The Regional Cross Country Meet was held on October 22, at the Doddridge County Park with athletes from Oak Glen, Weir, Wheeling Central, Cameron, Tyler Consolidated, St. Marys, Williamstown, Ritchie County, Morgantown Trinity, Doddridge County and Bishop Donahue high schools participating.

Ritchie County’s John Perry led the way in the boys competition, finishing the 5K in 17:41.29. Sixty-four boys competed in the Regional with Consolidated senior Aaron Estep making the highlights by finishing third overall in the race with a time of 18:00.59.

Team mate B.J. Eastham crossed the finish line in 50th place in 22:32.08; and freshman Knight, Devon Thompson, completed the 5K in 25:51.46 in 62nd place.

Estep ranked seventh in Region I prior to the race and his placement at the Regional, earned the hard working senior an invite to the West Virginia State Cross Country Meet.

Fifty-five girls participated in the girls race with Maggie Drazba of St. Marys High School placing first overall in a time of 20:31.93. Tyler Consolidated sophomore, Jennifer Yost, finished in 28th position overall with a time of 25:46.04. Freshman Lady Knight, Lauren Seckmen placed 43rd overall in 28:40.06; and Ashley Pfohl placed 54th in 33:41.30.

The Regional meet marks the last competition of the year for the Cross Country athletes unless they qualified for the state competition.

The Silver Knights will graduate two seniors in the Spring, Estep and Chelsea Wells.

“The Cross Country runners all worked hard this year and had a great season,” said head coach of the team, Jan Wells.

“Aaron Estep and B.J. Eastham each had a hard schedule of workouts that included soccer as well, and both boys fared well in each sport. Devon Thompson managed toconsistently lower his times at each meet.”

“Sisters Chelsea and Emily Wells both had their best performances this year at the OVAC meet, while Ashley Pfohl and Jennifer Yost had their peak times at the LKC Meet at Doddridge County. Lauren Seckman’s personal best time was at the Chick-fil-A Meet at Mineral Wells.”

Eighty three athletes qualified to participate in the WV Class A-AA state championships, with Estep being the lone competitor from Tyler Consolidated. He will be competing this Saturday at Cabell Midland High School in the West Virginia State Cross CountryChampionship Meet at 1:30 p.m.