AA boys will see lots of good races
As teams travel to Charleston this weekend for the WV State Track Meet, several questions remain in numerous AA boys events. Unlike, in AAA where two or three athletes appear to be favorites in their respective events, that is certainly not the case for AA. For example, in the 4x400-meter relay, four teams--Ritchie County, Point Pleasant, Magnolia and Philip Barbour have all clocked 3:33 this year. Not far behind is Berkley Springs--they have run 3:35.
In the 3200-meter run, Scott’s Will Shaffer appears to be the favorite. Shaffer is the only competitor in AA to run under ten minutes this year. However, if Shaffer would be slightly off his game, a group of runners would be waiting. Philip Barbour’s Wes Anderson and Matt King, Magnolia’s Alec Hinerman, Wayne’s Forrest Reed and Oak Hill’s Scotty Treadway have all run between 10:10 and 10:15. While he hasn’t run a top ten time in the 3200 this year, two-time cross country state champion Drew Woodford from Grafton should not be counted out in this race.
In the sprint events, Liberty Harrison’s Brandon Franklin will try to defend his high point title from a year ago. Franklin is ranked in the top in the 100, 200 and 400. In the 200-meter dash, Frankin will have to battle the Magnolia tandem of Stephen Rogalski and Brendan Kacor. In the 400-meter dash, Franklin will be challenged by Rogalski, Poca’s Josie Pullen. All three have either run 49 or 50.
Keyser’s Peyton Hartman appears to have a stronghold on the high jump. He has jumped six foot six inches. The next closest height is a slew of guy at six foot two inches.
Winthrop bound and current Ritchie County thrower Mark Britton and Magnolia’s Matt Riggs have both throw the shot put 52 feet this year.
Ritchie County will need all the points they can get--especially head-to-head against Magnolia--as the Blue Eagles enter as the favorite for the team title followed by Keyser and Ritchie County.