WEST VIRGINIA STATE MEET

Ty Steorts Completes Three-Peat With 25-Second Win

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

As Ty Steorts, the top ranked DyeStat runner in the country, prepares for a run at a national title next month, the senior made sure to leave a lasting mark on the West Virginia state meet.

On Saturday at the West Virginia State High School Cross Country Championships, Steorts, from Hurricane High, claimed his third straight 3A title, covering the 5,000-meter course at Cabell Midland in a time of 15 minutes, 11.5 seconds.

Steorts, who won the race by 25 seconds, became joined Josh Edwards (2017-19) and became the second runner to win three straight Class 3A titles.

In the team race, University flexed its muscles winning its sixth consecutive title with 42 points. Senior Tyler Umbright led the way with a third-place finish (15:55.5) as four runners finished in the top 15. 

The University girls made it a program sweep, dethroning five-time champion Morgantown and claiming the program’s first title since 2018. University scored 56 points with sophomore Abigail Rogers finishing in second (18:40.2).

Buckhannon-Upshur senior Samantha Shreve won the race in 18:27.9. 

The Elkins boys claimed the programs first Class AA state title, and first in any division since 1979. Sophomore Trevor George led the way winning in 16:09.9, as the team had four runners in the top 10. 

Racing in Class 2A after moving up from Class 1A, the Williamstown girls had no problems reaching the top of the podium again, coasting to a team championship with 36 points. Individually, it was a battle to the finish as Herbert Hoover freshman Maysen Fletcher won in 18:17.8, as Williamstown’s Alyssa Sauro, the defending 1A champ, was a close second in 18:19.5. 

Fletcher and Sauro were the fastest girls of the day.

In Class 1A, junior Amos Kimble of Tyler Consolidated captured first in 16:09.7, while St. Mary’s won the team title. 

Braxton County, winner of the 2A title last fall, claimed the 1A this year with a dominating 45 points, with four runners in the top 13 and six in the top 20.  Charleston Catholic’s Arabella Boggs won the race in 19:03.9, nearly 70 seconds faster than the next finisher. 

Team Champions

Class 3A - University boys 42 points; University girls 56 points  - RESULTS

Class 2A - Elkins boys 39 points; Williamstown girls 36 points  - RESULTS

Class 1A - St. Mary’s boys 61 points; Braxton girls 45 points  - RESULTS