State meet off and running
Elkins High 4x800 relay teams, Tucker's Barb capture titles
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CHARLESTON -- The Elkins High School 4×800-meter relay teams captured Class AAA titles on the opening day of the state meet Friday at Laidley Field, while Tucker County's Lucas Barb claimed the Class A high jump title.
Bobby Valentine, Josh Bodkins, Dylan Fortney and Trevor George turned in a time of 7:56.80 to nearly best runner-up Winfield by nearly 11 seconds.
George also placed second in the 3,200 in a time of 9:16.39, while teammate Treven Schaeffer placed eighth (10:26.68).
Jaden Hatfield, meanwhile, qualified for today's 200 finals.
The Lady Tigers' 4×800 unit of Julia Biola, Alyssa White, Molly McFadden and Emilia Tenney captured first with an effort of 9:43.64.
Biola was second in the 3,200 (11:00.21) and Marissa Brenwalt was fifth in the high jump.
Brenwalt was unable to defend her state title in the 100-meter hurdles due to an injury suffered in regionals.
Buckhannon-Upshur's Rylen Carlyle placed fourth in the long jump with an effort of 16-01.25.
In the Class AA portion of the state meet, Philip Barbour's Kayla Baker ran to fifth in the 3,200 (12:39.53) and Aidan Phillips placed sixth in the shot put (45-11.25).
Harman's Jessie Heavner qualified for today's Class A 200 finals with a time of 28.44 on Friday.
For Tucker County, Reid Kisamore qualified for today's 100-meter finals and Lela Wright advanced in both the 100 (12.96) and 200 (27.73), while Lynk Suesli was third in the 3,200 (9:56.65), Estoria Chase seventh in the 3,200 (13:22.63).
Barb had a winning leap of 6-0.
Suesli joined Landon Wilfong, Cameron Judy and Alex Collar in placed third in the 4×800 relay (8:42.28).
The state meet resumes today.