Williamstown's Cassie Sites led from start to finish to win Saturday's Class AA, Region I championship at St. Marys with a time of 19 minutes and 7 seconds. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

ST. MARYS – Cold temperatures and fog were the conditions for Saturday morning’s Class AA, Region I championship meet, but it didn’t phase the Williamstown girls or the Doddridge County boys.

Yellowjacket Cassie Sites claimed the regional title after she finished in 19 minutes and 7 seconds as WHS (38) nipped Ravenswood (45) with Tyler Consolidated (69) earning the final nod to the state meet just ahead of the Bulldogs (70).

Sites earned a spot on the All-Region first team along with Syliva Harris (7th, 21:05). Kate Florence (13th, 22:19), Alia Phelps (14th, 22:57) and Salys Shotwell (16th, 23:40) accounted for the final scorers and were joined on the second team by fellow ‘Jacket Bridget Kirby (17th, 23:48).

“We had some ups and some downs and another girl injured,” admitted Yellowjacket girls head coach Mike Taylor. “That’s what we came here to do, qualify for the state meet.

“Consequently the girls still stepped up and we were still regional champs. Now we regroup and go on to the state meet next week.”

Doddridge County's Samuel Gola and Ravenswood's Johnny Heath finished seventh and ninth, respectively, during Saturday's Class AA, Region I championship at St. Marys. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Ravenswood’s Riley Sotomayor (19:16) and Gwyn Gorrell (19:36) had a two-three finish and were followed by teammates Linsey Barker (12th, 22:11), Alexis McVey (20th, 24:52) and April Comer (22nd, 25:15).

The top effort for the Silver Knights came from Lily Haught (10th, 21:51) as TCHS had just enough to edge the Bulldogs thanks to the efforts of Amber Ebert (15th, 23:15), Andi Fiber (19th, 23:58), Jahna Brown (21st, 24:54) and Sadie Negie (27th, 30:58).

Although the Bulldogs didn’t qualify, the green and gold will be presented in Ona by Emily Cottrill (4th, 20:32) and Kaitlyn Key (6th, 20:58). Earning the other three automatic qualifiers were Weir teammates Lea Young (5th, 20:42) and Olivia Shetler (8th, 21:10) along with Oak Glen’s Amelia Kampmeyer (9th, 21:23).

As expected, Marshall University commit Amos Kimble and junior teammate Travis Moore (15:54) had a one-two finish. Kimble’s winning effort of 15 minutes and 6 seconds established a new course record.

The Silver Knights, who had 52 points and fell to the Bulldogs’ 41, also had a fifth-place showing from Brody Nice (16:42) while Jacob Henderson (19th, 18:09) and William Northcraft (25th, 19:27) accounted for the scoring.

Williamstown's Jimmy Erlandson (974) and Chase Pickering (977) finished sixth and 10th, respectively, during Saturday's Class AA, Region I championship at St. Marys. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“It was a great day. We’ve worked hard since August and I’ve been telling the kids all year we’ve got upward mobility,” said TCHS head coach JC Kimble. “We really didn’t run well until last week at LKCs, both boys and girls. I’ve been looking ahead and you manifest what you talk about. I’ve been telling them we are going to states, both boys and girls, all year around.

“I’m not going to lie. I was a little nervous to come into this, but everybody came out and performed. I said every point matters and you can see that on the girls side. We claimed third by one point. It’s true you always have to look ahead and try to get one more spot, and the girls went out and performed. I couldn’t be happier than anybody. It’s a great day, so exciting.”

Bulldog Carter Sias was the first non-TCHS runner to finish as his 16:17 was just good enough to beat Ravenswood fourth-place finisher Gavin Wilburn’s 16:23.

Sias was joined on the All-Region first team by fellow ‘Dogs Samuel Gola (7th, 16:45) and Cory Swentzel (8th, 16:49). Noah Bodkin finished 11th (17:07) and Colton Key was 12th (17:25).

The third and final team spot came down to the sixth runner as Ravenswood and Williamstown finished with 65. However, Red Devil sixth-man Mason Kern’s 24th-place showing proved to be the difference for head man Bryan Canterbury. RHS was paced by first team efforts via Gavin Wilburn (4th, 16:25) and Johnny Heath (9th, 16:56), while Linkin Andrick (15th, 17:58), Isaiah Nesselroad (16th, 18:00) and Kaden Gray (21st, 18:29) followed.

Tyler Consolidated's Amos Kimble won Saturday's Class AA, Region I championship at St. Marys with a course record time of 15 minutes and 6 seconds. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Despite not qualifying as a team, the Yellowjacket boys of head coach Cliff Taylor actually garnered each of the five at-large individual berths and will earn a team score next Saturday at Cabell Midland.

WHS had All-Region first team clockings from Jimmy Erlandson (6th, 16:43) and Chase Pickering (10th, 16:57), while Zander Boyce (14th, 17:50), Brody Pickens (17th, 18:03) and Vincent Zegrea (18th, 18:08) also advanced.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

The Williamstown girls edged Ravenswood, 38-45, to win Saturday's Class AA, Region I championship at St. Marys. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

The Doddridge County boys topped Tyler Consolidated, 41-52, to win Saturday's Class AA, Region I championship at St. Marys. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)