PCHS Track Teams Both Place Second At Richwood Quadrangular

Richwood, West Virginia –
Coach Kay Wiley took the two PCHS track teams across Kinnison Mountain to Richwood on Tuesday, April 17, for the second time this season. With spring break it had been seventeen days since PCHS competed in their first meet at Richwood on March 30. PCHS again competed against Richwood and Midland Trail in this quadrangular meet that also included newcomer Class AA Clay County.

The Richwood boys and girls are both ranked in the top-ten Class A teams in West Virginia by RunWV.com. The Lumberjacks slipped from #6 to #7 for meets held by April 14, and the Lady Lumberjacks dropped from #6 to #10 for the same period. A big part of the success of the Richwood boys this season is due to Lumberjack senior Andrew Shaffer who is currently tied for #2 in the Class A power rankings (26 points) with Dillon Muhly-Alexander of Doddridge County, and only one point behind #1 Daniel Plaugher of Doddridge County with 27 points. Doddridge also has three of the five girls in the girls power rankings.

The Richwood and PCHS girls finished the previous eight-school meet in third and fourth place respectively, which was one-two for Class A teams competing, with Richwood besting PCHS by 63 points, 118-55. This time around Richwood and PCHS finished in first and second place respectively, and the Lady Warriors closed the points gap to 36 points, 118-82. Clay County finished third with 41 points and Midland Trail was fourth with 26 points.

The Lumberjacks and Warriors finished one-two again, and Richwood’s advantage in the first meet was 49 points, 133-84. PCHS also closed the gap this time to 26 points, 119-93. Richwood and PCHS will duke it out at regionals again with Fayetteville closing in on PCHS in the first meet, only two points behind the Warriors, 84-82. Midland Trail accumulated 76.5 points to place third while Clay County took fourth with 25 points.

First place finishers at the quad for the Lady Warriors were: junior Ashley Peacock (shot – 28.00), sophomore Fredricah Gardner (discus – 86.08 – would have been #8 in WV Class A current rankings), and the #9 ranked girls 4×100 relay team (juniors Olivia Workman and Samantha Walton, seniors Erin White and Lindsey Kinder – 57.65). The PCHS girls 4x100m team’s best time is 56.90.

Second place girls were: sophomore Lindsey Myers (200m – 31-91), #10 ranked Gardner (shot – 27.06), senior Gloria Jerome (discus – 61.02), 4x400m (sophomores Rachel McComb, Jessalyn Hamilton, Rebeka Anderson and Myers – 5.24) and the #8 ranked shuttle hurdle relay team (Workman, White, Walton and Kinder – 1.15).

Third place ladies were: Walton (100m – 13.91), junior Emily Gibson (long jump – 12.02), senior Sara Jonese (shot – 26.09 and discus – 59.10.05), PCHS “B” 4x100m team – 61.65, 4x200m (senior Erica Rebinski, Peacock, Myers and Gibson – 2.10.15).

Gold medalists for the Warriors were: senior Jesse Taylor (110 hurdles – 16.80 – would have moved from #8 to #6 in WV) and high jump – 6.00 – would have moved from #6 to #4 in WV), 4x100m (juniors Kyler Doss and Seth Painter, seniors Bill Kelley and Curtis Pyles – 46.68 – would have moved from #7 to #3 in WV), and shuttle hurdles (Pyles, Taylor, Kelley and freshman Stephen Simmons – 1.07 – would have moved team from #8 to #6 in WV).

Silver medalists for the boys were: Doss (200m 24.94), junior Parker White (800m – 2.20), junior Clayton Irvine (1600m – 5.18 and 3200 – 11.17), Kelley (high jump – 5.08 – equals his #6 in WV jump), sophomore Judd Walther (shot – 38.05), sophomore Devin Rose (discus – 118.04 – would have been #7 in WV), 4x200m (Doss, Painter, Kelley and Pyles – 1.41), 4x400m (sophomore Andrew Morrison, junior Georg Faueber, White and junior Levi Hefner – 3:56).

Bronze medalists Warriors were: Doss (100m – 11.40) and Rose (shot – 37.06). Note that all of the top three times in the 100m were better than the current #1 time in WV.

The Lady Warriors were still ranked in three events (#9 – 4x100m, #8 – shuttle hurdles and #10 – shot put) with no new meet results submitted for meets held by April 14. The Warriors were still ranked in four events (#8 – 110m high hurdles, #7 – 4x100m, #8 – shuttle hurdles and #6 two jumpers in high jump) for the same period.

PCHS will travel to Richwood again on Tuesday, April 24, for a 4 PM meet. The 4 PM meet at Elkins High School on Thursday, April 24, is actually being hosted by Tucker County whose girls team is currently ranked #4 in WV. Elkins High School will participate in the meet minus any athletes who qualify for the Gazette Relays this weekend. Don’t expect to see Elkins High’s Cam Viney at the Tucker County meet since he is currently ranked #1 in WV Class AAA with 45 points, which is 25 points more that the two athletes tied for second place with 20 points each. The Coalfield Conference Meet will be held at Richwood on Tuesday, May 1 at 4 PM.

Coach Kay Wiley is proud of her student athletes for the progress they have made while several athletic postions are being filled. The boys track coach position has been posted, so hopefully help in on the way very soon. Kay has high expectations of several athletes, both boys and girls, qualifying for the state track meet this year.