Somewhere lost in the avalanche or records, wins and domination by Bridgeport High School junior McKenna Smith Friday and Saturday, which was pretty easy to do, was that the Indians track team as a whole was pretty dominant in capturing the school’s second-ever state championship.

 

Just how dominant were the girls as a whole? If you were to take away the 40 points that Smith scored by herself in winning four events, BHS still would have hypothetically finished with 65.5 points, which would still have been ahead of North Marion’s 51 points in the runner-up spot in Class AA.

 

“The team's showing was way more than I expected. All I wanted for the girls was to shoot for a place and to get the team points,” said Coach Emilee Stout. “They were very determined to score and obviously, that showed.”

What else showed was a performance for the ages by Smith. It wasn’t that she just won four events and set four state meet records, it’s that she obliterated them to the point that three of the times were actually all-time state records.

 

How many times has that happened in the long history of the West Virginia State Track and Field championships? Prior to Smith’s performance, the record-breaking feat has never happened. The Gazette-Mail called her effort “legendary.” The Exponent-Telegram labeled it the “most dominant performance in the history of the state meet.”

 

Smith won the 100 meters with a time of 11.89 seconds. That was good enough not only for a win, but the overall state title in any class. The 200 time was 24.37 seconds, also good for a win and new state record – not just a state meet record.

 

The only event in which Smith didn’t set the state’s all-time standard was in the 300 meter hurdles. She managed just a time of 44.03 seconds, which was only good enough for a state meet mark.

 

For those not noting the sarcastic tone there, there’s nothing sarcastic about her showing in the 400 meters. Smith toppled the all-time record in the state by nearly a second with a time of 55.25 seconds, which ended a three-decades-plus mark in state competition.

 

Those wins gave Smith 40 points, which hypothetically would have allowed her to finish fifth overall in Class AA. Her high medalist honors with four wins – and 40 points – was done for only the fourth time in meet history.

 

“McKenna's performance was incredible. It's really something when you can hear everyone in the stands talking about how good she is and going out of their way to watch her run. It's quite amazing that she just kept going in every event,” said Stout. “Just as soon as she took one record, the first thing she would talk about is how she wants the next one. She was looking forward to taking on the challenges for each race and she just dominated.

 

“She works so hard and really focuses on the task at hand,” said Stout. “McKenna has set a new level to track and field, for Bridgeport, the county, and that state. It's remarkable.”

 

Indeed it was. What was also remarkable was the girls’ 4x800 meter relay team’s win. The unit wasn’t even supposed to place, let alone win the event. Yet the team of Savannah Blythe, Jenna Soltesz, Julia Muller and Kirstin George did just that with a time of 10 minutes, 4.97 seconds.

 

“The 4x800 relay was a shock. To say exciting is an understatement. They were so determined to place and beat the odds that they went into a different frame of mind.  Each girl performed the best I've seen them and the look on their faces told me just what they were trying to accomplish,” said Stout. “Once they realized first place was in their reach, they went into another mode. Watching them win that race was one of the more exciting moments I've ever seen in track.”

 

The 4x800 upset opened up the two-day meet with a win for the Tribe. The 4x400 team closed it with a win. Kristen Crowder, Catie Wilson, Julia Muller, and Kirstin George won by nearly four seconds thanks to a time of 4 minutes, 12.76 seconds.

 

“The girls 4x400 was fantastic. We knew North Marion had a tough team and it wouldn't be easy, but they were determined to get the school record no matter what,” said Stout. “I am so happy for them.”

 

Bridgeport’s other win came in the pole vault, and it came from one of the athletes outside of Smith favored to win an event. Caroline Lloyd didn’t let the expectation of winning stop her as she cleared 10 feet once again and one the pole vault.

 

“I'm very proud of Caroline this year. She was consistent and that's hard to do in pole vault,” said Stout. “The work that she's put into this event is impressive. She's trained a lot more than the average high school vaulter, and it shows.”

 

BHS earned a runner-up finish in the 4x100 in a close contest. The Tribe’s foursome of Crowder, Jordyn Bush, Wilson and Isabella Bowen posted a time of 51.82 seconds. The 4x200 team also was strong with as second place slot thanks to the time of 1 minute, 49.85 seconds posted by Crowder, Juliet Hart, Catie Wilson and George.

 

The Indians also had one third place finish in the event. Senior Mateah Kittle earned the spot with a time of 16.11 seconds in the 100 meter hurdles event.

 

“This group of girls are really special to me. I never had discipline issues to deal with, or attitudes about what events they were running. It was a rather smooth season, and that really stands out,” said Stout. “These girls work hard and want what's best for the team, and that's what makes this state championship that much sweeter.”

 

Recap on the boys third place finish at the state meet coming later this week on Connect-Bridgeport.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows McKenna Smith breaking one of four state records, while Kirstin George is shown in one of several strong showings by the BHS relay teams. Caroline Lloyd is shown in one of several jumps that led her to a state title in the pole vault, while Catie Wilson takes the handoff from Juliet Hart in another relay by the Tribe.