Warren High school junior Ashlee Pate, left, won the female two-mile for the second straight year during Saturday’s Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon and Two-Mile. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

PARKERSBURG — After their struggles during the spring track season, the top two finishers in the female division for Saturday’s Parkersburg News and Sentinel two-mile race turned their fortunes around in time for the start of the new school year.

Warren High School junior Ashlee Pate successfully defended her title by covering the course in a time of 12 minutes,. 39 seconds – a mere two seconds faster than runner-up of Parkersburg South incoming freshman Haley Raper.

“I was just confident in my training this summer,” said Pate, who is seeking a second straight trip to the state track meet in Ohio. “I’m mainly just going to try and have fun – something my track season didn’t allow myself to have. I put too much pressure on myself.”

Uplifting messages from those close around her cured the mental side of her training.

“I just wasn’t allowing myself to have fun,” Pate said.

Saturday’s win was still in doubt as Pate and Raper approached the final two blocks. They both got caught up with a slew of boys making their way to the finish. Essentially, race officials were unable to give Pate the proper welcome with the traditional tape at the finish line.

Regardless, Pate enjoyed her performance. She overcame a slow start after getting stuck in a crowd of runners once the gun went off.

“I ran into a few people,” Pate admitted. “After a quarter of a mile I was able to pull away. I was definitely able to take advantage on the second mile. God gave me the strength and to get through the pain. I figured if I just kept going then I could have a better time with the other girls pushing me, too.”

Raper and a third girl – fellow South cross country teammate Jaylyn Eddy – kept the female pack a threesome for the majority of the race. Raper turned in a time of 12:42, while Eddy took third at 13:03.

It wouldn’t be another 13 seconds before a fourth female crossed the two-mile finish line.

“Didn’t have the best start, but not the worst start,” Raper said. “It’s really crowded there at the start.”

Raper competed in the Parkersburg News and Sentinel Two-Mile race last year as an eighth grader at Blennerhassett. She cut more than a half-minute off her previous time.

“I’m very happy, especially I’m coming off a track season that was a dud for me,” Raper said. “My legs just never felt good last spring. Today, they felt great.

“So this is definitely very encouraging and very motivating for me.”