RunWV Predictions
A-AA Girls
A-AA Girls Individual Predictions
100 M 1. Pam Nettles Richwood
2. Kristin Roman Wheeling Central
3. Andrea Perry Valley Fayette
4. Mandy Weese Tyler
5. Sarah Keller Webster
6. Maura Nelan Liberty Harrison
State record holder Nettles battled through an injury at
regionals to get to states and if the foot holds up, she
reclaim her 100M title (lost it to Chic last year). Roman
and Perry are nearly even and either could claim the
second spot. Roman got the nod due to better performance
in last years event (4th). Weese and Keller are also fairly
even with Weese being picked due to better her superior
regional showing. Nelan has been running well of late but
will have to hold off at least four other runners who
could take the last spot (and higher if Weese and Keller
aren't having a top notch day).
200M 1. Pam Nettles Richwood
2. Andrea Perry Valley Fayette
3. Kristin Roman Wheeling Central
4. Sarah Keller Webster
5. Mandy Weese Tyler
6. Tonya Johnson Winfield
Two time defending champion Nettles will have her hands
full with Andrea Perry (2nd last year) who has beaten her
head-to-head this year. Nettles has a strong finish and
should have just enough in her tank to clip Perry. Roman,
Keller and Weese should come in close to each other with
Roman's superior speed giving her and edge. Johnson will
have to fight off Hagerty and Sindledecker if she wants
to stay in the scoring column. (Johnson was given the edge
due to slightly better overall times)
400M 1. Candice Lilly Summers
2. Kelley Moran Doddridge
3. Chayna Johnson Doddridge
4. Caroline Palmer Wheeling Central
5. Virginia Waugh Midland Trail
6. Tonya Johnson Winfield
Freshman Lilly hasn't ran the race often, but she has not
been beaten. She'll need to avoid the jitters that come to
some runners at their first states facing top notch competition
for the first time because Moran and Johnson are more than
capable of beating her. Moran typically runs her best at
big meets and Johnson has the fastest time in the state this
year and placed third in the state last year. Any of the
three could win. Palmer has come on strong and has shown
steady improvement throughout May. Waugh is a strong veteran
(4th last year) that has the capability of finishing higher.
Johnson will again have to run a great race to keep her place
with Dissen, Giardina, Crist and Hescht the most likely to take her
spot.
800M 1. Jessica Taylor Fayetteville
2. Sherri Flohr Grafton
3. Kelley Moran Doddridge
4. Valerie Crist Midland Trail
5. Sarah Peard Magnolia
6. Martha Drinkard Scott
Five of these runners placed in this event last year with
Peard being the newcomer. Taylor is still the favorite in this
event but Flohr has run similar times and seems to be getting
stronger as the season progresses. Flohr also has excellent
400 speed. Still, she has never gone where Taylor has (sub 2:20)
Taylor knows how to win. Moran has a shot at running with the
two leaders and should solidly hold third. Crist took 3rd last
year and is strong once again. Peard has the 5th best time in
the state this year and comes through in the big meets. Drinkard
Drinkard has only run the 14th fastest of all the qualifiers but
that is where she was last year when she popped off a 2:25 and took
fourth. If she can't do it again, a host of others will be jockeying
for her spot including freshmen Docherty and Smith and veterans
Tusing, Spangler and Flournoy.
1600M 1. Jessica Taylor Fayetteville
2. Sherri Flohr Grafton
3. Heather McDaniel Grafton
4. Sarah Peard Magnolia
5. Missy Spangler Ritchie
6. Erin Boggs Braxton
Taylor once again has a huge battle on her hands with Flohr. The
two dueled at the gazettes with Taylor winning in what would be a
state record time. She'll have to go there again if she wants to
beat Flohr. McDaniel (5th last year) and Peard (4th last year) should
battle for the next spot with McDaniel posting the better time of
the two this year. Spangler and Boggs should finish out the order
with Spangler's speed helping her edge Boggs. Either could finish
higher. Chambers, Holtgrewe and once again a hard to figure Drinkard
could also score points.
3200M 1. Jessica Taylor Fayetteville
2. Sherri Flohr Grafton
3. Heather McDaniel Grafton
4. Missy Spangler Ritchie
5. Carrie Bierkamp Moorefield
6. Erin Boggs Braxton
Taylor should have a little easier time in this event but Flohr may
try to go with her and press her in this event as well. McDaniel has
beaten Flohr every time this year but Flohr has always been right off
her shoulder and likely has the speed to finally pass her teammate.
Spangler and Bierkamp have the only two other times under 12:00 this
year with the experienced Spangler getting the edge. Boggs also has
a good shot at going under 12:00 and should take the final place. If
any fall, Holtgrewe, Robinson and the ever present Drinkard will vie
for those spots.
110H 1. Hope Bishopriggs Weir
2. Heidi Mercer Tyler
3. Janelle King Williamstown
4. Andrea Perry Valley Fayette
5. Lori Coffman Doddridge
6. Ginny Keener Grafton
Bishopriggs has topped defending champion Mercer in thier last two
meetings including regionals. Mercer is more consistent and can
be counted on to run strong. After that, things get very close.
None of the runners (top two included) ran well at regionals and
managed to set themselves apart. King placed last year and is a
consistent runner so she was given the nod at third. Perry's speed
makes her a threat to run with the two leaders but the hurdles are
not her top event and she has run inconsistently this year. Coffman
could go as high as third but would need to run a great race to do
so. Keener has been improving and could move up as well, but has
only one time that is competitive with the others. If anyone stumbles
or falls, Maple and Paul appear to be the most likely to jump in.
300H 1. Emily Smith Magnolia
2. Janelle King Williamstown
3. Chayna Johnson Doddridge
4. Virginia Waugh Midland Trail
5. Ginny Keener Grafton
6. Jordan Walker Doddridge
Smith (2nd last year) has the states top 3 times this year and seems
to be the clear favorite in this event. King is the best pure hurdler
of the remaining runners and will have had more rest than some of the
other top contenders. Johnson has the ability to outrun everyone but
Smith but will be coming off a hard 400 meters only an hour before. The
same goes for Waugh (5th last year). If they haven't recovered, Keener
can move up and has been steadily improving throughout May. Walker has
the ability to go as high as second (as proved by her 2nd best time in
the state this year) but is inconsistent and had the slowest regional
mark of the top competitors. If she is on, she will move up easily.
If exhaustion or misfortune occurs, Jackie Smith will score and may
score anyway.
4x100 1. Wheeling Central
2. Tyler
3. Doddridge
4. Bridgeport
5. Winfield
6. Ritchie
Central is the clear favorite with a time nearly 1 second better than
the closest competitor and the only two times under 52. Tyler ran
very well at regional and has gained an edge on the rest of the pack.
Doddridge has run the most consistently good times of the remaining
teams but will have to hold off strong challenges from Bridgeport and
Winfield. Ritchie has the next best overall time and regional time from
the remaining teams but will need to run well to beat Weir and Poca.
4x200 1. Wheeling Central
2. Tyler
3. Doddridge
4. Weir
5. Winfield
6. Poca
The Region I meet was the place to be as the top 3 teams placed the three
best times in the state this year. Central has been running there all
season but Tyler finally loaded up their relay and proved they could push
Central. Doddridge and Weir will vie for the next spot with Weir having
the better time but Doddridge has the ability to load up a little more for
states and could push the front two. Winfield clearly is the next strongest
contender and Poca should squeeze in but not without a challenge from half
of the remaining field.
4x400 1. Doddridge
2. Midland Trail
3. Grafton
4. Weir
5. Magnolia
6. East Hardy
This took a while to sort out as we tried to guess who would run on
these teams at state. Doddridge has the best time in the state this
year and has 3 of 4 runners back from the record setting team of last
season so it was hard to go against them. Midland Trail has a good
core of middle distance runners as well and should run well. Grafton
has a good core of distance runners mixed in with a few good
400 runners that should keep them in contention. Weir has a mixed group
as well and has the benefit of not having some of their top runners
competing in a grueling 800M just over an hour before. The other
five teams must all deal with 1 or more of their runners expending a
great deal of energy in the two lap event. Magnolia has the second
best time in the state this year and is also strong. Finally, East
Hardy picked the right time to come together at regionals and is currently
5 seconds better than any remaining team. If we guessed personnel wrong
or anyone falters, Williamstown, Bridgeport, Charleston Catholic and Summers
have the ability to make a run at them.
4x800 1. Grafton
2. Midland Trail
3. Magnolia
4. Doddridge
5. Charleston Catholic
6. Williamstown
Another event that took a while to sort out due to questions about how
the teams might load their relays. At least two of the top contenders
may replace a faster runner and try to maximize points elsewhere. Grafton
looks the strongest and has 3 girls who have gone under 2:29 in the open.
Midland Trail nearly set the record in this event last year and has at
least the top 3 runners back this year. Magnolia also has several runners
capable of 2:30 or better and could also break 10:00. Doddridge rounds out
this top group with the third best time in the state this year and a very
solid foursome. Charleston Catholic should be able to put together a team
that can possibly break the 10:20 mark as should Williamstown. Bridgeport
Tyler and Berkeley Springs could jump in if Williamstown or Catholic don't
manage to improve their times as much as predicted.
Shuttle 1. Weir
2. Doddridge
3. Grafton
4. Bridgeport
5. Williamstown
6. Braxton
Defending champion and state record holder Weir looks good to take the
top spot again with the best time in the state this year. Doddridge
is next in line and has a group that if runs well, could challenge Weir.
Grafton and Bridgeport should take the next two spots with Grafton getting
the edge by virtue of their regional victory. Williamstown has a great
closer in King and gets the nod at 5th with a steady Braxton team rounding
out the list. Magnolia appears to be the only other team with the credentials
to score and could easily go fourth.
H Jump 1. Mary Greene Richwood
2. Heidi Mercer Tyler
3. Crystal O'Dell Valley Fayette
4. Lori Trent Doddridge
5. Ginny Keener Grafton
T6.Blaine Spencer Doddridge
T6.Tiffany Sutton Doddridge
Last years three top jumpers are back including defending champion and
state record holder Greene and two time champion Mercer. Each have
cleared 5'4 this year but only Mercer has done it twice. It's hard to
pick against record holder Greene for first. The fact that Mercer has
more 5'2 or better jumps than O'Dell makes her a clear choice for 2nd.
O'Dell could win but looks like a third. If the top 3 don't manage to
get higher than 5'2, the fall into the clutches of the rest of the field.
Five other jumpers could go at least 5'2. Trent and Keener seem to have
more potential to get a higher mark and are picked 4th and 5th (with Trent
having more jumps over 5'0). Brandy Sypolt could place but has only one
jump of over 5 feet so she was eliminated. We debated Spencer and Sutton
until we had gone past the half hour mark on the event. Sutton has more
jumps over 5 foot than anyone in the field but Mercer and Greene. Spencer
is more consistent and won the region that included not only Sutton but
Keener, Trent and Sypolt as well. Since we couldn't come to a consensus
and it didn't matter in the team scores (both are on the same team), we
picked our first tie ever and moved on already having spent a good half
hour on this event alone. Sadly, it doesn't really end their either. 3
other girls have gotten 5'0 this year and 4'10 sometimes places in this
event.
L Jump 1. Andrea Perry Valley Fayette
2. Pam Nettles Richwood
3. Mary Greene Richwood
4. Nicole Pounds Gilmer
5. Brittany Hagerty Tyler
6. Amanda Snyder Charleston Catholic
Perry has the only three jumps of over 17' in this event including one
of 18' (which would exceed the state record). Nettles beat Perry last
year and came with a 1/2" of the state record (but still had to settle
for second place). Greene also placed last year and has great spring
in her legs (see high jump). Pounds is the only other jumper to have
exceeded 16' this year (twice) and could beat Greene. Haggerty had an
excellent regional jump and is more consistent than Snyder (although
Snyder has the best single jump of the two). Ayers, England, Sanders
and Shiflett could slip in and grab a place as well.
P Vault 1. Jennifer Jenkins Winfield
2. Lisa Davis Doddridge
3. Bethany Sitachitta Williamstown
4. Karen Kellar Doddridge
5. Nicole Pounds Gilmer
6. Erin Nuhfer Williamstown
Last year's runner up Jenkins has emerged as the favorite in this
group and has the highest ever class AA jump of 10'3. Defending
champion Davis has also cleared 10' and could win it again. Sitachitta
(Tied for third last year) is the only other vaulter to have gone over
9'. Kellar (6th last year) is next in line and is the only remaining
vaulter to clear more than 8'6 twice. Pounds from Gilmer has gotten
9' and has cleared 8'6 as well. Nuhfer has been jumping well for the
last month and gets the nod over Canfield. Young (Tied for third
last year) and White (cleared 9' at region but no other jumps over 7'6)
could also place in an event that continues to reach new heights.
Discus 1. Lucinda Huffman Ritchie
2. Theresa Melko Bridgeport
3. Vicki Swords Magnolia
4. LeAnn Lemon Williamstown
5. Allison Ritz Liberty Harrison
6. Sarah Bullough Bridgeport
A major concern in this event is that most of the top throwers best
marks came in April. Huffman is the only thrower to have gone over
120' (4 times) and will win if she has her form down and improve on
last years 5th place finish. Melko has 3 throws over 117' which is
3' better than the next competitor. She too should improve on her
finish from a year ago (3rd). Defending champion Vicki Swords has
3 throws over 110' and could win if the others slip up. Lemon has
two throws over 110' and looks strong enough to take 4th. Ritz and
Bullough round out the top 6 with Ritz being more consistent than
Bullough (who has the better top mark this year). Tant of Winfield
logged a nice regional throw could slip in and Allison placed 4th
last year so the ability is there. This event always produces some
upsets and this year will likely be no different.
Shot 1. LeAnn Lemon Williamstown
2. Michelle McGinnis Winfield
3. Lucinda Huffman Ritchie
4. Cassandra Barker Buffalo
5. Samantha Cathell Grafton
6. Alicia Vucelick Cameron
Lemon (2nd last year) has a one heave of 41' this year that would
put her in a class by herself. Her next best throw is about 3' shorter
and puts Mcginnis within reach of her. McGinnis has gone over 38'
3 times and had her best toss come at regionals. Huffman (5th last
year) and Barked should be in a close battle for 3rd with Huffman's
throws so far this year being slightly better. Cathell, Vucelick and
Hill all have throws over 36' this year with Cathell logging more throws
over 35' and Vucelick holding a slight edge over Hill. Defending
champion Alicia Dickson has only recently started throwing and may have
started too late to score in this meet. If the throws are as bad as
those in last years meet, the thing is wide open and a handful of others
could find themselves with a medal as well.
High Point Predicitons
1. Jessica Taylor Fayetteville 30
T2.Pam Nettles Richwood 28
T2.Andrea Perry Valley Fayette 28
4. Sherri Flohr Grafton 25.5
5. Heidi Mercer Tyler 20