Starcher, Barbera win large-school races at West Virginia meet

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Sophomore Victoria Starcher won her showdown with TaShala Turner by a 17:35 to 17:55 margin in the girls AAA race at the West Virginia state cross country championships at Cabell Midland High. 

Starcher, of Ripley, sometimes trains with Turner and her University High teammates. 

University won its head-to-head battle with Morgantown 42-57 to capture the team title. University put four runners in the top 10. Morgantown put five runners in the top 15.

Chris Barbera of Woodrow Wilson won the boys AAA race in 15:38.6, moving up from a 26th-place finish in 2016. Morgantown went 7-9-10-11-12 -- with a 17-second spread among its five scorers -- to win the team title with 49 points.

Senior Jessica Melvin of Philip Harbour ran 18:57.6 to win the AA/A girls race and she was 10 seconds clear of second-place finisher Ella Hesson of Williamsown.

Aaron Withrow of Winfield won the AA/A boys race in 16:10 and had a 20-second advantage on East Fairmont's Mark Ellis. East Fairmont got the team victory, however, using its depth to secure the team title.

Team Champions

Class AAA Boys - Morgantown 49 points

Class AAA Girls - University 42 points

Class AA/A Boys - East Fairmont 96 points

Class AA/A Girls - Winfield 90 points