by Jamie Harris
Last Thursday, October 24, the Class A Region II Cross Country Championships un- folded at Doddridge High School’ s demanding course, where scenic views masked a course known for testing even the best runners. The event saw Paw Paw’s senior standout, Donovan Tanouye, chasing a regional title to cap off his senior season. Y et, the title would ultimately go to Doddridge County junior Carter Sias, who, after a head-to-head with Tanouye, surged ahead to win with a time of 16:40. Tanouye, pushing until the end, finished just behind in 16:53, claiming second place among the 31 competitors.
Tanouye’ s strong finish secured him a spot at the up- coming Class A State Cross Country Championships, hosted at Cabell Midland High School. Joining him in a historic moment for Paw Paw’s growing cross country program is junior teammate Taylor Carder, who, with a time of 21:30 and a 25th- place finish, also earned a ticket to the state competition. Carder’ s qualification is a significant milestone, showcasing the strides Paw Paw’s cross country program has made in recent years.
This season, new cross- country rules allow the top three teams in each region to advance, alongside the top five individual runners not affiliated with those teams. This change enabled Carder, who finished outside the top teams, to make his state championship debut.
Boys Team Scores
1. Doddridge County – 23; 2. Tucker County – 43; 3. Trinity Christian – 56.
Boys Individual Results – Top Performances
1. Carter Sias (Doddridge) – 16:40.4; 2. Donovan Tanouye (Paw Paw) – 16:53.2; 3. Samuel Gola (Doddridge) – 17:28.0; 4. Gunner Kimball (Doddridge) – 17:53.7; 5. L ynk Suesli (Tucker) – 18:08.2.
Tanouye and Carder’s success not only highlights their individual efforts but also reflects the rising momentum in Paw Paw’ s cross-country program. As they head to the state championship next weekend, the support of their community and teammates will follow them as they represent Paw Paw on one of the biggest stages in high school cross country
