Oak Glen track teams win regional

From Review Staff Reports
ELLENBORO, W. Va. — It was a pretty good day for the Oak Glen boys and girls track teams Friday at the WVSSAC Region 1 Track Meet Friday. Between both teams, 30 relay teams or individuals qualified for the state track meet next week in Charleston.

The accomplishments gave both the boys and girls regional crowns. The girls finished first with 125 points, while the boys had 104. Ritchie County was the closest team to the girls with 101 points, with Point Pleasant finishing second on the boys side with 86 points. A total of eight school took part in the event.

As for the individual efforts, Alex Hauser was the top performer for the girls as she set a new school record in the 3200 with a time of 12:19.97. That landed her a first place finish, which went with her third place time of 5:51.27 in the 1600.

“The girls really stepped it up and had a good meet,” girls coach Diane Wells said. “The girls peaked at the right time.”

Oak Glen has qualified more team members in the past, but Wells said aside from last year’s regional crown and the one this season, she isn’t aware of any other team titles.

“I do know this, if you can get out of this regional, you have a shot at placing (at the state meet),” Wells noted.

The top three finishers in each event automatically qualify for the state meet, with the next four best times across the state earning berths as well.

Annah Cashdollar (2:30.77) in the 800, Maranda Woodruff (16-0 3/4) in the long jump, and Katie Woofter (115-0) in the discus also earned first place finishes.

The Bears 1600 relay team of Cashdollar, Woodruff, Kristin Ayers and Hailee Temple also had a first place finish with a time of 4:22.12 as did the 3200 relay squad of Haley Baird, Ayers, Hauser and Cashdollar with a mark of 10:20.19.

Oak Glen also had four second place finshers, headlined by Kylie Emfinger in the shot put. With a throw of 34-5 1/2, Emfinger broke a school record that was in place since 1993.

Temple (59.73) in the 400 and Ayers (2:31.5) in the 800 were other second place finishers along with the 400 relay team (53.21) of Anjelica Trinone, Heather Robb, Temple and Woodruff.

Joining Hauser in third place was Robb (16.81) in the 100 hurdles.

Lindsay Shaffer (12:52.04) in the 3200 and Emfinger (90-4) in the discus were additional state qualifiers. Joining the duo were the 800 relay team (1:54.75) of Cashdollar, Shaffer, Woodruff and Temple and the shuttle relay group (1:12.84) of Elizabeth Mazezka, Lee Ann Haught, Emily McElhaney and Robb.

On the boys side, Josh Szpyrka led the way with a first place finish in the 300 (40.76) . He was also second in the 110 hurdles (15.99).

The other first place finish for the boys was the 800 relay team (1:31.82) of Ethan Smith, Derek Burch, Jacob Porter and Drake Compton.

Joining Szpyrka in second place was Compton (50.61) in the 400, Griff Halstead (2:02.17) in the 800, Kyle Fields (5-10) in the high jump and the 400 relay team (45.24) of Smith, Burch, Porter and Compton.

Compton was also third in the 200 (23.22).

Two relay teams were third place finishers as well with the 1600 relay squad (3:34.76) of Burch, Chance Rowland, Szpyrka and Halstead and the 3200 relay group (8:42.11) Alec James, Cody Miller, Rowland and Halstead moving on to state.

Burch (11.61) in the 100, Halstead (52.0) in the 400, James (2:06.96) in the 800 and the 3200 relay team of James, Miller, Rowland and Halstead were additional qualifiers.

The teams will practice this week before leaving for Charleston Friday morning.