Photo by Cody Nespor Above, John Marshall’s Camryn Mowder clears the bar with room to spar in the high jump at the WVSSAC Class AAA State Track Meet in Charleston on Thursday.

CHARLESTON — In retrospect, traveling all the way to Charleston to decide the state high jump title seems like a bit of a waste given that the top two competitors in the event go to high schools less than 20 miles apart. John Marshall’s Camryn Mowder and Wheeling Park’s Jai’lah Walker took the top two spots in the girls’ high jump during Thursday’s WVSSAC Class AAA State Track Meet, a week after competing against one another at their regional meet.

Mowder and Walker, both seniors, claimed the top two spots with Mowder clearing 5-4 and Walker, 5-0. It was a similar result to last week’s regional in Morgantown, where Mowder again cleared 5-4 and Walker, 5-2.

Mowder, the top seed coming into the event, said she knew Walker would be her stiffest competition Thursday.

“That’s kind of the nice thing,” she said. “Region 1 is always the hardest region to be in, so you already know what your competition is going to be when you come down here.”

It was the first state title of Mowder’s high school career, coming in her final meet.

“I really wasn’t expecting (to win) so there were nerves but overall, it was exciting,” Mowder said after receiving her first-place medal. “I’m missing my graduation for this, so I’m really glad that I won. If I would’ve done awful and had a terrible meet, it would’ve sucked but I’m really thankful to be here so it was definitely worth it.”

“She’s jumped really well in her whole career and this was just kind of the capstone for it,” said JM girls’ coach Andy Fletcher. “I’m just happy for her. This is something she’s worked for and she deserves it.”

Also medaling during the first session of Class AAA competition Thursday was Wheeling Park’s Abby Barki, who finished in sixth place in the 400 (1:00.12). Advancing to today’s finals were Park teammates Kaylee Davis in the 100 (6th, 12.68) and Lily Hanna in the 100 hurdles (7th, 16.53).

Wheeling Park sophomore Jerrare Hawkins was center stage on the boys’ side of things Thursday. He and Jefferson’s Keyshawn Robinson will battle for the title of ‘fastest boys in the state’ today as the top two qualifiers in both the 100 and 200.

Hawkins finished first in the 100 preliminaries with a time of 10.55, but finished second to Robinson in the 200 (21.85). The catch, however, is that Hawkins in Robinson were in separate heats for both preliminaries. In fact, the two have never raced one another head-to-head.

“Never,” confirmed Park boys’ coach Barry Rideout. “I think when we get the two boys side-by-side tomorrow, you’re going to see the best come out of both of them.

“It’s going to be a great race, both the 100 and 200 will be great races.”

Park’s Trevor Howell medaled in the discus with a throw of 133-02, good for sixth place. John Marshall’s Dimario White will also go home with a medal, placing sixth in the long jump with a leap of 20-3.25.

University’s boys lead the team standings after day one with 40 points while the Morgantown girls are in first with 20 points, just ahead of Jefferson (18) and Woodrow Wilson (16).