WHEELING – The W.Va. Class AAA Area I Cross Nation meet changed into the Metropolis of Morgantown Invitational early Thursday morning on the 5,000-meter Wheeling Park Course excessive atop the Pleasant Metropolis.
College Excessive ran away from the 8-team subject within the boys’ portion of the occasion because the Hawks collected 20 factors to runner-up Morgantown Excessive’s 65. Wheeling Park completed third with 78 and shall be making its fourth straight journey south. There have been 53 runners.
The highest three groups and 11 people certified for the state meet on Sat., Oct. 28 at Cabell Midland Excessive College in Ona.
On the women’ facet, the Mohigans tallied 30 factors to the Hawks’ 40. Preston additionally superior with 75. Forty-nine women participated.
The highest three groups and 10 people certified for the state meet.
BOYS
College’s ‘pack’ of Drew Zundell, Tyler Umbright and Jacob West completed 1-2-3 to tempo the Hawks win, with all three breaking the 16-minute barrier. The Hawks’ Ethan Conroy (fifth) and Jack Overfield (ninth) additionally completed within the high 10.
“It feels good. I’m blissful for the crew,” Zundell mentioned. “Tyler and Jacob each ran an amazing race.”
Zundell, the OVAC titlist, had a special message throughout the bridge of his nostril. It learn ‘Now.’
“I’m fearful about now … this mile, this step, this second,” he defined. “Some folks fear concerning the states or what they’re going to do tomorrow. I simply respect now and all of the issues I’ve. Every thing behind me is behind me and I can’t change any of it. The one factor I can change is now.
Zundell positioned third in 2022, whereas West was eighth and Umbright eleventh.
Additionally qualifying had been Bridgeport’s duo of Troy Zorick and Sam Dodson, who had been sixth and seventh, respectively. Morgantown’s Quinn Murdy was eighth and teammate Andrew Carlton was tenth. Preston’s Damian Rumer grabbed the ultimate spot.
“It’s no secret that College is the category of the state. They’ve a top-notch program,” Wheeling Park coach Jacob Galik added. “Their coach instructed me they’ve 15 state titles. I don’t even know what to say to that.
“They’re the usual of excellence. They both make you higher or they make you give up.”
GIRLS
9 of the ten state qualifiers hailed from Monongalia County, with the opposite being John Marshall’s Zoe Zervos, who positioned fifth after successful the OVAC Cal Pokas Title two weeks in the past in Cambridge.
College freshman Abigail Rogers, who was second to Zervos on the OVAC Meet, toured the course in 18:45.56 for a first-place end. She handed Morgantown’s Madeline Gump late within the race for the win. Gump, who was fourth within the state a yr in the past, clocked in at 18:48.18.
“I’m actually proud of my time. All the women did an amazing job,” Rogers mentioned. “I favored the climate. The course was a bit extra hillier than I anticipated, however it was okay as a result of the climate was good.
“I’m fairly excited.”
The Hawks’ Adelyn Tager, who ran seventh in final yr’s state meet, was third in 19:07.73 and the Mohigans’ Maraid Johnson was fourth in 19:12.81.
The ultimate 5 qualifiers included Morgantown’s Jennifer O’Palko (sixth), Sophie Renner (eighth) and Lauren Hawkins (tenth); and College’s Claire von Boetticher (seventh) and Sophia Bell (ninth).
The Class A state meet begins with the women race at 9 a.m. and the boys at 9:45. The Class AA women run at midday, with the boys at 12:45 p.m. The Class AAA women race at 3. The boys take off 45 minutes later.
BY KIM NORTH/The Intelligencer
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