Morgantown High School and Jefferson High School both scored 111 points at the WVSSAC AAA State Championship, making them co-champions of the 2023 State Meet at Laidley Field last Friday. David Pennock

CHARLESTON — The gray clouds that invaded Laidley Field couldn’t have been crying for the Jefferson High School girls track and field team, because Hannah Phillips had just jetted past Morgantown High School’s anchor leg runner to give the Cougars a crucial first place in the 4×400 meter relay finish.

The 4×400 meter relay was the final event of the two-day 2023 State Meet. Phillips’ final-yards burst had brought Jefferson even with the Mohicans and into a flat-footed tie for first place and a neatly tied co-championship for the two teams that overshadowed the remainder of the field.

Jefferson had 111 points and Morgantown had 111 points.

Jefferson had 16 athletes who gave the team at least one point . . . and even one point was vital when teams were that close. Morgantown had 14 athletes give it at least one point, as the State Meet awarded points for places one-through-eight.

“What-if’s” were cast aside, as both teams shared the weather-dampened glory of a state championship.

Hannah Shanley started the Jefferson High School scoring off well, with a first place throw of 35'-11.75" at Laidley Field on Friday. David Pennock

Morgantown’s distance demon Irene Riggs provided the Mohicans with wins in the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter runs, as well as running a leg on a winning relay unit. She was the State Meet’s individual high scorer. Jefferson’s Lorelei Bangit was first in both the 200 and 400 meter sprints, while also running a leg on a winning relay and placing fifth in the 100 meters.

The Cougars were given a brilliant start to the State Meet on last Friday’s sun-splashed afternoon, when Hannah Shanley and Briauna Goins finished in first and second place, respectively, in the shot put. Jefferson’s state champion 4×100 meter relay had Arayla Maiben, Imani Wood, Jazmyn Taylor and Bangit doing the winning honors. In the grueling 4×400 meter relay that actually closed out the Saturday afternoon portion of the State Meet, it was Jade Matthews, Sylvia Trevathan and Wood running, prior to Phillips’ fast-closing lap.

Getting second-place finishes and eight team points were the shuttle hurdles relay unit composed of T’Asya Jay, Ariyanna Adkns, Hope Gestl and Goins. Another second-place came from the 4×200 meter relay team, featuring Jayla Kidrick, Maiben, Taylor and Wood.

Huntington High School’s points-grabbing Highlanders held off Jefferson in the Class AAA boys division to gain its first state championship. Huntington amassed 98.5 points to Jefferson’s 87 points and third-place Cabell Midland’s 78 points.

The runner-up Cougars had eight athletes earn them points, putting the team in second place for the second straight year.

Keyshawn Robinson beats Lucas Anderson, of Bridgeport High School, by 0.16 seconds. taking the state championship for the 200 meter dash at Laidley Field on Friday. David Pennock

Keyshawn Robinson seemed to never blink, as he posted sprint wins in the 100, 200, 400 and ran a leg on the event-winning 4×200 meter relay team.

Distance man Justin Gottlieb was first in the 800 meters and also fifth in the 400 meters. He set a new state record in the 800 meters.

Jefferson posted a first-place in the 4×200 meter relay with Caleb Shelton, Tay’Shaun Roper, Owen Sarra and Robinson supplying the points. The foursome of Christian Gottlieb, Roper, Sarra and Justin Gottlieb also landed a first-place in the 4×400 meter relay.

Placing second in the 4×800 meter relay was the four-man unit comprised of Conner Myers, Owen Thompson, Christian Gottlieb and Justin Gottlieb.

Robinson’s dominance brought him the individual high-point medal for the two-day event. He scored 32.5 points, when given one-fourth of the points from the 4×200 meter relay win.

Hannah Phillips completes a 4x400 meter relay with a victory over Morgantown High School, sealing the Cougars' co-championship with the Mohicans at Laidley Field on Friday. David Pennock

Many fans and just as many athletes left puddle-strewn Laidley Field with a dampened spirit and wet clothing, but not Jefferson’s State Meet-winning girls team.

Justin Gottlieb tops off his high school track career with a photo finish of the 4x400 meter relay against Jordan Gillum, of Buchanon Upsher High School, at Laidley Field on Friday. David Pennock