Williamstown junior Cassie Sites, who won the Little Kanawha Conference meet earlier this month, will try and become a three-time first team all-stater on Saturday during the Class AA state cross country championships in Ona at Cabell Midland High School. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

WILLIAMSTOWN — The final races of the season in Class AA are set for a 1 p.m. girls start and a 1:45 p.m. boys gun come Saturday at the state cross country championships in Ona at Cabell Midland.

Little Kanawha Conference victor Cassie Sites of Williamstown is trying to add another first team all-state plaque to her resume after finishing fifth in double-A a year ago as a sophomore and third in single-A as a freshman.

Although the Williamstown girls ran away with the Class AA state crown a year ago, things figure to be a bit more complex on Saturday, especially considering defending Class A state champion Braxton County has bumped up a class.

“I do think the girls double-A meet is a four-team race,” admitted WHS head coach Mike Taylor. “The favorites being Braxton County, Frankfort, Lincoln and ourselves.

“Probably the first time that there will be two defending state champion teams in the same race at the state cross country meet.”

The Region I champion Yellowjackets don’t have the services of senior Isabella Bryant due to injury, but classmates Sylvia Harris (7th) and Kate Florence (13th) had strong efforts last time out as WHS featured a pack that also included sophomores Alia Phelps (14th) and Salys Shotwell (16th), and junior Bridget Kirby (17th).

“Braxton has been ranked number one most of the season. They were missing their number four runner at the regional meet. Clear favorite if she is racing,” added coach Taylor, who watched Harris earn a nod on the all-state second team last fall.

“We haven’t raced against Frankfort this season. Their top runners are very good. They won Region II against Braxton and Lincoln. Lincoln, like Frankfort and Braxton, are very good with their three-four runners.”

The Braxton County girls are led by senior Addison Lloyd, who has an opportunity for a fourth appearance on the first team. Her first two seasons while in double-A featured efforts of sixth and eighth place. Last year in Class A, the Eagle just made it by finishing 10th.

“We beat Braxton and Lincoln during the regular season until the injury bug reared its ugly head. The team has weathered that storm,” continued coach Taylor, who knows Sites will have to contend with Lincoln sophomore Raley Cochran as well as Frankfort junior Bailey Ferguson.

“Even though we are now an underdog I like our team’s mental preparation and how our workouts have been this week. Our teams have had tremendous success our the last eight years at the state cross country meet. I think the past success will be a driving factor for us.”

Ravenswood senior Riley Sotomayor and junior teammate Gwyn Gorrell, who finished two-three behind Sites with Bulldog freshman Emily Cottrill placing fourth at the regional, are all expected to vie for a top 10 finish and first team honors.

Sotomayor, who was the 800 state track champion, finished as a Class A all-stater in 2024 after taking eighth in Ona.

“Our girls team has had a very good season and we are proud of their accomplishments,” stated Red Devil head coach Bryan Canterbury. “Riley and Gwyn have been strong all season long and have raced against some top talent through all the classes.

“Both are high level competitors and both are ready. Linsey Barker is a first year runner who has exceeded expectations. Alexis McVey has improved a lot from a season ago while Riley Curfman and April Comer give us a solid pack.”

Doddridge County’s boys, whose lone challenger for the team crown appears to be Lincoln, are led by senior Carter Sias, who will step into the double-A field as a three-time Class A all-state honoree.

Last year’s Class A individual state champion Amos Kimble of Tyler Consolidated is expected to top the double-A field. The senior won the race with a time of 16:09 in 2024 and was seventh his sophomore year with a 16:57 clocking.

Silver Knight teammate Travis Moore, a junior, moved up from 13th place as a freshman to first team all-state status as a sophomore when he placed seventh.

Ravenswood junior Gavin Wilburn, Bulldog junior Samuel Gola as well as Williamstown senior Jimmy Erlandson and DCHS junior Cory Swentzel are also expected to vie for first team all-state.

Despite losing a tiebreaker to Ravenswood during the Region I meet, the Yellowjacket boys of head coach Cliff Taylor will receive a team score on Saturday thanks to Erlandson, Chase Pickering, Zander Boyce, Brody Pickens and Vincent Zegrea running fast enough to take all five qualifying spots.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com