Photo by Kyle Lutz
Wheeling Park’s Max Morgan paced the Patriots with a sixth place finish. The Wheeling Park boys placed third as a team.

WHEELING — Going into the Park Invitational Saturday, Wheeling Park coach Jacob Galik believed that the top three teams in the state on the boys side were competing while the top four on the girls would be running against each other. After the results came in, it would be hard to argue against that.

University had the top three finishes while averaging a team time of 16:46.47 to claim the boys’ title while the Morgantown girls placed seven runners in the top 20 en route to securing a victory at Wheeling Park High School.

The Wheeling Park boys placed third, eight points behind runner-up Morgantown. University and Ripley round out the top 3 teams on the girls side.

“I absolutely believe that’s the case,” Galik said. “University boys showed that they’re head and shoulders. They’re elite. I don’t just think they’re West Virginia good. They’re all over good. But our guys ran really well. A couple of our guys had off days (Saturday). But to be within eight of Morgantown is respectable and we’ll see them again next week and two weeks later.”

Not only did the Hawks secure the top three individual spots, all of them broke the previous course record of 16:58 set by Park’s Ronnie Saunders. Larry Josh Edwards cruised to a victory clocking in at 16:02.05 setting the new course mark followed by Rocco DeVincent (16:30.31) and Jordan Thomas (16:32.16).

Oak Glen’s Konnor Allison was the top local finisher on the boys side as he secured fifth place with a time of 16:49.44, also beating the previous record.

Morgantown’s Quinn Jacquez also beat the previous record pacing the Mohigans and placing fourth with a time of 16:39.19.

Ryan Blohm (11th, 17:93) and TaKaleb Turner (12th, 17:27.89) rounded out the Hawks’ scoring.

“We already raced once this week, so our legs aren’t fresh,” University coach Ed Frohnapfel said. “When we were in the red (on the COVID map) in Mon County, any opportunity we got to race, I was going to take it. We were fortunate enough to run here.”

Wheeling Park had two runners in the top 10 as Max Morgan paced the Patriots with a time of 17:03 good for sixth while Jonah Nizami placed eighth (17:15.43).

Preston’s Lowell Cerbone (seventh, 17:13.62); Morgantown’s Landon Young (ninth, 17:17.66) and Ripley’s Chase Pepper (10th, 17:18.73) round out the top 10 individuals.

On the girls’ side, Morgantown Irene Riggs won the individual title with a time of 18:20.41. Three other Mohigans made it in the Top 10 including Amelia Summers (fifth, 20:28.22); Jennifer OPalko (eighth, 21:05.09) and Anna Lester (10th, 21:06.71).

“I think we performed really well,” Morgantown coach Mike Ryan said. “This is our second race of the season. We had a big week and did a time trial last week, raced on Wednesday at UHS and (Saturday). They’re legs are little sore. They’re a little tired. I saw some guts, some of that race readiness that we didn’t have on Wednesday. I saw a little bit more of that (Saturday). Once we get some more races in, I think this is a really good preview for regionals and OVAC’s next week.”

University placed three in the top 10 on the girls side. Caroline Kirby paced the Hawks with a third place finish timing in at 19:38.47 while Mia Morris took fourth (20:10.24). Shelby Davis placed ninth (21:05.69).

Preston had two in the Top 10 in Abby Nolan (sixth, 20:33.00) and Allie Martin (seventh, 20:49.57). Ellie Hosaflook of Ripley placed second clocking in at 18:52.06.

Oak Glenás Sophia Arner was the top local finisher as she placed 11th in a time of 21:16.67.