August 22, 2009 started the journey for the anticipated 2009 West Virginia Cross Country season. The Jefferson Invitational and the Buccaneers/Bobcat Classic got the action started.
Jefferson boys and girls swept their home invitational. The boys claimed the top 3 spots and placed 7 in the top 10 in scoring. Jefferson won with 15 points, Martinsburg was 2nd with 68 points, and Hedgesville was 3rd with 86 points. The Jefferson girls claimed the top 2 spots and placed 5 in the top 10 in scoring. Scoring went as follows: Jefferson with 21, Martinsburg with 61, and Hedgesville finished a close 3rd with 68 points.
Leading the way for the men was Brandon Doughty with an impressive 16:50.3 on the 5K course. Teammate Sam Munnis took 2nd in 17:42.7. For the ladies, Alyssa Boucher claimed the ladies race with a time of 19:43.7 and teammate Andrea Nickerson placed a strong 2nd in 20:15.9.
At Buckhannon-Upshur, Hampshire captured the boys and girls team wins. The boys took 1st with 38 points and were followed by Phiip Barbour with 50 points and Buckhannon-Upshur with 94 points. The Hampshire girls beat out Bridgeport Senior and Philip Barbour with 28 points to 42 and 56 points respectively.
Taking 1st place honors in the 5K race for the men was Preston Whitney, a senior from Ripley, with a time of 18:30.02. Junior Justin Miller of Buckhannon-Upshur raced to 2nd place in 18:56.82. Carissa Guyer, junior from Hampshire, led the winning ladies team to a 1st place finish in 21:48. Guyer held off Junior Sarah McCauley of Philip Barbour who finished a close 2nd in 21:57.6.