A course-record shattering run to start the morning. Followed by a school getting its first individual state champion. When it was over, a four-peat for the overall team champions in Class AAA.
Morgantown’s Irene Riggs began the cool, sunny Saturday morning with an amazing run to win the individual title in Class AAA girls in the West Virginia High School Cross Country Championship at Cabell Midland High School. She covered the 5K course in 16:32, besting the previous record mark of 17:17 set by Maggie Drazba of St. Mary’s in 2012.
“Coming in it was break 17 (minutes),” said Riggs, who’ll run in college at Stanford. “This means a lot. It’s an opportunity to leave a mark.”
Morgantown won the team title with 32 points as it had five runners on the podium. Madeline Gump was fourth, Amelia Summers eighth, Anna Lester ninth and Sophie Renner 10th. In individuals, Audrey Hall of Hurricane was second (18:34) and Savannah Pritt of Cabell Midland third.
“That was a goal for the team coming in,” said Riggs, who was on the Mohicans team when it started the run in 2019. “I was a freshman that first one. To go out with four is special.”
University and Cabell Midland tied for second with 77 points. University took home the runner-up spot.
In Class AAA boys, Ty Steorts of Hurricane won in 15:27. The sophomore becomes the first state champion in school history. Teammate Aaron Kidd was second and Drew Zundel of University third. Steorts was runner-up to Josh Edwards of University a year ago.
“I planned to stay in the pack and then make a move,” Steorts said. “Last year definitely gave me confidence in running. I was not aware of being the first state champ. It does feel good.”
University won the Class AAA team title for the fourth straight year, this time with 39 points. Hurricane was second with 56 and Wheeling Park third with 77.
Depth for the Hawks made the difference. Ryan Blohm was seventh, Jacob West eighth, Ethan Conroy 10th, Tyler Umbright 11th, Gavin Warton 12th and Jack Overfield 18th.
Thus the four-peat for the two Region 1 powerhouses.
For Riggs, she took off at the starting gun and dominated the field.
“For a while I struggled, then I got motivated,” she said. “Something clicked. Go out fast, turnover (foot speed). It worked for me.”
When Riggs came on to the track to finish, she was startled to see the scoreboard clock in the 15-minute range.
“I can’t lie,” she said. “When I came on the track and saw the time, I was pretty startled. To win team means so much, too. It’s special.”
The victory comes after Riggs injured her right foot (contusion) early in the season when a car ran over it. She wore a boot as she went through rehab.
“I was down, a bit confused,” Riggs said. “This is the best outcome you could ask for. From a boot to this. I didn’t know how I’d bounce back.”
Riggs had planned to attend a college on the East Coast until she made a trip to Stanford, a member of the Pac-10.
“Went out for a visit and fell in love with it right away,” she said.
Dr. Michael Ryan, the Morgantown coach, was oh so proud of Riggs and the team’s overall performance.
“Definitely a great day,” he said. “For the seniors, what an accomplishment. Irene … what can I say? Coming off the injury, she worked on her fitness and aerobics. It all paid off.
Cabell Midland coach Chris Parsons put it best.
“Not only the best in West Virginia, one of the best in the nation,” he said. “That’s how good she is.”
University coach Ed Frohnapfel said the depth on the team made the difference as Hurricane got first, second and fifth.
“Our strength is through the seventh guy,” said Frohnapfel, who has just one senior on the team. “Way better at the 3-4-5 spots on down and it paid off.”
Hurricane coach Jimmy Cunningham tipped his hat to Steorts and University’s team.
“He and team put in so much work,” Cunningham said. “When you go 1-3-5, you think you’ll win. University is just a solid team. That’s the way it goes.”
By David Walsh
