Rivals Clash, Stars Are Born: You Won't Believe the Nail-Biting Finish at the State XC Finals!

ONA – The dust has settled on the state's most grueling course, and the results are in! The Class AAAA state cross country meet at Cabell Midland was a battlefield of grit and determination, and when the smoke cleared, local runners had etched their names into the history books. The day was defined by epic individual performances, a razor-thin finish for a podium spot, and a bitter rivalry that went down to the wire.

A Podium Finish Measured in Seconds

Parkersburg High junior Morgan Metz delivered a performance that had spectators on the edge of their seats. Smashing her previous year's fifth-place finish, Metz blazed through the course to secure a phenomenal third-place podium spot. Her time of 18 minutes and 46 seconds was a testament to her power, but the real story is in the margins. Metz finished an agonizing five seconds behind the runner-up, Cabell Midland’s Savannah Pritt, proving she is a force to be reckoned with and a top contender for next year's crown. Her incredible run earned her first-team all-state honors.

A Legendary Farewell

For Parkersburg High senior Connor George, it was the perfect swan song to an incredible high school career. Capping off his final season, George powered his way to an eighth-place finish with a stellar time of 16 minutes and 17 seconds. This impressive run secured him first-team all-state honors for the second consecutive year, cementing his legacy as one of the Big Reds' all-time greats.

“What a great ending to Connor George’s career,” said Big Red head coach George Angelos. The coach celebrated his star athlete for “finishing as a two-time all-stater” and confirmed he will “join the long list of those from our program running at the next level.”

The Ultimate Bragging Rights

While individual glory was sweet, the battle for team supremacy between crosstown rivals was just as intense. In the girls' team standings, it was a nail-biter that came down to the final runners. When the points were tallied, it was Parkersburg South who claimed bragging rights, finishing in sixth place with 173 points. They narrowly edged out their rivals from Parkersburg High, who finished just behind in seventh with 184 points.

The victory was spearheaded by South’s own standout, Haley Raper. Her gutsy 15th-place finish, clocked at 20 minutes and 3 seconds, earned her second-team all-state honors and led her team to a triumphant finish over their rivals. The state meet was a showcase of the area's top talent, and with the rivalry hotter than ever, the future of local cross country is incredibly bright.