Indian summer settled in last week, which brought delight to those seeing the end of summer heat with trepidation. Temperatures in the mid to upper 80s last week in Romney made the Potomac Valley Conference championships for cross country even more challenging.
Runners competed not in the cool of the morning as per usual, but in late afternoon as the sun starts its descent in the west. Hampshire’s rugged course with steep hills both up and down added to the challenges faced. The unseasonably warm temperatures likely had an effect on most of the runners.
Five harriers took to the course for the Wildcats against a field of Frankfort, Keyser, East Hardy, Hampshire, Berkeley Springs, and Tucker County. Only Pendleton County, Frankfort, and Keyser had enough runners competing and finishing in the race to earn official team results. Frankfort topped the field with 26, Keyser followed with 40, and Pendleton County 63.
Callie Dunn led the Wildcat pack, placing ninth with a time of 25:25.4, a slightly higher time than her previous race this year at Hampshire. Her performance qualified her for the PVC all-tournament team.
Carly Kimble placed 21st at 30:35.6, Shayne Clutter 23rd at 31:35.6, and Makayla Turner 28th at 36:00.9.
Pendleton County’s entire squad of Dunn, Kimble, Clutter, Allison Reuss, Makayla Turner, and Daisy Hartman are slated to travel to South Harrison High School Saturday to run in the Region II competition.
Conditions expected for the regional competition could not be more different than PVCs. Runners will start at 9 a.m. after a night with lows expected in the mid-30s. Through the chilly, sunny, and probably also foggy, morning, runners will find the South Harrison track less challenging in some ways than Hampshire. Conditions expected for the regional competition could not be more different than PVCs. Runners will start at 9 a.m. after a night with lows expected in the mid-30s. Through the chilly, sunny, and probably also foggy, morning, runners will find the South Harrison track less challenging in some ways than Hampshire.
The course ranges around the outside of the baseball field and through the low-lying hill beyond the outfield. Runners will continue to the other side of the campus, eventually finding the finish line at the football field.
Single A teams include Pendleton County, East Hardy, Pocahontas County, Tucker County, Tygarts Valley, Clay-Battelle, Notre Dame, Trinity Christian, and Union.
