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W.Va. Class A thinclads prepared for today’s state tourney

PARKERSBURG – Doak Markley has been around track for a long time and the veteran Williamstown boys head coach is hoping his thinclads can continue their form when the West Virginia state track meet gets underway at 2 p.m. today at the University of Charleston’s Laidley Field.

The Yellowjackets have done exactly what he wanted in winning both the Little Kanawha Conference championship and the regional crown. Now, WHS is out to capture its first Class A boys state track title since 2010 and finally put an end to Doddridge County’s five-year reign.

While nothing is ever guaranteed during the final two days of the season, things are looking more than solid for the Williamstown boys, who feature defending 110 hurdles champion Tim Wickham.

“Down there, if you can pick up some fourth, fifth and sixth places that’s huge,” admitted Markley. “It’s only a few points, but it takes away from other people. Our throwers (Ben Harris, Trevor Hoosier, Riley Allen) are pretty strong. The (Nathan) Stout kid from Gilmer (defending shot and discus champion) is kind of out there, but there is definitely some points we can get in several places.

“Chase Uppole in the 800 and 400, he’s just been coming along really nicely and he kind of peaked last year at state and we are hoping for some good places out of him. But again, I just follow the template that Jack Jones laid down and we load up on relays. We need our 4×800 to step up and get some points for us there and (assistant) Greg Gant does a super job with those relay exchanges.”

Williamstown is projected to place in every relay and is favored by runwv.com to capture the shuttles. Coach Markley also is expecting solid efforts from pole vaulters Austin Raines and Dakota Hammer.

“We’re healthy and one of the best things is a majority of them have been down to Charleston before so it’s not going to be star struck,” Markley added. “Everyone is keying for this and it is whoever performs the best.

“All year long we’ve talked about the LKC, the regional and the state and we’ve put ourselves in a good position and it’s in their hands now.”

Anthony Johnson of St. Marys has dominated all spring in the 100, 200 and both hurdles events. He’s expected to be the high-point champion with his toughest competition in the sprints coming from fellow LKC speedster Freddy Canary of South Harrison. Johnson is the defending 300 hurdles champ.

The only other reigning state champion from the area is Wirt County senior Logan Kerby. The Marshall University recruit is out to defend his 800 crown and should be in the mix for the 1600 title. He also runs the anchor leg on the Tigers’ top-ranked 4×800 relay.

St. Marys freshman Zac Long and Magnolia sophomore Brooks Parsons had the top two regional times in the 400.

Although numerous boys are expected to produce from the Mid-Ohio Valley at the two-day state meet, the same can be said for the girls.

Magnolia, which three-peated as Class AA/A state champions in 1995-96-97, never has won a Class A girls title. The state track meet went to three classifications in 2003 and the Blue Eagles should be fighting for the top spot along with Wheeling Central and Williamstown.

Defending state champions from the area for the girls are Magnolia’s Bri Ritz in the 800, teammate Jordan Delaney in the 1600 and Williamstown pole vaulter Ellie Gardner.

Gardner (200) and Yellowjacket teammate Lexie Zide (100) along with Parkersburg Catholic’s Alexis Saunders (200) will try and make some noise in the sprint events.

While Ritz is expected to defend her crown in the 800, Delaney and Wirt County’s Haley Moore also will be in the mix. Aside from Delaney being favored to win the mile, Tiger Mary Kerby has the best local seed time for state in the 1600 and was just behind Bulldog Desirae Schoonover in the 3200.

Rosa Plaugher of DCHS, Tyler Consolidated’s Katelyn Gogan and Bulldog Abby Charles are the best local bets to place in the hurdles events.

Both Magnolia’s Bailey Estep and Gardner are expected to stand atop the podium in the high jump and pole vault, respectively. Also of note, Bulldog Mista Smarr and Yellowjacket Carson Hesson could make a run in the high jump while the same holds true in the pole vault for Bulldogs Chelsey Randolph and Savanah Ferguson as well as Shaina Baker of St. Marys and Crusaderette Maggie Walters.

Although Baker, Saunders and McKenzie Newton of Doddridge County are favored to score in the long jump, Estep is expected to win after having the top regional effort and also owning the best Class A mark.

The shot put and discus events for the girls are slated for today and the Mid-Ohio Valley is loaded with talent and it’s a near certainty someone from the area will win.

In the shot, Gilmer County’s Sada Wright, Williamstown’s Beth Arnold and St. Marys teammates Whitney Jemison and Laura Taylor are primed and ready. Jemison and Taylor finished second and third, respectively, a year ago in the shot put.

For the discus, Williamstown’s Melissa Cieslewski had the top regional heave with a 114 foot, 5 inch effort, but Wright went 114-2 at regional. Both Taylor and Jemison should factor in the discus and the same can be said for Yellowjacket Rylee Cunningham and Bulldog Gabby Glaspell.

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