by Jamie Harris
When the Paw Paw Pirates packed up and headed east to Baker for the East Hardy Track & Field Meet, they returned home without a team win, but make no mistake, the Lady Pirates left their mark in emphatic fashion.
Powered by dominant performances from defending state champion Shayla Tanouye and throwing standout Joselyn Smith, Paw Paw’s girls varsity squad turned heads across the track and in the field, scoring 70 team points and finishing third overall behind only Southern Garrett County and host East Hardy.
If there were any doubts that Shayla Tanouye is poised for another postseason run, they were erased on Saturday.
The senior hurdler-high jumper-long jumper put together one of the most complete days of any athlete at the meet, collecting three first-place finishes and a runner-up showing against tough competition.
Tanouye took first in: 300-meter hurdles (47.03, season-best); High jump (4-10, season-best) and Long jump (14-6).
She added a strong second-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.35, rounding out a stellar day that showcased both her speed and athletic versatility.
While Tanouye soared above the competition, Joselyn Smith dominated from the ground up.
The junior thrower swept the field events, winning both the shot put and discus, and doing so in convincing fashion. Smith launched the shot 30 feet, 1 inch to capture first place before uncorking a 99-10 throw in the discus, another season-best.
Smith wasn’t alone in the circle either.
Alexis Kidwell added valuable points with a third-place finish in both the shot put and discus.
Sophia Ross chipped in with a season-best throw in the discus, placing sixth.
That depth in the throws proved critical to Paw Paw’s strong team placement and continues to be a strength for the Lady Pirates as the season progresses.
Paw Paw’s ability to score across multiple events separated them from the middle of the pack. Even with other schools stacking events with multiple scorers, the Lady Pirates’ balance; speed, field events, and consistency, kept them near the top of the standings all day.
The final women’s team scores: Southern Garrett County – 163; East Hardy – 81; Paw Paw – 70; Pendleton County – 61 and Moorefield – 51.
On the boys side, the competition was stacked, with Moorefield running away with the team title. Despite finishing fifth overall, Paw Paw athletes delivered several personal-best and season-best performances.
Tomy Santos highlighted the day with a third-place throw in the discus (101-10, season-best).
Nathan Dick continued his steady improvement with a fourth-place finish in the shot put, throwing a personal-best 36-10.
Joah Clegg posted a personal best in the 400 meters, gaining valuable varsity experience.
Freshman Justus Smith competed in both the shot put and discus, gaining critical meet exposure.
While the podium may not have been overflowing with Pirate medals, the East Hardy meet told a bigger story, Paw Paw is developing depth, confidence, and momentum.
The Lady Pirates, led by proven champions and emerging talent, showed they can compete with anyone in the region. As the calendar inches closer to championship season, performances like these suggest Paw Paw is not just participating—they’re contending.
And if Saturday was any indication, the Pirates are far from done making noise.
