BHS Standout Distance Runner Kaitlin Pappas Signs with Davis & Elkins
By Chris Johnson on March 09, 2023 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Bridgeport High School standout distance runner Kaitlin Pappas solidified her plans for next year as on Wednesday she signed her National Letter-of-Intent with Davis & Elkins College.
The signing ceremony took place in the BHS library in front of her family and coaches.
“When I was looking at every other college, that one just basically said my name,” Pappas said. “It felt like it was the perfect fit for me. Even before I took my visit, I knew that’s where I wanted to be.”
Pappas has been a strong performer for both the cross country and track and field teams throughout her time with the Indians.
In her senior cross country season last fall, she finished third in Harrison County, ninth in the Big 10 Conference and was 18th overall in a loaded Region I. At the end of the season she was ranked 27th overall in the state according to the runwv.com rankings.
Other highlights from the fall include a fourth-place finish at the Charles Pointe Invitational – the first home meet for the Indians since 2019. She also placed fourth at the Chick-fil-A Invitational with a time of 20:05.89, her personal best time.
In her junior track season, she posted seventh-place finishes in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs at the Region I meet and was seventh in the 1,600 at the Big 10 Conference meet and fourth in the 3,200.
Her high school times in every event are a little better than what they might appear on the surface as the Indians compete in Class AAA Region I where Morgantown and University have been dominant forces the past couple of years.
In just cross country, Pappas’ regional times the past two years would have put her in the state meet if she ran in any other region regardless of classification.
Competing against runners the caliber of Irene Riggs though does help when preparing for the next level.
“I think it gives me an advantage because I already know what to expect from runners at the college level,” Pappas said.
If you have driven on Johnson Avenue near the schools in Bridgeport anytime during the past four years, odds are you have seen Kaitlyn Pappas running.
It might have been with teammates, it might have been a solo mission away from practice, but Pappas was probably running somewhere, exhibiting the self-discipline it takes to succeed in the sport.
“It keeps me motivated,” she said. “I go out and run and try to do better at the next event.”
She will participate in both cross country and track at D&E. As far as track goes with the Senators, Pappas said there is some talk of adding some different distances to her resume.
“We are talking about the 10K and the 5K and maybe the 8K,” she said. “It’s a little exciting to think about doing distance events other than the 3,200 and 1,600.”
Pappas said she plans on majoring in exercise science at Davis & Elkins.
