Kirtner Leads Strong Group at Teays Physical Theraphy

Apr 07, 2012

Joe Kirtner finishing 3rd in the 1600m at the 2011 WV State Championship (Lance McDaniel Photo)

Joseph Kirtner, a senior at Winfield High School, won three events at the Teays Physical Therapy Invitational on Thursday at Hurricane High School. He ran 2:01.01 in the 800m, ran a new season best time of 4:22.48 in the 1600m, and anchored the 4 x 800m relay.

In the boys’ team standings, Winfield finished first with 117 points, while Huntington High finished second with 109, and Hurricane finished third with 95.

In the overall girls’ team standings, Buckhannon-Upshur finished first with 146 points, while there was a tight battle for second, between Putnam County rivals, Hurricane and Winfield. Winfield edged Hurricane with a score of 97 to 93.

Kirtner has been one of West Virginia’s top 1600-meter runners for the past five years. In 2008, while at Bridgeport Middle School, he had the best performance for middle school in 4:55.09. During the last two years he has placed at the West Virginia High School AAA Boys State Track & Field Meet while at Winfield High School. Kirtner has consistently dropped his times during that five year span, except for his freshman year while making the transition from Bridgeport to Winfield. This year has already lead to some new PRs in the Mile (4:20.17 at the UK High School Invitational), which ranked No. 58 in the U.S. and No. 2 in WV for indoor track & field for high school boys and outdoors in the 800m (1:59.43 at HCSM First Call Invitational). A two time WV High School State Meet finalist in the 1600m, he currently has the second –fastest 1600-meter time for West Virginia high school boys for all-classes in a time of 4:22.48. At last year’s State Meet, he ran a new PR in the 1600m of 4:19.81, placing third.

This 2012 track season has been very consistent for Kirtner in the 1600m; he has run three races in 4:28.63, 4:23.80, and 4:22.48.

Joseph Kirtner will be chasing Jacob Burcham of Cabell Midland High School for the State Title. “In middle school Burcham was chasing my times, but now I am chasing his.” said Kirtner.

I’m looking forward to see if Kirtner can crack the WV High School State Meet All-Time Top Ten Performance List for the 1600 meter run, but that is a coach being bias.

Joseph Kirtner has signed to run for Morehead State University.

Teays Physical Therapy Meet Highlights:

High School Girls:

800 Meter Run: 2:19.82 - Tori Dent - Hurricane

Discus: 122-11 - Mackenzie Leigh - Buckhannon-Upshur

High Jump: 5-4 - Lauren Cvechko - Buckhannon-Upshur

Long Jump: 18-4 - Emily Godwin - Buckhannon-Upshur

Shot Put: 41-7 - Bethany Drury - St. Albans

High School Boys:

1600 Meter Run: 4:22.48 - Joseph Kirtner – Winfield

Discus: 157-7 - A.J White – Hurricane

(Note: All the above performances met the national silver standard.)