Regionals - Headed to Ona!

It was a cold day with threatening skies, a blustery wind and occasional snow showers as the girls toed the line for the first race on the challenging Hampshire High School course. Hampshire and Jefferson were expected to battle for the title, with many anticipating a Hampshire win.

Jefferson’s Abby Colbert raced to an early lead and never relinquished it as she opened a huge edge over her rivals. As Colbert raced ahead, it was clear the real battle was for the remaining slots. Colbert crossed the line in 19:45.6, setting a new course record and winning by more than 75 seconds. Out on the course, Hampshire’s Ashleigh Martin pulled away from the pack to capture second in 21:02.9.  Washington’s Destiny Harrison (21:22.3) turned in a fine performance as she outraced Jefferson’s surging Malika Briggs (4^th; 21:28.5) and Anya Wallace (5^th; 21:29.9).

Briggs’ breakthrough performance strengthened Jefferson’s position, but the team title was still in doubt as Hampshire teammates Morgan Roach (21:30.1) and Rachel Lipps (21:47.8) followed close behind in sixth and seventh. Washington’s Catrina Russell broke into the top 10 with a strong performance to capture eighth in 21:59.1. The tables tipped to Jefferson’s favor as Emma Lindberg crossed the line behind Russell in ninth (22:06.9) just ahead of Musselman’s Maddie Trucks (10^th, 22:07.5). With Natalie Walker sprinting to the finish as Jefferson’s final scoring runner in 11^{th (}22:09.0), it was clear that Jefferson had captured their first regional win since 2010.

Jefferson scored 30 points en route to the title. Hampshire took second with 54 points followed by Musselman with 82 points to secure the final state meet qualifying spot. Washington’s Destiny Harrison and Catrina Russell also qualified for the state meet by virtue of their top 10 finishes.

The boys’ race was a much closer affair.  The Jefferson boys came in as the favorites based on their season-long performance, but Musselman, Hampshire and Elkins were looking for the upset.  Jefferson and regional No. 1 Andrew Milliron established an early lead and maintained it throughout the race as he took the victory in 16:47.6, extending his course record on the recently reconfigured Hampshire layout.

The next four runners changed places multiple times, with Jefferson’s Jackson Jacobs, Musselman’s Shane Rigsby and Elkins’ Austin Hamrick and Matt Wallace all making bids for the lead and separating themselves from the rest of the field.  In the end, it was Jacobs who rolled into the final stretch ahead of the group as he grabbed second place (16:59.4) with a strong push over the last half mile. Rigsby overcame an uncharacteristically slow start, finishing strong to take third (17:03.5) two seconds ahead of Hamrick (17:05.3) followed by Wallace (17:15.4). Hampshire’s Casey Feezle led the remainder of the field into the finish line, taking sixth in (17:57.5) followed by Hedgesville’s surprising Daniel Beavers (17:58.6) and Martinsburg’s Vlad Bauer (18:04.7).

The Musselman duo of Austin Jenner (9^th, 18:18.7) and Josh Leake (10^th, 18:20.3) crossed the line next, placing three Musselman runners in the top 10 and briefly raising hopes for a Musselman upset of Jefferson.  After Jefferson’s Jonathan Royster ran his best race of the year to finish just outside the top 10 in 11^th in 18:24.7, the issue was still in doubt as Elkins made a bid with Remington Knight (18:30.0) and Dalton Hamrick (18:33.7) crossing in 13^th and 15^th, respectively.  It was not to be, however, as Jefferson freshman Dylan Stamper (19:01.6) came in six spots later to seal the team victory for Jefferson.

Team scoring was much tighter than anticipated with the Jefferson boys scoring 49 points to outpace the game Elkins squad’s 64.  Hampshire scored 77 to take third, while Musselman captured the final state qualifying spot with 80 points. Joining the runners from these teams at the state meet by virtue of their top 10 finishes will be Hedgesville’s Beavers and Martinsburg’s Bauer.

These teams and individual qualifiers will see each other again next Saturday as the best in West Virginia gather at Cabell Midland High School for the state championships.  It promises to be an exciting meet!