As temperatures drop and color starts to form on the tips of the maple leaves, these are signs of deepening autumn and the coming conclusion of the cross country season.
The Wildcats competed in events in Romney, Keyser, and Tucker County in late September and early October.
One of the toughest tests of the season came at the Paul Clovis Invitational at Hampshire High School on Sept. 26. Hampshire High School boasts a difficult course that takes runners up and down quite steep slopes before ending on the track beside the school building.
In some past years, steady rains turned the paths into the proverbial slippery slopes or a quagmire on flat ground. Happily, runners enjoyed cool temperatures and not a drop of rain as they competed.
There, Pendleton County runners raced against athletes from Northern, Musselman, Spring Mills, Hampshire, Martinsburg, and East Hardy.
Callie Dunn led the field as she has much of the year with a time of 25:41 and placing 11th. Carly Kimble followed with a time of 28:57 and 19th, while Shayne Clutter timed at 31:10, Allison Reuss 33:54, and Makayla Turner 34:27.
The Wildcats enjoyed significantly better times the following meet at Keyser, the Charlie Kuh Invitational. Although the team has consistently reached better times all season long, the nature of the Keyser High School course also helps. Its length circles the high school campus on undulating, but not steep, terrain, much of it through the pine forest separating the school from the nearby road.
Competing at Keyser were Musselman, Keyser, Washington (Jefferson County), Berkeley Springs, East Hardy, Martinsburg, Bishop Walsh, and Tucker County. Rain gave a peck on the cheek to the New Creek area early that morning, but cleared out quickly, leaving dry conditions and 61 degrees for the runners.
Dunn placed 17th, but improved her time to 24:12. Kimble scored a personal best time of 27:11.4 while Reuss had a season best 31 flat, Turner a personal best 31:50, and Daisy Hartman set a mark of 42:31.8.
Next came the wrap-up of the regular season at Camp Kidd in Tucker County. Dunn scored her season best time of 23:58.9 and placed 11th. Kimble finished 25th with a time of 28:59.9. Clutter came in 26th with a 29:12.3, Reuss timed at 31:59, and Turner 33:24.2. The Wildcats took on East Fairmont, Tucker County, Elkins, and St. Marys.
The team as a whole showed improvement during the course of the last three events. At Hampshire High School, the team had a total time of 2:34:16 and an average of 30:51 per competitor. At Camp Kidd, the Wildcats ran for a 2:27.34.3 and an average of 29:30.9.
Potomac Valley Conference competition took place Tuesday, after press time. Teams on the Hampshire High School course joining Pendleton County were Keyser, Berkeley Springs, Frankfort, East Hardy, Hampshire, Paw Paw, Tucker County, and Tygarts Valley. Results will help to determine who will move on to the WVSSAC state cross country championship on Oct. 24 at South Harrison High School.
