As we begin the process of posting our annual predictions, we just wanted to remind everyone to take them as just that... predictions. We've did our best to study the information we have and posted our best guesses. We are never going to get them all right and if we did, there wouldn't be much point in going to the state meet to watch it. We did manage to pick the correct 4 champions last year and usually do pretty well, but there are always some events that wind up topsy turvey. If you don't like our predictions, use it as motivation and prove us wrong. We love to see an upset and the underdog win (almost as much as we like being right)!
Our prediction process involves hours of arguements between the editors over places and picks. It usually starts with a look at "The Database" in which we keep the top 5 times/marks for every athlete that meets a certain cutoff time. We then eliminate anyone who didn't make it out of regionals and sort it by the best mark. Comparison of marks comes next including when the best marks were acheived, the number of marks at a certain level, the trend over the past few weeks and even where the marks were acheived. We'll also look at head to head competiton, how states went for those competitors last year and potential for popping off a surprise time. With the relays, we try to figure out what a fully loaded relay could do in addition to what they have actually acheived throughout the season. That usually leads to the editors beating each other up over differences until the negotiated result is printed on RunWV (but don't think that the one who finally conceeded the pick is not ready to throw it in the other one's face when he turned out to be right!)
With those warnings, we hope your enjoy our annual picks. It looks like this will be a fierce down to the wire battle in many classes with several potential winners.
It is time once again for RunWV's annual salute to those rare atheles attempting to place in the same individual event at the state meet for the fourth year in a row. This year the select group numbers five athletes. Of the nearly 5,000 athletes that compete in West Virginia High School Track and Field, these are the 1 in a thousand athletes that every coach wishes they had. Each year the have faced not only the competition, but also injury and burnout. Take a moment and watch them in their events and even if they don't win this year, they are truly champions. Here they are in alphabetical order:
Carrie Barrick, Keyser - 400 Meters
Carrie has placed in the 400 meters each of the last four years and is the only AAA Athlete going for the 4-peat this year. She placed 3rd as a freshman in 1999 for her top placing and also has two 4th place finishes and a state meet PR of 59.03. She is also a key member of Keyser's relay teams and an outstanding 200 meter runner.
Alicia Dickson, St. Marys - Shot Put
The lone member of this fine group to ever claim an individual title at the state track meet, Alicia won the title her
freshman year. She has also placed 2nd and 5th and has a top state meet throw of 36'0 3/4.
Sherri Flohr, Grafton - 800, 1600 Meters
Sherri was named to RunWV's All Time Top Ten AA-A Female Track and Field athletes this past winter. She is going for an
eight-peat since she will be doing it in two events. In these two events, Sherri has claimed 4 2nds, a 3rd and a 5th. Her
state meet final PR's for the events are 2:20.03 for the 800 and 5:14.06 in the 1600. She has also been a member of Grafton's 4x800 and 4x400 relay teams that have performed very well at the state meet as well as being among the best 3200
meter runners over the last two years.
Heather McDaniel, Grafton - 3200 Meters
Heather is going for her 4th two mile medal. Fighting through a late season injury, she managed to hang onto 6th place
in last year's state meet. Her top finish was 2nd and she also has a 4th place to her credit. She has also placed in 1600
and been a member of Grafton's state ranked relay teams.
Theresa Melko, Bridgeport - Discus
Theresa has notched two 3rd's and a 2nd in the discus with a top throw of 118'7 at the state meet. She is among the most
versatile athletes in the state and can run anywere from 400 - 3200 competitely and throw the shot as well.
The following athletes will be attempting to win an event for the third year in a row
Matt Morris, Woodrow Wilson - Discus
The following athletes will be attempting to defend their title from the previous year.
AA-A Girls
Jennifer Povick, Sissonville - 200, 400
Ali Moore, Bridgeport - 100H
Candice Lilly, Summers - 300H
Nicole White, Doddridge - Pole Vault
Michele McGinnis, Winfield - Shot Put
AAA Girls
Ashley Dunn, Parkersburg South - Pole Vault
AA-A Boys
Jarod Pittman, Mount Hope - 400
Josh Sheets, Doddridge - 1600, 3200
Shane Bosley, Berkeley Springs - 300H
Brad Wilt, Doddridge - Shot Put
AAA Boys
Ryan Rader, Parkersburg - Pole Vault
Scott Mayle, Philip Barbour - Long Jump
R.J. Coleman, Robert C. Byrd - Shot Put
Matt Morris, Woodrow Wilson - Discus
Additionally, the following athletes have previously won titles at the state level and will be attempting to do so again.
Ben Lukowski, St. Albans - 3200 (2000)
Alicia Dickson, St. Marys - Shot Put (1999)
If we missed anyone, please let us know.