Tyler Consolidated's shuttle hurdle relay won a Class A state championship during Friday's West Virginia high school state meet in Charleston. Pictured are, from left: Bella Garuccio, Addison Blosser, Coach Aaron Fultz, Lily Dillaman and Bridget Doak. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

CHARLESTON – Redemption. The Tyler Consolidated shuttle hurdles relay made it happen and took full advantage to enjoy it to the fullest.

Last year, the foursome of Bella Garuccio, Addison Blosser, Lily Dillaman and Bridget Doak were projected to win a state title in the shuttle hurdles. However, they experienced a mashup in their heat and left the state meet with a sixth-place finish.

Friday night at Laidley Field, these same four girls left no doubt ran for the most part of a clean race and gave the school’s back-to-back state champion shuttles team from 2005 and 2006 some company after posting a winning time of 1:09.14.

“Last year served as a motivation this season,” Garuccio said. “We had to just try to forget it happened and move past it. We are back in Charleson and it was a clean slate this year.”

Garuccio and Blosser both slipped their heels on their final hurdle, but the next girls up did not allow that to phase them for the next leg of the relay.

Tyler Consolidated's Amos Kimble does a post race interview after winning the Class A 3200 during Friday's West Virginia High School state track meet in Charleston. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“We knew what we did wrong last year – we learned our lesson,” said Blosser.

In a sense of irony, Dillaman won a state title in the shuttle hurdle relay 25 years after her father, Doug Dillaman, accomplished the same feat.

“My dad had such a big impact with our hurdles – he comes to our practices, he comes to everything,” said Lily Dillman, who completed the final leg for the Knights. ”

“We’re just happy we have the opportunity to come back and year later and race again,” said Doak, who ran the first leg. “I was thinking, I am not false starting. I remembered to attack the hurdle. I knew Bella would be down there waiting for me.”

As she prepared for the second leg, Garuccio kept her eyes closed until Doak completed her portion of the race.

Parkersburg's Morgan Metz (No. 9) competes in the girls Class AAA 3200 during Friday's West Virginia High School state track meet in Charleston. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“I couldn’t watch (Bridget),” Garuccio said. “And when I finally did, she was right there.”

Memories of last year’s disappointment weren’t totally erased. Video still exists, but not on the girls’ phones.

“A lot was going on,” Blosser said.

With gold medals around their neck, the four girls basically had their personal photographer follow them around in a variety of poses. They ate up the experience on the podium with the PA announcer recognizing them as the Class A girls shuttle hurdle champions. A slew of family and friends seized the opportunity to mark a piece of history.

“These happy tears,” the four girls said in unison.

Ritchie County's Natalie Henger won a Class A state title in the girls discus during Friday's West Virginia high school state meet in Charleston. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Before the first day of competition concluded, Tyler Consolidated brought home another state champ when Amos Kimble shook off the competition early and won the Class A 3200 in a time of 9:32.

“That’s about 10 seconds off my PR,” said Kimble, who will compete in the mile and 800 on Saturday. “I knew I had to go full tilt today. I also wanted to save a little for Saturday.I just cruised and went for the win.

“Since I have the 3200 behind me and just the two events tomorrow, I’m thinking I will be able to do something good.”

Ritchie County also turned in a pair of individual state champions with Natalie Henger winning the discus with a throw of 116-2 and Dylan Malolepszy turning in a winning height of 6-6 in the high jump.

Henger’s winning distance occurred on her final throw of the competition and surpassed her PR by 2 feet.

Williamston's Shelby Smith competes in the Class AA 200 time trials during Friday's West Virginia high school state meet in Charleston. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“Before that final throw, my coach just told me I needed to be faster through the circle,” Henger said. “So I tried and then it just kind of happened.

“The throw felt a lot better than the other ones. I think the difference was just the speed through the circle.”

Pocahontas County’s Allyson Taylor placed runner-up at 115-0, while McKenzie Armstrong from St. Marys took third at 111-3.

“I knew this event was going to be really close – McKenzie Armstrong and I have been going back and forth and season. She popped off a (111-3) off, so I was worried.”

Henger had cause for concern from a subpar regional result by her personal standards. Yet, she managed to keep the discus going in the family genes and follow in the footsteps of both her father (Lucas Hanger) and uncle (Brady Hanger) who were both state champions in the event.

“My form was off and it was a hard habit to break because my shoulder kept dipping and it would just barrel roll on the ground,” Henger said. “I felt like I peaked at the wrong time with conference, so last week was definitely a shock.”

Malolepszy, meanwhile, continued to soak in the atmosphere of the state meet where he feels almost everybody is an acquaintance. The multi-faceted athlete, who ran the 400, 800 and the 4×400 on Saturday, enjoys the camaraderie the sport creates.

“I’m doing distance and sprints, then there is the high jump – it’s kind of weird,” Malolepszy said. “There’s tons of great people here. I’m friends with pretty much everyone here. Though I compete against them, I’m friends with guys high jumping. It’s just fun to talk to people.”

Ritchie County also was represented with a runner-up finish as Bentlee Williams placed second in the girls Class A 3200 (11:57.03). Charleston Catholic’s Arabella Boggs was in another hemisphere and won with a time of 11:08.41.

She credited her father and assistant coach Terry Williams for putting her in a position to challenge the elite.

“It’s amazing because I trust him more than anything,” Williams said. “He has gotten me through so many rough times. I watch how he works, the way he looks at the times and stuff like that.I trust him with my whole heart.”

Williams thought of herself as a miler rather than a two-miler. The state meet performance altered that thought process.

“I look at this and I am just thankful for how many people have motivated me to get through it – trusting the training and seeing how much it paid off.”

Several area girls showcased their talents during both the 100 and 200 time trials.

In Class AA, Williamstown senior Shelby Smith established the top time in the 200 (25.39) and also clocked the fifth best time while advancing to the finals of the 100 (12.73).

“The second half of the 200 is the best part of my race, so I really had a kick that last 100 meters,” Smith said. “It felt really strong. I’m happy with my time. The finals in the 100 and 200 will be about getting out of the blocks.”

Over the weekend, Williamstown adjusted a change while competing at the Class AA level.

It’s not different for me. I’m confident in myself and the rest of my teammates, and I know we can live up to that challenge and even exceed it.

“It’s been kind of emotional for me this weekend. I just love my teammates and I love this atmosphere. I definitely have a lot of memories here.”

Smith also mentioned how it is good to see St. Marys sprinter Laney Watkins returning back from an injury. In the Class A field, Watkins ran the fastest time in the 100 trials time (12.81)) and the second fastest in the 200 time trials (26.20).

“My coach (Dave Davis) has done everything for me,” Watkins said. “He gives me plans. On what I need to do – how I need to take my races.Tells me about strategy.”

Watkins missed nearly half of the track season with an Achilles injury. She felt the injury was a non-issue throughout Friday’s action.

“Regionals was my first day back – I was out about 3 ½ weeks,” Watkins said. “It was rough and I took it pretty slow getting back. I was on a bike for about a week. Also did practice laps around the track with my team, but that was it.

“It bothered me at regionals because it was my first time running. This week, it actually feels good. Surprisingly, it didn’t bother me.”

Watkins is embracing the atmosphere at the state track meet. Nerves are a non-issue.

“I love playing basketball, but I love track – I love everything about it,” Watkins said. “I really like competing with everyone.”