Battling through cold winds and challenging conditions at Alumni Stadium in Keyser, the Berkeley Springs High School boys’ and girls’ track and field teams turned in gritty performances at a six-team meet hosted by Keyser High School.
Despite the elements, several Berkeley Springs athletes stood out with personal and seasonal bests, showcasing their determination against strong competition from host Keyser, Mountain Ridge, Frankfort, Moorefield and Petersburg.
The Berkeley Springs girls’ team placed fourth overall with 64.5 points, led by standout efforts across both track and field events.
Freshman Abigail Close was a force in multiple events, placing fifth in the 200m dash with a personal record (PR) time of 29.29, while also finishing fourth in the 300m hurdles (53.66, season record) and second in the high jump (4-08.00).
Reese Souders, another talented freshman, claimed fourth place in the 800 meters with a PR of 2:45.67, while Isabelle Bingaman (6:15.64, season record) and Bella Shoemaker (13:29.54, PR) added crucial points in the 1600m and 3200m runs, respectively.
In the sprints, Aviona Ambrose finished sixth in the 100m dash (14.29, PR) and teamed up with Lilli Stevens, Circe Powell and Delilah Rhoten in the 4×100 relay for a sixth-place finish (1:01.01).
The 4×800 meter relay team of Charity Brown, Kayleigh Coulter, Bella Shoemaker and Reese Souders finished third with a time of 12:18.70.
Katie Risinger placed second in the shot put with a strong throw of 29-06.00, and Maddie Close vaulted to fifth in the pole vault (6-00.00). Makayla Bowers also turned in a seventh-place long jump (11-06.00), adding depth to the team’s scoring efforts.
The boys’ team finished fifth overall with 22 points, with senior Shawn Bland delivering a highlight-reel performance in the field.
Bland soared to first place in the long jump with a leap of 17-10.00, marking one of the Indians’ top finishes of the night. He also contributed to the third-place 4×100 relay team (48.80) alongside Douglas Smith, Austin Gentile and Rylee Sauter.
Sauter was a dual-threat on the track, placing sixth in the 100m dash (12.19, season record) and 11th in the 200m (25.48). Senior L.J. Sealey had a standout distance run, finishing seventh in the 1600m with a PR of 4:59.00, breaking the five-minute barrier.
In the 3200m, sophomores Jay Nazelrod and Haven Ailor placed eighth (11:59.88, SR) and ninth (12:09.02, PR) respectively, showing promising endurance in the long-distance events.
Field athlete Brian Ailor placed 15th in both the shot put (32-01.00) and discus (88-07), rounding out the team’s scoring.
Team Scores
Girls’ Team Final Standings: Keyser – 201; Mountain Ridge – 186; Frankfort – 119; Berkeley Springs – 64.5; Moorefield – 53.5 and Peters- burg – 34.
Boys’ Team Final Standings: Keyser – 206.5; Frank- fort – 176.5; Mountain Ridge – 134; Moorefield – 71; Berkeley Springs – 22 and Petersburg – 5.
Despite the chilly temperatures and fierce competition, Berkeley Springs athletes continued to improve with multiple personal bests, demonstrating grit and growth as the season moves forward.
Next up, the Indians look to keep building momentum at their upcoming meet at Spring Mills High School on Friday, April 25 for the Cardinal Invitational, where warmer weather and more breakthroughs could be in store.
