Here's one vote for "absolutely yes!" A quick count shows that 45 "at-large" qualifiers placed in their event. Even more importantly, 15 "at-large" qualifiers placed that would not have gotten to go to the State Meet under the previous qualifying system.

The following State Meet Placers would not have even gotten to compete under last year's qualifying system.

           Class A Girls
400 M     6.  Kylee Boring        Doddridge
3200 M    6.  Megan Lewis         Tygarts Valley

           Class A Boys
200 M     6.  Derek Spitzer       St. Marys
300 IH    5.  Brian Crouser       Wirt
300 IH    6.  Stephen Clayton     South Harrison

           Class AA Girls
1600 M    5.  Rebekah McBride     Frankfort
4x100 M   5.  Point Pleasant

           Class AA Boys
3200 M    5.  Nathan Rees         Ravenswood
4x400 M   6.  Point Pleasant

           Class AAA Girls
100 M     6.  Chelsea Flinchum    Jefferson
1600 M    5.  Hallie Portner      University
1600 M    6.  Ari Kasprowicz      Preston
3200 M    5.  Emma Berry          Morgantown

           Class AAA Boys
1600 M    3.  Eric Frohnapfel     University
Shuttles  6.  Hedgesville

I think this makes the new qualifying system a resounding success. It allows more athletes to qualify from stronger regions and simply makes a better, more competitive State Meet. Bravo to Coach Rick Haught of Ritchie who first proposed this two years ago, and Bravo to last year's Coaches' Committee for approving it for this year. I'll even do those rarest of things and say Bravo to the WVSSAC (no one ever seems to thank them for anything...just sue them) for seeing the necessity and benefit to this change and passing the Committee's recommendation.