Class AA Boys
100 Meter Dash
This was a wonderfully close race that saw Bluefield Freshman Carlos Reed edge teammate
D.J. Stewart at the line by less than 0.01 as both were credited with 11.01. 3rd
through 6th were all within 0.02 of each other. 5 of the top 6 and 7 of 8 in the finals return
next year.
RunWV's Current Score: 5 of 6.
200 Meter Dash
Keyser's Blake Ravenscroft battled Grafton's Nathan Bernarde to the line to take
the 0.01 win, 22.71 to 22.72. No one else was under 23.00. The next four spots were decided
by just 0.15.
RunWV's Current Score: 9 of 12.
400 Meter Dash
Roane's Troy Fisher was the only one under 50 seconds at 49.92. Scott's Zack Marcum
was closing hard and just missed the mark at 50.10. They were the only ones under 51 seconds. Only
five made it in under 52 seconds.
RunWV's Current Score: 14 of 18.
800 Meter Run
Roane's Troy Fisher led the group through the first lap, crossing in 56. Frankfort's
Lucas Young was in 2nd at 58 seconds. Bridgeport's Abe Merinar was in 3rd at 59
seconds. Merinar made the pass into the lead with about 60 meter remaining and powered away
for the win in 1:57.99. Fisher just held onto 2nd ahead of Young, 1:58.90 to 1:58.95. No one
else was under 2:02.
RunWV's Current Score: 18 of 24.
1600 Meter Run
The field went out with aggression with Bridgeport's Abe Merinar leading the group through
in 1:03. Frankfort's Lucas Young matched that time in 2nd. PikeView's Jason Weitzel
was in 3rd. Ritchie's Johnny Hogue was in 4th. Robert C. Byrd's Austen Zorick was
in 5th, and Berkeley Springs' Steven Shetler was in 6th with each of those last four crossing
at 1:04. On the 2nd lap, Merinar continued to lead and started to pull away just a bit, crossing in
2:09. Young remained in 2nd at 2:10. Weitzel and Hogue continued to battle with Weitzel still
holding a small lead at 2:11. The Webster County duo of Brettley Harris and Austin Hayes
had moved into 5th and 6th, respectively at 2:12. On the 3rd lap, Merinar took control, stretching
the lead to 4 seconds at 3:14. Young was holding strong in 2nd at 3:18. Weitzel was in 3rd at 3:20.
Harris had made the pass into 4th with Hogue 5th, both at 3:21. Hayes remained in 6th at 3:24. On
the final lap, Merinar brought it back down to 63 to finish in 4:17.89, the 2nd Best All-Time
Class A-AA State Meet Performance. Young easily held 2nd at 4:23.59. Harris moved up to 3rd in
4:25.55. Weitzel was 4th at 4:26.79. No one else was under 4:33. Hogue held onto 5th at 4:33.90
just ahead of Hayes' 4:34.26. The top 9 were under 4:40.
RunWV's Current Score: 23 of 30.
3200 Meter Run
The group went out very reasonably with Frankfort's Lucas Young holding the lead at 1:09.
Bridgeport's Abe Merinar was in 2nd at 1:10. Joining him at that time were Ritchie's pair
of Johnny Hogue and Daniel Cooper. Philip Barbour's Matt Nesland was in 5th
at 1:11 with Webster's Brettley Harris matching that time in 6th. Young continued to
lead through 2 laps as the field stayed pretty packed together with the front 12 within about
4 seconds. You crossed at 2:22. Merinar, Hogue, and Cooper all crossed at 2:23 in the 2nd
through 4th positions, respectively. Nesland and Harris continued to hold the 5th and 6th spots
at 2:24. Lap 3 saw more of the same with Young leading at 3:36. Merinar matched that time in 2nd.
Hogue remained in 3rd with Cooper right behind in 4th with both at 3:37. Nelsand and Harris
continued to be 5th and 6th, respectively with both crossing at 3:38. At the mid-way point
Merinar moved to the front at 4:52. Young was in 2nd at 4:53. Hogue remained in 3rd at 4:54.
Cooper was still in 4th at 4:56. Harris matched that time in moving up to 5th. PikeView's
Jason Weitzel moved up to 6th at 4:57. On the 5th lap, the pace quickened as Merinar went
from a 76 on lap 4 to a 69 on lap 5. That opened up the lead for him at he came through in 6:01.
Hogue had moved into 2nd at 6:04 with Young on his heels with the same time. Harris was in 4th
with Weitzel in 5th with both at 6:06. Bridgeport's Matthew Dearth had moved into 6th at 6:08.
On lap 6 Merinar stretched his lead, coming through in 7:14. Young moved back into 2nd at 7:19.
Hogue remained in 3rd at 7:20. Harris still held a slim margin over Weitzel for 4th with both at
7:21. Dearth was still in control of 6th at 7:24. Lap 7 saw Merinar really extend his lead
as he crossed in 8:26. Young was 2nd at 8:34. Harris moved into 3rd at 8:35. Hogue was 4th at
8:36. Weitzel was 5th at 8:37. Dearth was 6th at 8:40. On the final lap, Merinar cruised to the
victory in 9:35.16. Young used a big kick to close a little ground and to distance himself from
Harris with a 9:40.17. Harris came through in 3rd at 9:46.68. Weitzel moved up to 4th with a
9:49.38. Hogue held on for 5th in 9:51.97. Dearth held the 6th spot at 9:54.13. The top
7 made it in under 10:00.
RunWV's Current Score: 29 of 36.
110 Meter High Hurdles
As expected, it was Grafton's Nathan Bernarde was the repeat champion with a 14.73.
Fairmont Senior's Neil Scherich was the only one to mount any kind of challenge with his
14.84. No one else was under 15.15. Bernarde also clocked a 14.51 in the trials, which is the
7th Best All-Time Class A-AA State Meet Performance. Ritchie's Jayden Allender
and Liberty Raleigh's TreShawn McDowell were under 15.30. in taking 3rd and 4th, respectively.
RunWV's Current Score: 35 of 42.
300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles
Grafton's Nathan Bernarde repeated in this as well, putting away the field in a strong
38.55. This stands as the 2nd Best All-Time Class A-AA State Meet Performance. Ritchie's
Jayden Allender was the only other competitor to make it in under 40 seconds with his
39.48. Teammate Clayton Satterfield was the only other one under 41 seconds.
RunWV's Current Score: 41 of 48.
4x100 Meter Relay
The Bluefield speedsters Elijah Green, Carlos Reed, Bryan Morris, and D.J. Stewart just missed
the State Meet Record with their 43.56 clocking. But that still gives them the 2nd Best All-Time
Class A-AA State Meet Performance. It was a strong 4x100 year as Weir's foursome of
Jonathan Rice, Cole Slates, Donovan Spencer, and Clarence Bennett clocked a 43.72 which
is Tied for 4th Best All-Time Class A-AA Stae Meet Performance. Keyser's quartet of Cody
Eversole, Maleik Garland, Blake Ravenscroft, and Amonte Turner cracked the 44 second barrier
as well with a 43.82, which is the 8th Best All-Time Class A-AA State Meet Performance.
Only Oak Glen was able to go under 45 seconds among the rest of the field.
RunWV's Current Score: 47 of 54.
4x200 Meter Relay
Bluefield's foursome of Elijah Green, Carlos Reed, Bryan Morris, and D.J. Stewart again
just missed out on a State Meet Record with a 1:30.04. This again gives them the 2nd Best
All-Time Class A-AA State Meet Performance. Keyser's group of Deavonta Johnson, Amonte
Turner, Cody Eversole, and Blake Ravenscroft clocked a 1:30.42 to take 2nd and give themselves
the 5th Best All-Time Class A-AA State Meet Performance. No one else was under 1:32.50.
Fairmont Senior, Oak Glen, and Weir were under 1:33.
RunWV's Current Score: 53 of 60.
4x400 Meter Relay
Roane's group of Steven McGinnis II, Thomas Bates, Joseph Hamilton, and Troy Fisher
took the win by nearly two seconds. McGinnis gave them the early lead with a 51.8 leg. Fisher
sealed it with a 50.6 leg. Robert C. Byrd held off East Fairmont for 2nd with both hitting
3:33's.
RunWV's Current Score: 58 of 66.
4x800 Meter Relay
Ritchie's Johnny Hogue staked them an early lead with a 2:01 leg. Webster was running 2nd
at 2:03. Keyser was in 3rd at 2:04. Oak Glen was in 4th at 2:05. They were matched by Bridgeport
in 5th. PikeView was running 6th. After two legs, it was still Ritchie at the front in 4:05.
Keyser was in 2nd at 4:07. Bridgeport was up to 3rd at 4:12. Webster was in 4th at 4:15. Oak
Glen was in 5th at 4:16. PikeView was in 6th at 4:17. On the 3rd leg, Keyser moved to the lead
at 6:15. Ritchie was in 2nd at 6:19. Bridgeport remained in 3rd at 6:23, just ahead of Oak
Glen who also crossed at 6:23. PikeView was up to 5th in 6:24. Berkeley Springs was in 6th at
6:26. On the final leg, Keyser maintained their lead and the win at 8:19.94 for the foursome of
Jordan Lawrence, Timothy Biser, Zack Johnson, and Zack Stickley. Bridgeport got a 1:59
anchor leg from Abe Merinar to move up to 2nd. PikeView got a 2:00 anchor leg from
Jason Weitzel to move up to 3rd. Ritchie just held off Webster for 4th by 0.03. Webster
received a 1:59 anchor leg from Brettley Harris. Oak Glen held onto the 6th spot. The top
6 were under 8:30. 7th was an 8:31. No one else was under 8:53.
RunWV's Current Score: 63 of 72.
Shuttle Hurdle Relay
Fairmont Senior's squad of Dakota Mouser, Chad Heldreth, Benjamine Stewart, and Neil Scherich
dominated the field with a 58.47. No one else was under 60 seconds. Ritchie was the only
other team under 61 seconds. Only Robert C. Byrd was under 62 seconds among the rest of the field.
RunWV's Current Score: 68 of 78.
High Jump
Ritchie's Jayden Allender was the only jumper to top 6'4 in taking the event. Only James
Monroe's Rasheed Lowe was able to clear 6'2 among the rest of the field. Three others
cleared 6'0.
RunWV's Current Score: 74 of 84.
Pole Vault
Braxton's Bryson Dennison continued his late season surge with a 14'0 clearance and the
win. That combined with prior State Meet Performances gives him the 10th Best All-Time Class
A-AA State Meet Performance. Bridgeport's Sam Hadjis picked up a big 2nd place for
his team with a 13'0 vault. He caught me sleeping...I had forgotten that he was a 14'0 vaulter
last year. Ritchie's Austin Garrett cleared 12'6 for 3rd. No one else was higher than 11'6.
Only 6 vaulters cleared the opening height.
RunWV's Current Score: 80 of 90.
Long Jump
Keyser's Amonte Turner and Roane's Troy Fisher were the only jumpers to top 20'0
with Turner winning the event by just 0.75". Turner jumped 20'3.50 to Fisher's 20'2.75. Poca
jumpers took the next three spots. As usual the long jump was a problem for me as two of
my predicted placers didn't make the final.
RunWV's Current Score: 84 of 96.
Shot Put
Poca's Christian Buckley hurled the Shot 59'7.50 to set a new State Meet Record and
win the event by almost 13'. That distance is the 2nd Best All-Time State Meet Performance
and the Best All-Time Class A-AA State Meet Performance. Just a Junior, he has another
year to perhaps knock Olympian Randy Barnes off the top of the list. Fairmont Senior's
Daquan Hilson was the only other thrower to top 46'. Bridgeport picked up a 3rd and
a 5th. That along with the Pole Vault above is what won the team title for them. One of
my predicted placers did not throw.
RunWV's Current Score: 87 of 102.
Discus
Poca's Christian Buckley sailed the discus 174'4 to take the event by nearly 25 feet.
That gives him the 6th Best All-Time State Meet Performance and the 3rd Best All-Time
Class A-AA State Meet Performance. Fairmont Senior's Neil Scherich and Liberty
Raleigh's Christopher Stump topper 145' in taking 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Independence's
Marshall Wood also topped 140' in taking 4th.
RunWV's Current Score: 92 of 108.
The final score of 92 of 108 means that 85.2 % of the people picked to place did indeed place. Congratulations to those that proved me wrong.
Exceeding Predictions
The following athletes exceed the predictions by 3 or more places and
deserve special mention.
Carlos Reed, Bluefield -- 100 M (picked 5th, got 1st)
Donovan Spencer, Weir -- 100 M (not picked, got 3rd)
Fairmont Senior -- 4x200 (picked 6th, got 3rd)
(Joseph Bundy, Benjamin Stewart, Chad Heldreth, Neil Scherich)
Ritchie County -- Shuttles (picked 5th, got 2nd)
(Clayton Satterfield, Austin Garrett, Cruz Hayes, Jayden Allender)
Sam Hadjis, Bridgeport -- Pole Vault (picked 5th, got 2nd)
Amonte Turner, Keyser -- Long Jump (picked 4th, got 1st)
Hank Larch, Poca -- Long Jump (picked 6th, got 3rd)
Hayden Webb, Poca -- Long Jump (not picked, got 4th)
Jacob Griffith, Bridgeport (not picked, got 3rd)
The following teams deserve kudos for scoring seven points or more higher than I predicted.
Class AA Boys Bridgeport +17 Fairmont Senior +13 PikeView +10 Robert C. Byrd + 7