The following article was provided to us by Jim Butta.
By DAVE POE
Sports Editor
WILLIAMSTOWN - It goes without saying that the loss of former Yellowjacket state champion Ryan Jobes has had a dramatic effect on this small community nestled along the Ohio River. So much so that when it came time to develop Williamstown's spring track schedule, it was decided by the administration, coaches and athletes at the school to rename the annual Easter Special Invitational track meet in Jobes' honor.
"It's the right thing to do," Williamstown boys track coach Doak Markley said. "Ryan was, and still is, a very big part of our program. He helped this team win two state titles and he was a leader on the track and in the classroom."
To honor their fallen comrade, members of the track team will hold a memorial lap in memory of Jobes during the scheduled break at Saturday's meet, which is shceduled to get under way at 10 a.m. Following the finals in the 400 meter dash - the race for which Jobes was most noted - anyone in attendance on Saturday is invited to participate in the memorial lap. At the conclusion of the lap, a presentation will be made by University of Richmond head men's track coach Steve Taylor to the Ryan Jobes Scholarship Fund, which is being managed by the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation.
Shirts will be on sale during the day for $12 as well as candles and bracelets bearing the words, 'Running with Ryan'. All proceeds will go to the scholarship fund. "Ryan meant a lot to this community and this is just a small way of saying how much we will miss him," Williamstown athletics director Frank Marcinko said.
Winfield, which won both the boys and girls championships at last year's Easter Classic, will not be returning. That means a pair of new champions will be crowned when the meet concludes Saturday afternoon. Linsly, which finished second in the boys competition a year ago, will return along with Magnolia and Ritchie County, the third place finishers in the girls and boys divisions, respectively. Others who partcicipated last year and will be back are Wheeling Central, St. Marys, Ravenswood, Waterford, Gilmer County and Morgan. New participants include Reedsville Eastern, George Washington, Tyler Consolidated and University.
"The team races appear to be wide open," Williamstown girls head coach Jim Butta said. "Ritchie, Magnolia, St. Marys and GW all have strong girls' teams and Ritchie and Ravenswood are picked to be at the top of the Class AA division." Plus, host Williamstown's boys team is the preseason favorite to win the state Class A title in May. The Yellowjacket boys will depend on field events and relays in their attempt to return the first place trophy to the host school. Ryan Flowers and Benji Powers are among the top returning pole vaulters returning and senior Chris Green ranks above the rest in the long jump. The maroon and gold come into the meet with the top rated 4 by 200 and shuttle hurdle relays and are ranked behind only St. Marys in the 4 by 400. Other local boys to keep an eye on include the St. Marys trio of Donald Butcher (110 meter high hurdles and 200 meter dash), Tad Light (shot put) and Cory Foster (high jump); Ravenswood's Ben Miller (400) and Andrew Benford (1600) and Ritchie's Rustyn Goff (discus). On the girls side, the maroon and gold will rest its hopes on pole vaulter Kate Billups, distance runner Heidi Webb and discus thrower Laura Ankrom as well as its relays. Other locals to watch include Tyler Consolidated's Brianna Clark (200 and 400), Cameron Yoho (100 meter high hurdles), Shannon Reid (high jump) and Megan Ratliff (discus), St. Marys' Lydia Powell (100) and Amanda Kerns (shot put); Gilmer County's Brianna Lowther (300 meter low hurdles), and Ritchie's Jamie Cokeley (3200, 1600) and Kelly Sealover (pole vault).