CHARLESTON -- First they made quality exchanges. Then they exchanged hugs.
Cabell Midland's shuttle hurdle relay team sped to victory Friday in the opening day of action in the West Virginia High School Track Championships at rain-soaked Laidley Field.
"We got the job done when we had to," said Drake Kinzel, who ran the second leg for the Knights. They turned in a 56.22 to 57.89 for runner-up Hedgesville.
Cabell Midland and Wheeling Park are the favorites in Class AAA boys. Hurricane is one of the favorites in Class AAA girls. Both the Knights and Redskins got off to good starts Friday despite the rain and cool temperatures.
Cabell Midland won the 4x800 relay as Aaron Ross, Dustin Stewart, Trey Beckett and David Bias clocked 8:08.96, their best time this season. Ryan Ramsby, who ran anchor on the shuttle hurdle, finished second in the long jump, Daniel Jarrell placed fourth in the high jump, Cole Bowers sixth in the discus and Bias came back to take second in the 3200. Kinzel advanced to today's finals in the 110 hurdles.
That gives the Knights 41 points to 29 for Wheeling Park, the 2007 champion.
"This starts the meet off right," Ross said. "We've got the experience. We saw what we had to do. When we give the baton to David, we know it's over."
Hurricane's girls, with a strong anchor run from Josie Crouch, started the meet with a win in the 4x800 (personal-best 9:38.16). They fell just short of the state record (9:37.34).
"We're so happy," said Alex Dent, who handled the opening leg. She was followed by Sarah Davis, Sahara Assi and Crouch.
"The goal was to win the race," Crouch said. "We need another big day tomorrow." Crouch will be one to watch in the 400 and 800.
Preston, which which got a second and third in the 3200 and win by Elsie Smith in the discus, leads with 38 points. Hurricane is next with 28.
Midland's boys showed up Friday sporting new "speedsuit" uniforms.
"They're nice," Ross said.
"They were like little kids at Christmas," Knights coach Chris Parsons said of his athletes when they saw the new uniforms. "Ryan getting second was awesome with that type of field and weather. I'm pleased, but we've got to continue this tomorrow."
Christy Austin won the shot put (37-8) and placed fourth in the discus for Hurricane. Dent came back to place fifth in the 3200.
"I'm ecstatic," Austin said. "I worked hard for this all season and now I've got the No. 1 (card) in my hand."
Two state records were set Friday.
Doddridge County's Levi Grandt won the Class A 3,200 for the second time in three years (9:22.26). Wheeling Park finished the Class AAA girls shuttle hurdles in 1:04.52, breaking by 0.01 the record set by John Marshall in 1997.
Huntington High's Talequia Hamilton was second in the long jump and teammate Emma Arneson fifth.
Wayne's Rodney Endicott, defending champion in the Class AA 100 and 200, qualified for today's finals in both races. Point Pleasant's Mallory Nowlin was the top qualifier in the Class AA girls 100 and 200 heats.
Richwood led the boys Class A team standings by one point over Wheeling Central (27-26), while Williamstown led defending champion Doddridge County in the girls standings.
Defending champion Winfield led both the boys and girls Class AA standings. The boys have 42 points to 20 for Webster County. The girls piled up 37 to 21 for Berkeley Springs and Philip Barbour. This is Winfield's last state meet in Class AA. The school moves to Class AAA in 2008-09.
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