Tygarts Valley, Elkins compete in cross country meets
George shines for Tigers with record-setting time
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SUTTON – The Tygart Valley cross country team competed in the Braxton County No Excuses Invitational on Saturday.
Taren Bennett led the way for the Bulldogs with a time of (29:21), while teammates Holden Sharp (33:13) and Blake Channell (36:00) followed on the course that featured rolling hills and muddy conditions.
“Our boys stepped up to the challenge and completed the course,” said Tygarts Valley coach Rich Sharp. “Taren started the day off by setting the goal of placing above 20 other runners, which he accomplished. Holden and Blake also moved up in the pack in comparison to our other meets.”
The Tygarts Valley High School cross country team is in its first year of existence and Saturday’s meet was just the third-ever event for the team, which currently consists of three runners.
“I knew coming into the season that we would start off in the bottom of the pack with us racing kids who have done this for six years, and us being in our first year of cross country,” Sharp said. “These young men continue to push themselves and keep their heads held high.”
Tygarts Valley will return to action in Grafton on Saturday when to competes in the Bearcat Invitational.
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Elkins High School cross country teams traveled out of state to take part in the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational on Saturday.
The teams competed in the championship division of the meet at E.P. Tom Sawyer Park and came away with a new school record, two medalists, and 11 personal records.
It was the third year in a row that the EHS cross country teams traveled out of West Virginia for competition. Elkins went across state lines and into Ohio last year and competed in Virginia during the 2024 campaign.
“This year’s overnight trip serves as a dress rehearsal for states,” said Elkins coach Scott Biola. “Our kids deserved an opportunity to run on a fast course.”
The Tigers’ Trevor George took center state at the meet, finishing eighth overall with a time of 15:15.09. His time, which was the fastest 5K cross-country time ever recorded by a member of the EHS boys cross country team, currently ranks No. 1 in the state of West Virginia.
“I watched Trevor pass the mile mark in 4:41 and knew he was on track to do something special if he could hang on,” Biola said. “He did hang on and proved that he can compete with anyone.”
Trevor Schaefer (16:38), Dylan Fortney (16:39), Donivan Petrice (17:45), Levi Tenney (19:41), and Grant Morgan (20:16) all set personal records at the meet. Reed Burdette (18:31) rounded out the field of competitors for EHS.
Julia Biola (18:52) paced the Lady Tigers with a Top 20 finish, while teammates Clara Pyles (20:16), Haley Kelley (21:33), Flora Perkins (24:03), Willow Tallman (24:06), and Sarah Lipscomb (26:46) set personal records. Emilia Tenney (19:18) finished second to Biola and Molly McFadden (21:40) had a strong showing.
Elkins will compete in its lone home meet of the season with the Mountain State Forest Festival’s Jack & Jill Relays on Saturday. The event will be held at 4-H Camp Pioneer and will begin with a middle school race at 9 a.m. High school action will get underway at 10:30 a.m.