Oak Hill – Cross country runners making the move from middle school to high school typically have an adjustment period to the longer distance.
That has not been the case for Greenbrier East freshman Neena McClintic who has opened some eyes in her first three events this season.
After finishing fifth at Chick-fil-A Beckley Invitational to start the season, McClintic was eighth at the 2023 Midland XC Festival at Cabell Midland High School against many of the top runners in the state.
Tuesday evening in 90-plus degree heat, McClintic was the first female runner across the line to win the Oak Hill XC High School Invitational.
Braxton County bested the Spartans for the team title by five points. The Eagles were led by top-10 finishers Laura Cain (2nd), Leah Payne (4th) and Teagan Huff (5th).
Katie Collins and Abby Dixon from James Monroe came home third and seventh, respectively, while Chrissa Mayfield (Oak Hill) was eighth, Baylee Jarrett (Richwood) finished ninth and Asia Collins (Princeton) was tenth.
Summers County basketball standout Avery Lilly ran her second solid race of the season finishing sixth. While running started out as a means of conditioning, Lilly has found much more in the sport of cross-country.
“I started cross country my eighth grade year to get in shape for basketball really because I love basketball,” Lilly said. “For me (running cross-country) has really become a nice way to learn to be OK with my best. With cross-country you are running with other people, but you can only do your best. It has been really rewarding over the years to see my times improve and watch other people get better.”
Lilly was 18th in her first event of the season, the Chick-fil-A Beckley Invitational, but was top-five among Class A schools.
“I think what made the Chick-fil-A a little quicker was we ran in the morning. It was not as hot and we didn’t have the sun beating down on us as hard,” Lilly said. “This was a really difficult course with those hills and the roots and rocks on the ground. You really had to watch your footing.”
Although running takes up plenty of her time in the fall, Lilly still finds a way to squeeze in some court time as well.
“I don’t condition, that is for sure,” Lilly said laughing. I do a lot of shooting and ball-handling. I have a really awesome cross-country team. We don’t have a full girls or guys team, but after practice, there is a basketball court at the state park. We will stay and play basketball for like two hours. I play pick-up with some guys and one of my teammates, Braelyn Farrish.”
Bluefield’s Hank Marson came home first in the boy’s high school contest after taking an inadvertent detour during the race.
“I took the wrong turn in the woods. I didn’t get to warm up on the course,” Marson said, smiling. “I paced off of (second place Jackson Carter from Greenbrier East) at first, but I had enough mileage where I could beat him down the hills.”
Marson also talked about the tough conditions Tuesday.
“The heat was definitely rough and the hills took me down a little bit, but I am happy with everything today,” Marson said. “Hopefully this momentum will carry on to regionals. Last year I kind of folded at regionals, but this year I am ready to go to states.”
Greenbrier East won the boys team event by four points over Princeton who edged Oak Hill by one point.
The Spartans were led by Carter and Lantry McClung (7th) in the top-10.
Brady McCabe (Princeton) was third overall, followed by teammate Zack Neal in fifth place. Dakota Pettry (Summers County) was sixth, while Jadon Acord (Liberty) was eighth.
Oak Hill teammates Caleb Carver and Tony Brubaker were ninth and tenth respectively.
Wyoming East standout Tommy Wikel was fourth Tuesday, but was also a little frustrated after his run.
“It was definitely slower than I wanted. I could have been up there and maybe won this thing, but I didn’t feel like I had enough pushing me, which I needed to have,” Wikel said. “It was just one of those days. It was a good course, maybe a little hot, but today was just on me.”
Jillian Styles from Eastern Greenbrier won the middle school girls race, while Brody Lester from Oceana won the boys middle school event.
Oak Hill won the middle school girls team title and Braxton County captured the boys crown.
Full race results can be found at https://tristateracer.com/
