Patriots’ Tipton, Moore Place Second As Local Runners Take To State Cross Country Meet
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ONA — Wheeling Park’s junior duo of Brenna Tipton and Rylan Moore both finished in second place in the Class AAAA girls and boys, respectively, state cross country races at Cabell Midland High School on Saturday, highlighting a day of competition that saw multiple local runners finish with All-State status.
Tipton, who won the state race last year, finished in 17:57.1, just three seconds behind Musselman’s Sadie Yates, who clocked a 17:54.1.
“She had a great junior season, coming back after being state champ last year,” Wheeling Park head coach Rick Moore said. “She’s a hard worker, um, you know, just coming off of scoring a goal to sending [Wheeling Park] to the state semifinals in soccer on Thursday night.
“She’s had a great season. I’m really excited at how hard she’s been working and everything that she’s been doing this season. Couldn’t have asked for, uh, you know, a better year for her. Obviously you want to win the last one there. but it was a great battle and a great race between those two.”
Rylan Moore placed ninth last year, and improved his standing in his junior season, likewise finishing just three seconds behind first place. Moore clocked a 15:42.6, while University’s Micah Gainer claimed the gold with a time of 15:39.7.
“It was a great performance,” Ricky Moore said. “Worked really hard this summer and during the season and he has had a great season. It was another race just like the girls race that came down right to the last 50 meters.
“The way he fought that whole entire race, I’m really proud of him. Big things coming in the future.”
Both Tipton and Moore earned spots on the All-State first team. The top 10 finishers in each race made up the All-State first team, with the next 10 making up the All-State second team.
Wheeling Park’s Laylah Burkhart earned second team-status with a 17th place finish in the girls race. Fellow Patriot Tyler Bishop also earned a spot on the second team with a 15th place finish in the boys race.
Wheeling Park’s girls finished fifth overall as a team, which Moore said was the team’s best finish in recent history.
Both Tipton and Moore will compete in the Brooks South Regional Cross Country Championship, taking place in McAlpine Creek Park in Cary, North Carolina, to take place in late November.
CLASS AAA
The John Marshall Monarchs’ Zoe Zervos concluded her senior XC season with a spot on the All-State second team, finishing in 13th place, while on the boys’ side, sophomore Kason Wolfe finished in 17th to make second team as well.
Brooke’s Gavin Scott finished in 12th to earn a second team All-State nod for his senior campaign as well.
CLASS AA
Oak Glen’s Lacey Cameron put a cap on a very successful running tenure on the Golden Bears with a first team All-State finish in the girls race, finishing in 20:44.4 to finish in sixth.
The Golden Bears had two second teamers on the girls side with Amelia Kampmeyer (16th) and Layla Adkins (18th)
CLASS A
Cameron Dragons freshman Khloe Evans finished her first high school season with a spot on the girls All State first team, running her race in 21:50.5 for 10th place.
Wheeling Central placed two girls on the All State first team, led by Junior Ila Hutnick, who came in seventh with a time of 21:44.5. Sophomore Cassie Meriner was right behind Hutnick in eighth, clocking a 21:47.4.
Central’s Luke Hevener took a spot on the All-State second team to end his freshman season, coming in 13th in the boys race.