Woodford on his way to the AA-A Boys Victory
McCauley making her move at the 2 mile mark
Photo Album of 2010 West Virginia State XC Championship
Under clear, sunny skies, the AA-A boys kicked off things in Ona, WV at the West Virginia Cross Country State Championships.
This particular race was expected to be a toss-up between numerous runners including Drew Woodford, Andrew Shaffer and Will Shaffer.
By the first mile mark, Drew Woodford had taken command of the race, coming through the first-third of the race in 5:22. A chase pack including both Shaffers, Scotty Treadway, Johnny Hogue and Jake Wise followed.
When the runners came through the two-mile mark, Woodford had expanded his lead to roughly 40 meters over Will Shaffer and Andrew Shaffer. Woodford, the Grafton senior, clocked 5:18 for the second mile.
Will Shafer of Scott (R) and Andrew Shaffer of Richwood give chase
By the time Woodford hit the track, he was in total command of the race and had expanded his lead over Andrew Shaffer by 60 meters. “I felt really comfortable during the race,” Woodford said. “I started out in the middle of the pack at the beginning of the race. That was the strategy though, for me to start in the middle and work my way up.”
Once Woodford came across the line in 16:24, it would be 17 more seconds before Richwood’s Andrew Shaffer crossed in 16:41. Rounding out the all-state line-up was Scott sophomore Will Shaffer (16:51), Magnolia’s Alec Hinerman (16:54), Hinerman’s teammate Bill Feeney (16:59), Ritchie freshman Johnny Hogue was able to out kick Westside’s Cameron Davis for sixth with a time of 17:02. Davis ran 17:03. Eighth placed belong to Sherman senior Brandon Harless (17:06), Oak Hill’s Scotty Treadway captured ninth (17:09). Rounding out the top ten was Philip Barbour junior Wes Anderson (17:11).
Behind Woodford’s win, the Grafton boys was able to capture the team title. They scored 102 to Philip Barbour’s second place effort of 120.
Grafton Boys AA-A State Champions
The next race on the schedule was the girls’ AA-A race, which was expected to be toss-up for both the team and individual title.
At the end of the race, Philip Barbour was able to cruise to the team title as they finished with 62 points to Shady Spring’s 120 points, which was good enough for second.
Philip Barbour Girls AA-A State Champions
The individual race was much more exciting than the team race. At the first mile, Philip Barbour’s Sarah McCauley and Charleston Catholic’s Sami Harris was at the front followed closely by 2009 state champion Maggie Drazba. At the two mile mark, McCauley and Harris were still neck and neck. As the both ladies, came down the hill, McCauley slowly began pulling away.
L-R Sami Harris, Sarah McCauley, Maggie Drazba, and Katie Jan
When McCauley hit the track, she was all by herself and easily coasted to a 28 second win over Harris. McCauley ran 18:32.94 for the 3.1 mile course.
McCauley winning AA-A State Championship
Harris ran 19:01. Drazba from St. Mary’s hung onto third place (19:44). Frankfort’s Katie Jan finished fourth (19:50). Fifth place belonged to Philip Barbour’s Brianna Way bright (20:16). Weir High School sophomore Alexis Virtue was sixth (20:20). Herbert Hoover’s Erica Walker also ran 20:20 for seventh place. Pikeview’s Chelsea East was eighth (20:34). Doddridge’s Bethany Carroll was ninth (20:41). Shady Spring’s Sarah Phillips was able to sneak into the top ten, running 20:49.