Jefferson High School’s Christian Gottlieb passes the baton to David Fogelsong in the 4 x 800 at the Regional competition on May 12. Their team came in first place, with a time of 8 minutes 35.14 seconds. David Pennock

SPRING MILLS — Mother Nature can still get it right.

Even if climate change can grip us with more severe weather at times, a day like last Thursday can help see us through. With a thin cloud cover providing a comfortable 72-degree afternoon for the Class AAA, Region II track and field meet at Spring Mills High School, both the ever-busy athletes and the spectators could enjoy themselves in the near-perfect conditions.

Jefferson High Schoolwas able to qualify two bus loads of athletes for this week’s populated state meet in Charleston.

With 209 points, the Cougar girls far outdistanced second-place Spring Mills and its 105 points. Jefferson’s boys, poised for a points brawl with University at the state meet, collected 199 points, with Musselman second with 102 points.

Trials, finals, field events, running events and even a do-over were competed in all through the afternoon once the Regional commenced just after 2 p.m. and finally had its team and individual champions by the close at about 7:15 p.m.

Briana Goins took first place, with a jump of 4’10,” at the Regional competition on May 12. David Pennock

It was the last meet for many of the seven team’s seniors. When their relays were completed and field events scored, some of them will never see each other again.

Others like Haylee Martin (Martinsburg), McKenzie Maraugha (Hedgesville), Duncan Campbell (Hedgesville) and Margarita Salvador (Martinsburg) never earned points, but gained lasting respect with their all-out efforts in distance races.

Behind-the-scenes volunteers hoisted hurdles and made themselves available from beginning to end.

At times, there were races within races as hair-splitting finishes saw competitors from one county school desperately try to edge a runner from a school they had been running against for years.

Logging the miles and hours to Charleston this week will be Jefferson boys who won their individual events or relays — Keyshawn Robinson (100 and 200), Isaiah Fritts (400), Justin Gottlieb (800), Julian Matthews (shot put), Chase Brown (high jump), 4×100 relay (Caleb Shelton, Spencer Powell, Fritts and Robinson), 4×200 relay (Shelton, Robinson, Powell and Fritts) and 4×800 relay (Christian Gottlieb, Fox Faunce, Conner Myers and Justin Gottlieb).

Jefferson High School’s Trinity Blue has dominated the girls 100 meter dash throughout the season, including at the May 12 Regional competition. She is joined by Arayia Maiben (3rd place) and Myah Powell-Utley (5th place) in heading to the state tournament. David Pennock

Totaling eight points for seconds (and going to the State Meet) were Fritts (200), Justin Gottlieb (400), Christian Gottlieb (800), Conner Myers (3,200), Jah’Lonnie Hollis (discus), 4×400 relay unit (Tay’Shaun Roper, Brown and both Gottliebs) and the shuttle hurdles relay comprised of Tabor Dagg, Chase Winbush, Jared Wilberger and Brown).

Any athlete who finished third or had one of the best times, heights or distances among those coming in fourth or lower also qualified for the State Meet, which has 16 individuals or teams in each of the 18 events.

Winning races or field events among the Jefferson girls were Briauna Goins (high jump and shot put), Helena Radford (discus), T’Asya Jay (300 hurdles), Trinity Blue (100), Lorelei Bangit (200), 4×100 relay (Arayia Maiben, Myah Powell-Utley, Bangit and Blue), 4×200 relay (Maiben, Blue, Bangit and Jayla Kidrick), shuttle hurdles (Elizabeth Marrs, Hope Gestl, Jay and Goins) and 4×800 relay (Layla Parker, Hannah Phillips, Faith Fogelsong and Addie LaBombard).

Scoring second places were Hanley Shanley (discus), Gestl (100 hurdles), Bangit (400) and Blue (200). In Charleston, the Cougar girls will likely see Morgantown High as their fiercest rival for another championship. Jefferson won the 2021 state title.

Some Regional happenings aren’t likely to be repeated: such as Myers and his all-out sprint to edge Washington’s John Carter in the 3,200 run . . . or Robinson winning by a half-yard over Musselman’s Ray Adames and Jacob Sturba in the 100 . . . or Washington’s Noah Schappell and Logan Musser finishing 1-2 in the 1,600 . . . or T’Asya Jay just slightly behind Hedgesville’s Janique Blake until the last barrier in the 300 hurdles, where she got home in front by a bare margin. . . or Jefferson’s 1-2-3 sweep in the 800 run with Justin Gottlieb, Christian Gottlieb and Fox Faunce.

Jefferson distance runner Fox Faunce celebrates qualifying for the state meet in the 800 meter run at the May 12 Regional competition. David Pennock

Will Charleston provide the travelers with near-perfect weather conditions? Or will invading climate change wilt some individual and relay hopes?

Jefferson High Schoool’s Keyshawn Robinson anchors the boys 4 x 100 meter relay team in the May 12 Regional competition, as they hope for a state record in Charleston this year. David Pennock

T’Asya Jay comes in first place in the region, for the girl’s 300 meter hurdles, with a time of 48.29 seconds on May 12. David Pennock