet for their team.
For the boys, football standouts, and the only pair of 1,000-yard rushers in the history of C-B football, senior Carson Shriver and junior Zac Hall will both compete in the individual 100-meter dash. Hall will join Kohlton St. Clair, Adam Kolat, and Landon Savage in the 4×200-meter relay as well.
For TCS and head coach John Barnett, a showing of 13 athletes is sure to bring some excitement. With multiple school records being broken this season, Barnett knows his team is ready for the state meet and hopes they have saved their best for last.
The 4×100 boys’ relay team consisting of Levi Teets, Kyle Knight, Brock Shuba, and Joshua Jorge come into the state meet with the top regional time and the fastest time recorded in the state this year so far at 44.62, a TCS school record.
“We’re really excited for the state meet. Our team has worked hard from day one,” Barnett said. “We’ve competed against great competition all year and I think it really helped prepare us for a tough regional. Both boys and girls teams had an outstanding meet and finished regional runner up.”
For the season, the teams have combined to break 11 school records, according to Barnett.
“Overall, we’ve had a great season. I’m really happy with our team headed into this weekend,” he said. “We’re looking forward to competing one more time and hoping for more (personal records), school records, and a shot at a state champion in a few events and maybe a state meet record.”
Events begin at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 19th from Laidley Field in Charleston.
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