Bulldogs run region as girls take title, boys qualify

The top 10 individuals and top two teams in each race qualified for the state championships.

South Harrison finished fourth in both the boys and girls team standings. Carter Bowie finished third in the boys race in 18:51.61 to secure a spot at states. On the girls side, Madison Stonestreet will represent the Hawks after finishing second in 21:00.41.

Notre Dame did not send a full girls team but finished third in the boys team standings, led by state qualifiers Ashton Nardella (second, 18:37.72) and Chris Schumacher (seventh, 19:36.49).

The Doddridge course had multiple steep hills that tested runners at different points in the race. The path twisted back and forth at different elevations so many times that spectators could look from the top of the highest point and see at least four different stretches of the course parallel to one another. Many runners were gasping for air or grunting in pain by the time they crossed the finish.

“Our course is really hilly,” Gola said. “I’ve never been a fan of it. I like running other courses, too. I like running flat. ”

But as the Doddridge teams proved, it doesn’t hurt to have a home course advantage for regionals.

“We practice here every single day and we get a bunch of the hills that we ran in the course, so that helped a lot,” Lamb said.

Lamb was dominant, finishing more than two minutes ahead of Stonestreet for the individual crown and putting up a time that would have landed her in fourth place in the boys race. It was her second regional title in as many years since she took up the sport as a sophomore, and she feels she has only improved over that span.

“I’ve gotten a lot better,” she said. “Just like practicing in the offseason. Last year was my first year, and it was rough juggling my health and running and schoolwork, and it was all too much. But I think that I was able to manage my time this year and just practice harder, stay strong and make it to states.”

Lamb will be joined at states by a full complement of teammates thanks in part to the contributions of freshmen Bailey Holden (third, 21:18.29) and Cassie Cumberledge (seventh, 22:16.53). The two newcomers, along with junior Emily Gola (fourth, 21:42.50) combined with Lamb to seal the Bulldogs’ runaway team victory.

Caleb Lloyd (fifth, 19:10.56) and Josh Berke (eighth, 19.49.58) joined Trent Gola in the boys top 10 to help the Bulldogs beat out third-place Notre Dame for the final team slot.

“I’m excited for (the whole team going to states),” Trent Gola said. “I would’ve hated to go without the whole team. Way more fun with everybody there.”

Tucker County claimed the second girls team spot with three top-10 finishers. The Notre Dame girls were led by Emily Besten, who finished 20th in 27:19.64.

The Trinity boys had four of the top 15 finishers to clinch first place ahead of Doddridge. Notre Dame’s Carter Mikeo was 13th (20:25.73), 11 seconds away from a ticket to states.

The state championships are set for Oct. 30 at Cabell Midland.