Bridgeport Track & Field Teams in Action at State Meet
By Michael Minnich on May 22, 2026
On the back of two event wins, the Bridgeport Indians girls track and field team is in first place after the first day of the West Virginia Class AAA state track & field meet at Laidley Field.
The Tribe tallied 33 points to take the lead over Herbert Hoover (28), Elkins (23), Winfield, John Marshall (20) and meet favorite Greenbrier East (18).
The Bridgeport boys are fifth with 13 points, trailing Keyser (32), Winfield (21), Elkins (21) and Point Pleasant (18).
Haydn Henderson jumped to the top of the podium, winning the long jump with a best of 16-05.50.
"It feels great. I'm very grateful. I think this is all God and I just give him all the glory," Henderson said.
Henderson fouled on her first two jumps in rainy conditions.
"I was freaking out. I was very nervous, but I just had to calm myself down for a second, say a prayer, say a couple of prayers, really, and just know that He's got my back no matter what," Henderson said. "I just want back to where I started and why I started the long jump."
Then she put up a leap of 16-02.50.
After another foul, she put up the winning number, well ahead of John Marshall's Rylee McKinley (16-01.75).
"I knew that I wasn't just going to come here. I was grateful to be here, obviously, but I knew that I wanted to win. That was my goal, ultimately, and I know that I was going to do everything that I could to be there."
Those 10 points will come in handy in the team race.
"I know that we have a very good chance of winning," Henderson said. "I hope that starting off with me jumping and winning can motivate our team as well."
Scarlett Edgell placed eighth with a leap of 14-10.75.
In the field, Becky Pepper-Jackson claimed a state title in the shot put, her final throw of 38-11.75 her longest of the day.
Isabella McCullough was 10th in the same event with a best of 30-06.25.
The Bridgeport boys were the runner-up in the shuttle hurdles relay as Sawyer Culicerto, Graham Vincent, Gabe Martin and Aiden Gorby ran a race of 59.11, losing out to Point Pleasant (57.42 seconds).
The Tribe girls had three of the top nine finishers in the 3200 meter run: Aria Selario placed third in 11:06.86, Mikaela DeMoss took sixth in 11:47.26 and Bethsayed Dankiewicz was ninth in 11:59.62.
Jaylen Brown had a strong evening in the shot put, throwing 49 even to finish fourth, with Harrison Hall was 13th with a best of 42-11.50.
The Bridgeport girls 4x800 meter relay, comprised of Bethsayed Dankiewicz, Isla Tobrey, Mikaela DeMoss and Aria Selario, opened the meet by finishing seventh in a time of 10:15.04.
The girls shuttle hurdles relay of Isla Tobrey, Kennedy Wolfe, Carley Lattea and Katie Backus brought home eighth in a time of 1:09.48.
Aiden Gorby tied for ninth in the long jump with a best of 19-04.
In the boys 3200 meter run, William Northey was 11th in 10:12.01 and Troy Zorick took 12th in 10:14.82.
The Tribe's boys 4x800 meter relay of Graham Northey, Parker Muncy, Andrew Wagner and William Northey took 15th in 8:51.95.
A pair of Tribe sprinters are in the boys 100 and 200 meter dash finals on Saturday after strong preliminary runs on Friday.
Will George was tops in the 200 prelims in 22.31 seconds, while Gavin Willams (22.39) was third.
In the 100 prelims, Gavin Williams finished third in preliminaries in 11.10 seconds and Will George (11.35) was fifth.
In the 110 meter hurdles preliminaries, Gabe Martin qualified for the finals with an eighth-place finish in 16.42 seconds, while Sawyer Culicerto (16.57) just missed out in ninth.
Emma Kniceley-See (12.91 seconds) was also a spot away from finals qualification in the 100 meter dash, finishing ninth.
Carley Lattea (15th, 17.47 seconds) and Scarlett Edgell (16th, 17.59) both did not qualify for the girls 100 meter hurdles finals.
The full Class AAA event schedule for Bridgeport’s athletes. All finals unless noted. Completed events are italicized:
FRIDAY
Boys long jump (12 p.m.): Aiden Gorby (t-9th, 19-04)
Girls 4x800 meter relay (12:30 p.m.): Bethsayed Dankiewicz, Isla Tobrey, Mikaela DeMoss, Aria Selario (7th, time of 10:15.04)
Boys 4x800 meter relay (1:30 p.m.): Graham Northey, Parker Muncy, Andrew Wagner, William Northey (15th, time of 8:51.95).
Boys shot put (2 p.m.): Jaylen Brown (4th, 49-00), Harrison Hall (13th, 42-11.50)
Girls long jump (2 p.m.): Haydn Henderson (1st, 16-05.50), Scarlett Edgell (8th, 14-10.75)
Girls 100 meter hurdles preliminaries (2:10 p.m.): Carley Lattea (15th, 17.47 seconds), Scarlett Edgell (16th, 17.59 seconds).
Boys 110 meter hurdles preliminaries (2:30 p.m.): Gabe Martin (8th, qualified for finals, 16.42 seconds), Sawyer Culicerto (9th, 16.57 seconds).
Girls 110 meter dash preliminaries (2:55 p.m.): Emma Kniceley-See (9th, 12.91 seconds).
Boys 100 meter dash preliminaries (3:15 p.m.): Gavin Williams (3rd, qualified for finals, 11.10 seconds), Will George (5th, qualified for finals, 11.35 seconds)
Girls shot put (4 p.m.): Becky Pepper-Jackson (1st. 38-11.75), Isabella McCullough (10th, 30-06.25)
Girls shuttle hurdles relay (4 p.m.): Isla Tobrey, Kennedy Wolfe, Carley Lattea, Katie Backus (8th, 1:09.48)
Boys shuttle hurdles relay (5 p.m.): Sawyer Culicerto, Graham Vincent, Gabe Martin, Aiden Gorby (2nd, 59.11 seconds)
Boys 200 meter dash preliminaries (6:05 p.m.): Will George (1st, qualified for finals, 22.31 seconds, Gavin Williams (3rd, qualified for finals, 22.39 seconds).
Girls 3200 meter run (6:50 p.m.): Aria Selario (3rd, 11:06.86), Mikaela DeMoss (6th, 11:47.26), Bethsayed Dankiewicz (9th, 11:59.62)
Boys 3200 meter run (7:50 p.m.): William Northey (11th, 10:12.01), Troy Zorick (12th, 10:14.82)
SATURDAY
Boys 400 meter dash (10 a.m.): Kieran Moore
Girls 1600 meter run (10:30 a.m.: Aria Selario, Bethsayed Dankiewicz, Mikaela DeMoss
Girls discus (11 a.m.): Becky Pepper-Jackson
Boys 1600 meter run (11:10 a.m.): Troy Zorick
Girls 300 meter hurdles (11:45 a.m.): Isla Tobrey, Kennedy Wolfe
Boys 300 meter hurdles (12:05 p.m.): Sawyer Culicerto, Kieran Moore
Boys 110 meter hurdles finals (1:21 p.m.): Gabe Martin
Boys 100 meter dash finals (1:41 p.m.): Gavin Williams, Will George
Girls 4x200 meter relay (2:10 p.m.): Emma Kniceley-See, Haydn Henderson, Katie Backus, Ellie Bongiorno, Violet Vash, Carley Lattea
Boys 4x200 meter relay (2:50 p.m.): Gavin Williams, Kieran Moore, JT Ritter, Will George, Carson Bastin
Girls pole vault (3 p.m.): Ellie Bongiorno, Isla Tobrey
Girls 4x100 meter relay (3:40 p.m.): Ellie Bongiorno, Haydn Henderson, Emma Kniceley-See, Katie Backus, Violet Vash
Boys 4x100 meter relay (4 p.m.): Gavin Williams, JT Ritter, Carson Bastin, Will George, Aiden Gorby
Boys 800 meter run (4:40 p.m.): Troy Zorick
Girls 4x400 meter relay (5:34 p.m.): Emma Kniceley-See, Haydn Henderson, Kennedy Wolfe, Aria Selario, Bethsayed Dankiewicz
Boys 4x400 meter relay (6:22 p.m.): Kieran Moore, JT Ritter, Troy Zorick, Sawyer Culicerto, Henley Hinkle, Carson Bastin
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