Oak Glen track sending large contingent to state meet
By JAKE GLAVIES, jglavies@reviewonline.comArticle Photos
There’s also another measurable to be had — wins. And, if that’s the criteria for judging success, the Oak Glen track teams have the market cornered.
Competing at the WVSSAC Region I Track Meet Friday, 27 individuals or relay teams qualified in 27 different events, for the West Virginia state meet to be held Friday and Saturday, in Charleston.
The top three finishers in each track event and top four in each field event moved on to the state meet, with the top four marks across the region — regardless of place finish — receiving berths as well.
This isn’t the Golden Bears’ first regional crown, as both teams earned a win at the meet last season as well.
According to girl’s coach Diane Wells, her squad’s 125-point top finish was the result of it knowing what it needed to do, then executing.
“We knew if things come together right, our region was pretty tight going in,” Wells said before heaping a bit of praise on her team. “Everybody performed to their capability.
For the girls, Alex Hauser will headline a group of 16 runners, throwers and jumpers in the Bears’ quest for a state title.
Hauser took the 3200 with a school record time 12:19.97 and placed third in the 1600 (5:51.27).
Wells feels that Hauser has had a strong season and doesn’t see her letting up at the state meet.
“Alex Hauser has had a really good year all around,” Wells said. “She brought her 3200 time down (and) she’s been very competitive in the 1600.”
Three other individuals also took home top finishes, including: Annah Cashdollar in the 800 (2:30.77), Maranda Woodruff in the long jump (16-0) and Katie Woofter in the discus (115-0).
The 1600 and 3200 relay teams also placed first.
In addition to Hauser, Kylie Emfinger will appear in a pair of events, after placing second in the shot put with a toss of 34-5 1/2 and eighth in the discus with a school record throw of 90-04.
Of the contingent heading to Charleston, 14 are making at least their second trip to the state meet — Haley Baird and Lindsey Shaffer will make their first appearances at Laidley Field.
With all the numbers lining up just right for the Lady Bears, Wells expects a strong showing this weekend, but knows her team will have some stiff competition.
“We always go up against Winfield, who’s a really good team,” she said. “Other than that we’ll be strong with the other teams. I think the girls have a real good chance of doing well.”
The boy’s side will arrive in Charleston with a group of 13 athletes plus an alternate.
With the way his team performed at the regional meet — taking first place with 104 points — coach Brian Patterson has just has one thing to say, “I don’t think any kid left anything there.”
Although he might have foreseen such a strong overall finish, the coach knew that some of his top finishers would find themselves at the state meet.
“I think everybody that qualified, I expected at the beginning of the year to be there,” he said.
There were a few surprises though, specifically Nicco Mills’ fourth place finish in the shot put (42-3 1/2) and Kyle Fields second place leap in the high jump (5-10).
But, it will take more than individual performances to help Oak Glen bring home a state title, and Patterson hopes that his squad’s team mentality will carry over from regionals and into the final meet of the year.
“(It was a) total team effort. You can’t just get your scoring from one person; it’s got to come from everyone,” he said.
A large source of the Bears came from the relays, as they qualified in all five events.
“It’s just four kids working together. It’s what we’ve been doing all year,” Patterson said.
Individually, Josh Szpyrka will bring his first place finish in the 300 (40.76) and his second place mark in the 110 hurdles (15.99) into the University of Charleston Stadium. Matt Ritchie will also compete in a pair of events after finishing second in the long jump (20-10 1/2) and fourth in the high jump (5-10).
With nine Bears making a return trip to the meet, Patterson is expecting big things for the entire team.
“I think having a really good couple days and maybe some (other) teams... not having such good days, we could finish anywhere from first to fourth,” he said.
The coach feels that his team’s harshest competition will come from Weir, Winfield and Point Pleasant.
