The Williamstown ladies won eight of the eighteen events en route to the Class A team title. The Yellowjackets completed a successful title defense after winning the 2019 championship. Senior Ella Hesson swept the distance events. She won the 3200 meter run on Wednesday evening and then added titles in the 4×800, 1600 and 800 meter runs.
Ella McMullen won the 400 meter Wednesday night. And Williamstown swept the 4×100 relay, the 4×200 relay, the 4×400 relay and the 4×800 relay. Williamstown has now won eight state titles, seven of those coming in the last fourteen years.
“This whole season, we had to deal with all the COVID protocols and all that stuff. We defeated all that. We did great and they wanted it from day one,” said Williamstown head coach Zach Hunt.
Runner-up honors go to the Doddridge County Bulldogs. Abby McDonough had an event victory in the pole vault.
Individually, Ritchie County junior Olivia Cress swept all four of her events en route to high point honors. Cress won a pair of races on the track in the 100 meter and 300 meter hurdles. She also won the high jump and the long jump.
“It was a big goal I had all year,” Cress said. “I have been trying to do my best and improving all year long. I have been trying to be the best I can be and it has really paid off.”
Magnolia’s Mady Winters capped her impressive high school career with a pair of wins in the discus and the shot put. Her toss of 41 feet, 7 1/4 inches set a new state record.
Other individual winners included Tyler Consolidated’s Jocelyn Foltz in the 100 meters, Erica Davis of St. Marys in the 200 meters, and Tygarts Valley in the shuttle hurdle relay.
The team competition was much tighter on the boys side but in the end, Doddridge County defended their Class A crown. Carter Lipscomb won the 3200 meter run Wednesday night. Reese Burnside claimed a title in the pole vault by clearing 13 and a half feet. The Bulldogs also won three relays in the 4×100, 4×200 and the 4×400.
“It is so very special for every senior on the team and every member of the team that didn’t get a season last year,” said Doddridge County head coach Bobby Burnside. “This is the last time my two sons (Adam and Reese) will be on the same team together. They both had huge days. Carter Lipscomb came back from a foot injury and had an impressive win in the two mile last night. This being our school’s tenth title, I am savoring it.”
Route 50 rival Ritchie County was the runner-up. Junior Gus Morrison claimed high point honors by winning the 110 hurdles, the 300 hurdles and the long jump.
“I have wanted it all year,” Morrison said. “So it feels awesome to get it. It is even better that (Cress) got it too.”
The Rebels claimed two more wins with their shuttle hurdle relay team and Kaleb Cole in the shot put.
Magnolia’s Jason Beisel sprinted to victory in the 100 meter, 200 meter and the 400 meter on Wednesday.
Teammate Gavin Postelthwait claimed the high jump title and the Blue Eagles won the 4×800 relay.
Other individual event winners were Aaron Still of St. Marys in the discus, Wheeling Central’s Aidan Scott in the 1600 meter and Clay-Battelle’s Holden Ammons in the 800 meter.