Doddridge runner signs with WVU
Lexi Lamb plans to run cross country and track for Mountaineers
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WEST UNION -- Doddridge County senior Lexi Lamb signed to compete in cross country and track for West Virginia University head coach Sean Cleary here Monday afternoon.
The talented Bulldog was recruited by both Cleary and former DCHS grad Clara Grandt Santucci, a four-time All-American at WVU where she currently serves as the director of operations for cross country and track.
"She's been one of my biggest role models. She was the first to reach out to me," admitted Lamb, who carries a 3.98 cumulative GPA. "I didn't know her personally, but I was kind of like a fan of hers. When she reached out to me I was so excited."
The Class A state cross country individual champion as a junior, who also helped her team to the title, is debating on what to study.
"At first I was thinking criminal justice because I was looking into going to law school after college," she said. "I've been looking at forensic pathology. I've become more hands on."
Lamb enters the spring track season with six career individual silver medals. She was runner-up as a sophomore to Williamstown's Ella Hesson in the 800, 1600 and 3200. Her fate was the same last spring after taking second in each event behind Yellowjacket Alyssa Sauro.
"Coach Cleary actually mentioned about me trying steeplechase," admitted the three-time XC all-state first team honoree. "Honestly, I like cross country more, but I feel like my cross country team I'm super, super close with.
"It makes every practice super fun and it's more like team bonding. In track we split up in groups. Sometimes we don't have the same group together. I think that's mostly why, but I do like longer distance more."
Bulldog head girls track coach Craig Kellar noted, "she likes to train and that means a lot. She enjoys practice. The good ones do. She's just such a good worker. She's also an excellent student.
"I had her in class last year and she's in my college statistics class this year. Great student, for that matter, and a great person, too. She makes good decisions."
An interesting aside about Lamb is she didn't take up running until the pandemic. In fact, she played football for four years.
"I was bored and I wanted to stay in shape for basketball and softball, and I was thinking maybe try out for cross country and I might like it," Lamb said. "I ended up loving it and dropped everything else for cross country and track."
Josh Weekley, who has been involved with the Bulldogs for more than two decades and took over for Kellar as the head cross country coach this fall, believes the sky is the limit for Lamb.
"I think she should thrive in college because she's still new at running," Weekley said. "She still has a lot of cardiovascular development to occur. Proving she stays healthy she should continue to get better and better and better. I think they potentially got someone exceptional on their hands.
"Talking about a kid that's only had three cross country seasons and she'll be here for her third track season in the spring. Already putting up times that ranks her among the state's all-time best. She's an absolute fantastic kid and we are going to miss her."
Lamb said her decision to compete for the Mountaineers became evident after meeting with coach Cleary.
"It was obvious that it was my right choice for me and he recognizes my goals," Lamb said. "Hopefully he can get me to my dream in the Olympics.
"He believes in me and I believe in him and that made it really easy for me to pick."
The Bulldog, who hopes to make "a really good run at NCAA championships" is glad to have the next chapter of her life planned out.
"I woke up and I was super, super excited," Lamb added. "As we got closer I was nervous about all the media and stuff, but my teammates really made me more excited about it. It was an amazing feeling. I definitely made the right choice and I am so excited.
"I can't believe it's gone by so fast. I'm going to miss my teammates and coach and just everything about cross country and track, but I'm also super excited to see what I can do and make new memories with new teammates and new coaches."
Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com