2007 State Meet Predictions

RunWV Predictions
Class AA Boys

Class AA Boys Individual Event Predictions

100 M 1. Rodney Endicott Wayne
2. Cameron Brown Weir
3. Clint Lawson Oak Hill
4. David Wiley Chapmanville
5. Aaron Gould Philip Barbour
6. Gary Gamble Oak Glen
Endicott has started to assert himself late in the season. Brown actually has the best
series of the group and the best top time, so it would certainly be no stretch for him
to win the event. Lawson's series is right on their heels, and he could take the event.
Wiley is a bit of a stretch. His top time is only 11th in the group, and his series
would probably only rank him about 7th or 8th. However, he was pretty much in the same
situation last year and finished 2nd. Gould has the next best series. Gamble had a
very good regional run, which means he could move up if he duplicates that. Bluefield's
Patrick Flack, Oak Hill's Tim Patterson, and Berkeley Springs' Sam Byrne will contend
for places.

200 M 1. Rodney Endicott Wayne
2. Drake Compton Oak Glen
3. Tim Patterson Oak Hill
4. Clint Lawson Oak Hill
5. Michael Hunter Philip Barbour
6. Dustin Syvertson Shady Spring
Endicott has a very strong series of FAT times and the fastest overall time of the group.
Compton has a better overall series, but 3 of his top 5 are hand-times, which makes them
a little less reliable. He did crank out a 22.88 at the Regional Meet, which definitely
puts him in Endicott territory. Patterson was right on the heels of Endicott at the
Gazette Relays, and he has the next best series. Lawson is just about interchangeable
with Patterson. They seem to usually be very close. Hunter seems to be coming on late
in the season. His five best runs have all come in May. Syvertson has the next best
series and good 400 strength. Sissonville's William Hart, Poca's Tim Petty, and
Grafton's James Pancoast will try to steal places.

400 M 1. Ben Miller Ravenswood
2. Jaron Freeman Philip Barbour
3. Josh Webb Weir
4. Samson Gianessi Weir
5. Dustin Syvertson Shady Spring
6. Eric Thornberg Liberty Raleigh
Miller is the only one with more than one sub-51 clocking (2). His series is just a
little better than Freeman's across the board, plus he beat Freeman at the Gazette Relays
in their only head-to-head matchup. Freeman's top time is just 0.02 off Miller's, so
he could take the event. Webb doesn't have the next best time or the next best series,
but his late season surge (mid-53 on 4/28, mid-52 on 5/5, and mid-51 on 5/10) has been
impressive. Gianessi has a better top time and a better series than Webb, but Webb did
edge him at the Regional. Syvertson has the next besst top time and the next best
series (his series is also better than Webb's). He has 3 runs under 52 seconds.
Thornberg also has a late season surge going on. He's gone from low 53 to upper 52
to upper 51 in his last few meets. His spot is very precarious, though. Sissonville's
William Hart and Liberty Harrison's Josh Gray (should he stay in the event) lead a group
of five that will try to take one of the final spots.

800 M 1. Ben Miller Ravenswood
2. Josh Gray Liberty Harrison
3. Zach Noel Winfield
4. Luke Seavy Magnolia
5. Ben Wise Ravenswood
6. Griff Halstead Oak Glen
Miller has the best top time and is the defending champion. Gray is the only one in the
group to have more than one sub-2:00 run. Gray could conceivably scratch the 400 and/or
the 1600 to make his run at the 800. Noel has easily the next best time, but he will
likely have to expend a lot more in the 1600 than he normally does, so he could drop.
Seavy has the next best series and good top-end potential. Wise has the next best
top time and the next best series of times. Halstead doesn't have the next best top
time or the next best series, but most of the people in his area will have had to run
the 1600 earlier in the day. That may give him just enough of an advantage to take the
spot. Weir's Stewart Jones, Berkeley Springs' Lenny Roach, and Magnolia's Nick Baxter
will fight for placing spots.

1600 M 1. Stewart Jones Weir
2. Zach Noel Winfield
3. Lenny Roach Berkeley Springs
4. Brian Wilson Oak Glen
5. Ben Wise Ravenswood
6. Josh Gray Liberty Harrison
Jones has two times better than anyone else's best and the only clocking under 4:30 in
the group. Noel doesn't have the next best time or the next best series, but he did
finish 2nd to Benford last year and beat Roach (very narrowly) at the Gazette Relays. If
he wants to win, though, he's going to have to run a more balanced race than he did at
the Gazette Relays. Roach has the 2nd best top time and the 2nd best series of times
and is definitely a threat. Wilson is the only other runner in the group to have been
under 4:40, and he's done it three times. Wise has the next best top time and the next
best series. He's got plenty of 800 speed and was 3rd in the State Cross Country meet.
The 1600 should be a natural event for him. Gray only started running the event at
mid-season, and has only had to really run it once, and that was at the Regional Meet.
If he stays in the event, he's definitely a threat for a top 4 place because of his
800 speed. Webster's Skyler McCoy is a bit of a wildcard. An ankle injury sidelined
him for a while, and his Regional Meet didn't test him, so it's hard to gauge what kind
of shape he's in. He will most likely be in the mix along with Kurt Gay and Nathan Rees
of Ravenswood.

3200 M 1. Zach Noel Winfield
2. Stewart Jones Weir
3. Lenny Roach Berkeley Springs
4. Skyler McCoy Webster
5. Brian Wilson Oak Glen
6. Ben Wise Ravenswood
Noel and Jones both have four runs under 10:00. Noel's overall series is a little better,
but Jones has the better top time by 11 seconds. However, Noel did go 9:30 last year,
and he can probably do the same this year if he has to. Roach finished just over a
second behind Noel at the Gazette Relays and could squeeze into the top two. McCoy is
again a wildcard, but this time I'm slipping him into 4th. Remember that he did get 3rd
a year ago and was the 2nd at the State Cross Country Meet. I just don't know how much
conditioning he lost while injured. I guess we'll find out. Wilson has the next best
top time and the next best series, but it would certainly be no surprise if Wise were to
take that spot away. Roane's Randy Price and Ravenswood's Nathan Rees will also be
vying for a place.

110 HH 1. Eli Cottrill Lincoln
2. Christian Powers Winfield
3. Travis Corwell Frankfort
4. Caleb Martin Winfield
5. Tyrell Clay Keyser
6. Paul Truitt Berkeley Springs
This one should be a lot of fun. It wouldn't be a big surprise for any of the top five
to win the event. Cottrill has the best top time and the best top-end series. Powers
is the defending champion and is very consistent. Corwell has the 3rd best top time
and the best overall series of times. Martin has the 2nd best top time and is generally
in quite a battle with teammate Powers. Clay was right behind Corwell at the Regional
and has a series that is actually a little stronger overall than Martin's. Truitt is
the only other one in the field with more than one run under 16 seconds. Ritchie's
Alan Snodgrass, Braxton's Kevin Tanner, Philip Barbour's Andy Rollins, and Webster's
Zach Smith will be right in the mix as well.

300 IH 1. Travis Corwell Frankfort
2. Eli Cottrill Lincoln
3. Brian Ness Berkeley Springs
4. Caleb Martin Winfield
5. Christian Powers Winfield
6. Eric Thornberg Liberty Raleigh
Corwell is the only one in the gropu to have gone under 40 seconds, and he's done it
twice. Cottrill has three runs of 40.5 or better and beat Corwell at the Regional, so
it's no stretch to think he could win it. He's also the defending champion. Ness is the
only other runner to have gone under 41, and he's done it twice. Martin's overall series
is slightly better than Ness', so he could move up. Powers has three runs under 42.
Thornberg has a pair of runs under 42, and his best three runs are in his last three meets.
Berkeley Springs' Paul Truitt and Webster's Chance McCoy are the most likely others to take
a place.

4x100 M 1. Philip Barbour
2. Berkeley Springs
3. Oak Glen
4. Weir
5. Keyser
6. Lincoln
Philip Barbour gets the nod based on their Regional victory. Berkeley Springs actually
has the better top time (the Philip Barbour has the best electronic time) and the best
series. Oak Glen looked very good at their Regional Meet. Weir will be running in the
first heat and actually has only the 10th best time coming into the meet. However, with
the disqualification of their 4x400 team, Cameron Brown and Josh Webb have a free event.
I'm guessing they end up here, which could move Weir into the top 3. Keyser has a better
series than Oak Glen, but was over half a second slower at their respective Regionals.
Lincoln has the next best top time and the next best series. They'll have to run strong
to hold off Winfield and Shady Spring. Ravenswood could very well be in the mix if they
move Ben Miller onto this group. With the disqualification of the 4x200, Miller would
either move to the 4x100 or the 4x800. They may think they can win the 4x800 without
him.

4x200 M 1. Weir
2. Oak Glen
3. Keyser
4. Ritchie
5. Berkeley Springs
6. Lincoln
Weir is the only team to have gone under 1:33. Oak Glen was only 0.26 behind them at
the Regional Meet. Keyser's Regional run was impressive, and they're the only team to
have gone under 1:34 more than once. Ritchie has the next best top time and could put
a scare into Keyser. Berkeley Springs has the athletes to move up. They've been under
1:35 four times and could crack the top 3. Lincoln looked very strong at the Conference
Meet and the Regional Meet. They beat Berkeley Springs at the Regional Meet. This
group's times are actually over 1.5 seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

4x400 M 1. Ravenswood
2. Oak Glen
3. Keyser
4. Magnolia
5. Philip Barbour
6. Grafton
Ravenswood is over 2 seconds ahead of the field. They've run two times that are over a
second ahead of anyone else's best. Oak Glen doesn't have the 2nd best top time, but
they can go faster. Keyser has the next best time after Oak Glen and won their Regional.
Magnolia actually has the 2nd fastest time, but their Regional effort left them in the
first heat. They could finish as high as second but that disadvantage of not having
the other teams to really race will probably bite them. Philip Barbour has the next
best time. They're over two seconds behind those in front of them and over a second
ahead of those behind them. They could move Andy Rollins onto this group and improve
their standing some, but it may not be enough to move up. Grafton has one more move
they can make to shore up this relay. They'll have their hands full with Frankfort,
Winfield, Oak Hill, Shady Spring, and Ritchie, all of whom could easily slip in and
take a spot.

4x800 M 1. Ravenswood
2. Weir
3. Magnolia
4. Ritchie
5. Winfield
6. Oak Glen
Ravenswood is a solid favorite if Ben Miller joins this relay. With him they may be able
to crack 8:15. Weir ran 8:27 at the Regional and have another 2:05 guy that didn't run
at the Regional. I don't know his status, but he is out there. If he's on the relay,
and Miller goes to the 4x100 instead of the 4x800, Weir could take the event. Magnolia
can go in the low 8:20's. Ritchie is solid across the board on their relay. They could
hit in the mid 8:20's. Winfield's top time is only 8:48, but they can put Zach Noel on
this relay and probably go under 8:35. Oak Glen will have to fend off Grafton and
Philip Barbour as it looks like all three teams will be in the 8:35 range. Independence
is a little bit of a darkhorse candidate to place.

Shuttle 1. Philip Barbour
2. Keyser
3. Winfield
4. Webster
5. Weir
6. Berkeley Springs
Philip Barbour has at least five runs under 60 seconds and is slightly better than Keyser
at every point in their top 5, plus they won the Regional Matchup. Keyser is the only
other team with more than one run under 60 seconds, and they've done it four times.
Winfield has a couple studs and always puts together a very good Shuttle unit. They're
definitely a threat. Webster is the only other team to have been under 60 seconds.
Weir has a better top electronic time than Webster and could move up. Berkeley Springs
has a better overall series than Webster or Weir, but their top time is nearly half a
second off the others.

L Jump 1. Aaron Gould Philip Barbour
2. Brian Ness Berkeley Springs
3. Michael Hunter Philip Barbour
4. Timmy DeBarr Sissonville
5. Nick Stewart Philip Barbour
6. Jedd Guthrie Grafton
Gould has a pair of jumps over 21' and is one of only two in the event with five jumps
of 20'. He has the best overall series. Ness had a monster jump in the first meet of
the season and finally eclipsed 21' again at the Regional Meet. Hunter is the other
competitor with five 20' jumps. DeBarr has a pair of 20' jumps including one at the
Gazette Relays. Stewart has the next best series and could give Philip Barbour three
scorers in the event. Guthrie has the next best series and the 4th best top jump, and
he tends to jump well in Charleston. Oak Glen's Matt Ritchie, Roane's Aaron Atkinson,
and Magnolia's Anthony Wells will try to take spots.

H Jump 1. Foster Sirbaugh Berkeley Springs
2. Tyrell Clay Keyser
3. Brian Ness Berkeley Springs
4. Anthony Wells Magnolia
5. Troy Leport Point Pleasant
6. Dexter Hazel Weir
Sirbaugh is the only jumper with more than one 6'4 jump and the only jumper with at least
five jumps of 6'2. Clay only has a single 6'2 jump, but it did occur at his Regional
and he jumped well here last year. Ness has a 6'4 jump, a 6'3 jump, and a pair of 6'2
jumps, but he hasn't hit 6'0 in May. He could win, and he could not place. Wells and
Leport each have at least five 6'0 jumps. Hazel has three 6'0 jumps to his credit.
Point Pleasant's James Ellis, and Winfield's Cody Schuler and Erick Schuller may also
be factors along with Webster's Zach Crawford.

Shot 1. Eric Myers Sissonville
2. Kyle Hawkins Oak Glen
3. John Hipes Point Pleasant
4. A.J. Glass Oak Glen
5. Brad Layton Point Pleasant
6. Josh May Independence
Myers has the best throw of the bunch by over two feet. He has a top throw of 56'9.5
and has at least five throws of 52'. No one else has more than one. Hawkins has been
over 50' in his last two meets, including a monster 54'3 toss at his conference meet.
Hipes has the next best series, with three throws over 45' and two over 46'. Glass
has a better top throw than Hipes and could take the spot. Layton is the only other
thrower to have been over 45', and he's done it twice. May will have to stave off
Winfield's Tyler May, who has a better overall series, and Braxton's Nick Long.

Discus 1. Eric Myers Sissonville
2. Josh May Independence
3. Dominick Cangemi Liberty Raleigh
4. A.J. Glass Oak Glen
5. Kyle Hawkins Oak Glen
6. Chris May Independence
Myers' top throw is nearly 24' ahead of the field. If he can duplicate that toss, he'll
break the meet record by nearly 5'. He has four throws better than anyone else's best
and has a pair of tosses over 160'. May is the only other thrower with a 150' toss
and has a couple 147's to go along with it. Cangemi is the only remaining thrower with
multiple throws of 140'. Glass has a better top throw than Hawkins and has beaten him
in the last two meets, but Hawkins does have the better overall series. May has the
next best series of throws. He'll have to hold off Magnolia's Kile Hale and Keyser's
Nick Whiteman.

P Vault 1. Seth Kendall Winfield
2. Brandon Nutter Ravenswood
3. Chuck Richards Ritchie
4. Sam Ashley Roane
5. Nathan Rees Ravenswood
6. Drew Goodman Winfield
All of these guys would struggle to place in Class A. It's not a strong year for Class
AA pole vaulting. I'm giving Kendall the nod because he has a pair of 11'6 vaults and
an 11'3 vault, plus he cleared 12' at the State Meet last year. Nutter has the only 12'
vault, but his second best effort is only 11'. Richards has the most 11'6 vaults of the
group with four. Ashley has three 11'6 vaults. Rees has an 11'6 and three 11' vaults.
Goodman has an 11'3 and an 11'. Webster Cody Short, Winfield's Joseph Sovine, and Webster's
Mitchell Sanson will try to snag a place. 11'6 may win the event. Vaulting clean through
11'6 will be crucial as you could have as many as 8 or 9 guys clear 11'6 but none clear 12'.

High Point Predictions
1. Ben Miller Ravenswood 25
2. Zach Noel Winfield 24.50
3. Brian Ness Berkeley Springs 22
4. Eric Myers Sissonville 20
4. Rodney Endicott Wayne 20
4. Stewart Jones Weir 20