More later, but Maggie Drazba of St. Marys was 3rd in 17:10 and Amelia Paladino of University was 10th! Both qualify for Foot Locker Nationals to be held on December 8, 2012 at Balboa Park in San Diego CA.
Seeded Girls Video featuring WV girls
Matthew Brafford, a junior, from George Washington High School in Charleston, WV was the lone bright spot at the Battle of the Potomac or Border War #7 as it is affectionately called on Saturday November 17th in Gaithersburg, MD. Brafford finished 6th in the seeded race with a time of 16:57. Maryland won the boys race and Virginia took the girls title.
WV Runners staff member and my son, Lance McDaniel, competed in the Thunder Road Half Marathon on Saturday in Charlotte, NC along with 2,385 other runners and came out on top in his first competitive half marathon with a time of 1:14.30 for a 5:41 mile pace over the 13.1 miles. Read the article below from the Bluefield Daily Telegraph.
With only one senior in their top 5, the top ranked Morgantown girls should be a dominating force for a long time
The rankings will not change, but a few teams are participating in post season meets.
Led by U.S. #9 Jacob Burcham, Cabell Midland was the class of the field. Midland placed 5 runners in the top 13 at the WV State Championship.
For complete up to date information regarding West Virginia Foot Locker Entries click the link below.
AAA and AA-A State Champions and the top two rated girls in West Virginia, Amelia Paladino of University (17:38) and Maggie Drazba of St. Marys (17:17), head the field.
The #2 and #3 rated West Virginia boys, Matthew Bradford of George Washington (15:42) and Ryan Graf of Jefferson (15:50) lead the pack for the men.
Two of the greatest all time West Virginia cross country and track and field athletes have decided on their post season races. Maggie Drazba of St. Marys has chosen Foot Locker and Jacob Burcham of Cabell Midland has selected Nike.
The 7th Annual Battle of the Potomac also known as Border War #7 is set to take place on Saturday November 17, 2012 at Smokey Glen Farms 5K course in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
For complete meet information please open this link: 2012 Battle of the Potomac XC #7 Meet Information.
For the 2011 Milesplit meet coverage and history, use this link: 2011 Milesplit Coverage of the Battle of the Potomac and Meet History
Senior Nick Trefz of Fairmont Senior with the 4th fastest time posted in West Virginia this year and the fasted in A-AA classification in 2012 cruised to a 12 second victory with a sub 16 minute time of 15:52.2.
Cross country is a team sport, and Philip Barbour girls and Fairmont Senior boys took the A-AA titles. However, on this day all eyes were on an outstanding individual that is simply the best female high school distance runner ever in the state of West Virginia. Maggie Drazba, a senior, from St. Marys shattered the course record by almost 15 seconds with a blazing time on the difficult Cabell Midland 5000 meter course in Ona, West Virginia in 17:17.89.
Morgantown Girls are 2012 AAA State Champions
Amelia Paladino, junior, from University High School in Morgantown wins AAA Girls race in 17:47.32
Cabell Midland Boys take AAA State Championship Trophy
Jacob Burcham, senior, from Cabell Midland High School in Ona set record time in AAA boys race in 14:58.04
Philip Barbour are AA-A girls champions
Maggie Drazba shatters course record to win AA-A girls race with a time of 17:17.32
Fairmont Senior wins boys AA-A State Championship as senior Nick Trefz leads them with a 15:52.20 winning time in the AA-A boys race.
Get all the information you need regarding the 2012 West Virginia State Cross Country Championship with these two links. Articles, photos, performances, qualifier entry lists, past meets, and more are included.
WV Runners WV State XC Championship Coverage
Cabell Midland Boys and Morgantown Girls lead the early season team rankings.
These rankings are based on 2012 cross country performances to date, and do not reflect course difficulty. When more head to head meets take place, the picture may be different.
(Cover Photo of Brynn Harshbarger of Morgantown by Derrick Cleveland Photography)
The 2012 West Virginia High School and Middle School Cross Country season opens Saturday with the Bobcat Kickoff Classic held at Buckhannon-Upshur High School in Buckhannon, WV. Please send in your schedules if your meet is not listed on our calendar. Cover photo of the top returning male and female high school runners in Jacob Burcham and Maggie Drazba.
I ran this article at the end of last cross country season and think it is appropriate to bring it back.
With the 2011 cross country season fresh on our minds, let's look forward to 2012 cross country season and the 50 fastest returning West Virginia girls. Maggie Drazba, Sami Harris, Victoria Cooke and Amelia Paladino should be back for an encore to what was a spectacular and drama filled season for the ladies. As always, there will be newcomers to watch and others that will come to the top. Nine months and counting. I can't wait.
I ran this article at the end of last season and think it is appropriate to bring it back.
With the 2011 cross country season fresh on our minds, let's look forward to 2012 cross country season and the 50 fastest returning West Virginia boys. Jacob Burcham again tops the list as he has for the two previous years. However, many seniors were in the 2011 race and this leaves a bunched field for the next spot. Only 15 seconds separate the next 5 returners after Burcham. This is an early observation, but take note that Cabell Midland has 4 of the top 10 returners.
Dante Price of Harpers Ferry finished fifth in the 100m dash earning his 2nd All-American designation in the 17-18 young men’s age category.
Noah Castro of Winfield posted a personal best of 5:01.61 in the 9-10 boys 1500M and finished fourth
Emily Godwin a junior from Buckhannon-Upsur and the US#6 ranked high jumper coming into the 2012 USATF National Junior Olympic Championships took home the gold today in the high jump with a clearing height of 5' 8.75" in Baltimore Maryland at the Morgan State University Track and Field complex. Her impressive resume now has the title of National Champion. I will add photos later.
Dante Price of Harpers Ferry has earned All-American honors in the 200m with a personal best 21.22 while running the turns precisionally out of lane 5. Price has another opportunity tomorrow as he competes in the 100m dash finals. Pictures to be added later.
Rising 8th grade high jump star , Carly Hinkle finished 2nd at the 2012 USATF National Junior Olympics in the 13-14 girls high jump setting a new personal record jump of 5’ 5”. H
Emily Godwin is a Track & Field All - American finishing 4th in the Young womens Heptathlon with a total score of 4532 points at the USA Track & Field Junior Olympics at Morgan State University in Baltimore MD
Dante Price swept the short sprints by winning the 200 meter dash in 21.59 (surprising some Michigan & Ohio sprinters). Dante won the 100 meter dash on Saturday. Ramone Garnett won the 13-14 boys Shot put, Karly Hinkle won the 13-14 girls high jump and Barkley Castro got her second gold in the 17-18 girls 800.
Noah Castro of Scott West Virginia has taken up where he left off from the indoor season. On Saturday, the double national champion in the boys Bantam Division at AAU Northern Indoor National Championships, took the Region 5 JO by 16 seconds with a 5:05.78 1500m in the Bantam Boys division. This meet is a national qualifying meet for the 2012 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships to be held at Morgan State Univesity in Baltimore, Maryland on July 23-29.
Emily Godwin a junior from Buckhannon-Upsur and the US#6 ranked high jumper (5'10") competing against college and top high school athletes finished 6th in the gruelling Heptathlon with 4,716 points at the USATF Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Indian University Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana.
Several West Virginia Athletes competed at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals this weekend at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, NC. Jacob Burcham led the way with a National Championship in the One Mile Run added to his resume.
Jacob Burcham, junior from Cabell Midland High School, uses a tactical race approach in the boys Mile to win a national title with a time of 4:08.8.
One Mile Championship Race Video
Click title to check out another article on Burcham.
Warren Coon, Sherman Track and Field coach, passed away Friday at his home after a long battle with cancer. When I get funeral arrangements, I will post them here.
"Memorial service will be at 2:00 PM on Friday June 1 in the Sherman High School gymnasium. Visitiation will be from 10:00 AM-2:00PM before the service....wear your school colors (his request) or your Team Coon Bear t-shirt."
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The athletes and the weather are heating up at the 2012 WV State Track and Field Championships. More to follow. See article comments for updates.
WVRunners will be on site in Charleston, WV at the West Virginia Track and Field State Championship to bring you breaking news and great coverage. Please check back often as we provide updates.