Close calls in store at state track tournament

Bridgeport’s boys are the defending Class AA champions, while the Doddridge County boys are in search of their fifth straight Class A title. Both were in down-to-the-wire battles in their respective regions. Both will likely find themselves in similar situations in Charleston.

Bridgeport trailed Keyser by one point going into the 4x400 at the regional, but won that race, to finish with 151 points to Keyser’s 146. In Class AA Region I, Roane County slipped past Ritchie County, 111-95.

All four are expected to be in the hunt for the 2015 team title along with Bluefield.

“It looks like it is going to be just like last year,” said Bridgeport boys coach Jon Griffith, in reference to the Indians scoring 61 points in 2014 to edge Ritchie (54), Roane (49) and Keyser (47). “There are a lot of good teams and we certainly think we are one of them. We have to find away to place in as many events as we can, just like we always do.”

The Indians have at least one athlete competing in 17 of the 18 events including all five relays. Bridgeport will look to pick up a good share of its points in distance events with the likes of Jimmy Lacaria (1,600, 3,200, 4x800), Michael Duez (800, 4x400, 4x800), Arryn Tennant (3,200, 4x800) and Timmy Kinney (4x400, 4x800).

Jacob Griffith is fresh off regional championships in the shot and discus and figures to be amongst the placers in both events in Charleston despite Poca’s Christian Buckley being the overwhelming favorite to win both.

Also for the Indians, Dylan Tonkery, Justin Massie, J.T. Harris and John Wilfong will compete in the max four events allowed per individual.

Robert C. Byrd’s boys appear to have their best shot at winning a state title in a track event since 2006 when Dwight Holden won the 110 hurdles and Travis Coleman won the shot put.

This year’s squad for the Eagles is led by senior standouts Corey Carvelli and Austen Zorick, both of whom will compete in four events — the question will be where as either could get shuffled out of an open event to load up a relay team.

Also for the Eagles, Joe Simons will compete in four events, while Cody Young, Jacob George and Dante Speas qualified for three out of regionals.

Other local boys that are expected to contend in the AA field include Lincoln’s Cordell Nix (400), Braxton County’s Bryson Dennison (pole vault) and Webster County’s distance duo of Austin Hayes and Brettley Harris.

Doddridge County lost to Buffalo by three points in the Class A Region IV meet. The two are expected to contend for the state title along with Williamstown.

“The past couple of years we’ve ended up winning on Saturday by a fairly comfortable margin,” Doddridge County boys coach Bobby Burnside said. “I don’t think that’s going to happen this year. Fortunately for us, we spent part of the late part of the season without a couple of guys we count on. A couple are back now and we are getting to be where we need to be.

Leading the way for the Bulldogs will be the Class A defending state champion in the two-mile, Hunter Riffle, the defending champ in the pole vault, Dyllon Hayes, sprinters Brandon Smith and Dillon Underwood along with a full contingent of relays.

The South Harrison boys likely don’t have the overall depth to compete for the team title, but the Hawks with their nine-man roster can certainly make things interesting. Fresh off their Class A Region II team title, the Hawks will be led by Freddy Canary and Garrett Wilkins, each having won all their events at the regional. Austin Barker and Chase Jenkins will also be competing in four events in Charleston.

Notre Dame’s Phil Chafin is expected to place in the 100 and 200, and Chase Alkire will be a factor in the 300 hurdles.

Gilmer County’s Nathan Stout is almost as big a favorite to sweep the throws in Class A as Buckley is in AAA.

Locally, Buckhannon-Upshur has the potential to have the most success in the AAA field. Marcus Lofton, Brandon Mallett and Blake Wolverton will all be in four events for the Buccaneers.

The defending state champion Bridgeport girls appear to have gotten past a late-season injury bug. Although still not 100 percent healthy, the Indians recovered enough to win AA Region II by 63 points.

Kayla Haywood won the regional titles in the 100, 200 and long jump — three events she is the defending state champion in. The only person who has beaten her in the sprints is teammate McKenna Smith, the defending state champion in the 400. Haywood and Smith are expected to go 1-2 in the 100 and 200 once again in Charleston. Smith is the favorite to repeat in the 400. Haywood is once again expected to be one of the frontrunners in the long jump. Both will be a factor in relays as well as will Jenna Alonge who is the defending state champion in the 300 hurdles.

Also for the Indians, the trio of Hannah McCall, Kiana Swann and Sarah Randolph could easily go 1-2-3 in the discus.

Speaking of going 1-2-3, Liberty’s Ariel Allen, Hannah Phillips and Bethany Stern have done just that in their last three meets — county championship, Big 10 Championship and Region II. They could easily make it four in a row in Charleston. The Mountaineers’ Josie Rhoades in the open sprints and the relays could also make some noise this weekend.

Philip Barbour freshman Kasey Neville will be in contention to win the AA title in the shot put, as will Bridgeport’s Swann.

Robert C. Byrd could also have an eventful trip to Laidley Field with Avery Thrush (400, 800, relays) leading the way.

North Marion may be the team with the best shot at dethroning the Indians in the team title. The Huskies even have a recent victory against Bridgeport, winning the Big 10 (although the Indians were without Smith and Haywood and Alonge were limited in that meet). Leading the way for North Marion is Marlee Angelucci (100, relays), Taylor Trowbridge (distance), Madison Haught (hurdles, relays), Mckenzi Fisher (hurdles, relays) and the defendin state champ in the pole vault, Skylah Haught.

In AAA girls, B-U’s Megan Wilfong will be a frontrunner in the discus and shotput, while Lewis County’s Emily Louk will be a contender in all four of the distance events.

In Class A girls, Rosa Plaugher will look to keep Doddridge County’s dominance in the hurdles at the state meet going, while Abby Charles (400, 800), Chelsey Randolph (pole vault) and Paige Phillips are expected to contend for titles.

South Harrison’s Kacey Evans will compete in four events in Charleston, while teammates Renee Jenkins and Alex Jenkins will each be in three.

Tucker County is gunning for the girls team title and will 14 different girls competing in multiple events to help its cause. Aiyana Kachmarek is the defending state champion in the shot and discus. The Mountain Lions also have the defending state champion shuttles team. Other Tucker County girls expected to have a strong showing include Kelsey Kyle (400), Sydney Moore (long jump), Elizabeth Nichols (300 hurdles), and Olivia Miller (300 hurdles, high jump).