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CHARLESTON - Wheeling Central freshman Alexa Loy finished her first high school track season on the right foot Saturday as she won the Class A high jump with a leap of 5-0.
"I felt pretty good today. I didn't PR but I won the state," she said of the 48th annual girls W.Va. State Track and Field Championships.
Loy’s jump was part of a day that saw many Ohio Valley track athletes excel.
Oak Glen's Kami Ward turned rainy Laidley Field into her own playground. She started her day by winning the Class AA 400-meter dash. Her time was 58.80, which was more than two-and-half seconds faster than the runner up.
"I couldn't ask for anything better. The last two days here have been phenomenal," Ward said. "I was part of three new school records today in the 100, 200 and 4×100 relay. It truly was an incredible day.
"I've received so much support from my teammates and that means so much to me."
In the 100, she clocked in at 12.37 seconds. She then teamed with sophomore Kensington McConnachie and juniors Natasha Ward and Aubrey Stoica to claim the 4×100 in 50.35. McConnachie was already a state champion, having won gold in the long jump on Friday.
Ward concluded her outstanding day with a fourth gold in the 200. Her time was 25.64, more than a full second ahead of the runner up.
The Golden Bears placed third in the team standings with 65 points. Winfield won Class AA with 150. North Marion (73.5) was second.
Weir Senior Kendall Dobrish made her third trip to Charleston a magical one as she won the discus with a heave of 115-02, which was nearly 10 inches further than second place.
"I've been here twice before and things didn't go my way, so today is a really good day," Dobrish said. "It's my senior year and my last throws. I'm really happy."
She also took third in the shot put with a put of 32-6.50.
The Red Riders foursome of junior Mea Kaufman, sophomore Gabriella Spickard, junior Olivia Baker and sophomore Naomi Young ran to gold in the 4×400. Their time was 4:12.39 which was a full seven seconds in front of the field.
Class A
Magnolia's Jenna Blain also had an outstanding day as she won both hurdle events. She topped the 100 lows in 16.05 and skimmed the 300 highs in 46.66.
The junior was also part of the 4×200 that placed second in 1:52.17. That team also included freshman Bindy Campbell, junior Delanie Postlethwait and sophomore Sienna McKeever.
In addition, Blain placed third in the 200.
Wheeling Central got a seventh-place finish from junior Aniah Maltony in the 200.
Wheeling Central also took third in the 4×200 and fifth in the 4×100.
The Maroon Knights placed eighth as a team.
Paden City's Mady Still finished fourth in the low hurdles.
Cameron sophomore Maci Neely went 15-9.25 to win the long jump. She was the only Dragon to compete and now has three state titles, the other two coming on the basketball court.
"It feels fantastic. I can't believe I've won three state championships in my career already," Neely noted. "I could've done better, but I did enough to win."
This was Neely's first year running track.
Tyler Consolidated sophomore Bella Garuccio was fifth in the high jump. Junior Sydney Deaton was sixth in the discus.Sophomore Juliana Lattea finished eighth in the long jump.
The Silver Knights' 4×100 took fourth.
Class AAA
Wheeling Park senior Sophie Abraham ended her high school career with a fifth-place in the 300 high hurdles.
Patriots junior Jillian Huffman tied for fifth in the high jump.