When the Class AA State Track and Field Meet begins tomorrow at Laidley Field in Charleston, Bridgeport High School – including the defending state champion girls squad – will not be the favorites to walk away with the title. Right now, the favorites are Winfield on both sides of the gender ledger.

 

The good news for both of the Indians’ teams is that they’re not a long shot. In fact, Bridgeport’s boys and girls are both ranked second in the state by Runwv.com. And according to those rankings, it’s the girls that will be in a two-team battle.

 

The girls are listed as being only 13 points behind Winfield. The next closest team is more than 100 points behind.

 

The boys, although also close to Winfield in the standings (trailing by 16.33 points according to Runwv), aren’t necessarily involved in a two-team race. Berkeley Springs and Keyser come in at third and fourth, respectively.

 

“The rest of the top 10 is clustered tightly together behind Keyser,” said BHS boys Coach Jon Griffith. “The girls and boys state championships will probably go to the team that can minimize let downs and make the fewest mistakes.”

 

Bridgeport is hoping to get another performance from McKenna Smith similar to 2016 where she broke four state meet records and more than one overall state record on her way to high-point honors.

 

“We are looking forward to the challenge of getting a state title. It will definitely be exciting and we just hope for the girls to do their best,” said BHS girls coach Emilee Stout.

 

Griffith said the key will be how his team performs as opposed to what the other squads do.

 

“As always, we are going into the meet focusing on improvement and setting personal records.  If we can stay healthy and focused the girls and boys both have a chance.  I’m sure that the Winfield coaches are telling their teams the same thing.  We have a lot of respect for their team and coaches.  Whoever wins will definitely have earned it,” said Griffith.

 

For the defending state champion girls’ squad, the qualifiers are as follows:

 

Jenna Soltesz- 3200;Juliet Hart- 100, 4x100, 4x200; McKenna Eddy- 4x400, 4x800; Julia Muller- 800, 1600, 3200, 4x800; Isabella Bowen- 100, 200, 400, 4x100; Alyson Gibson- high jump; Kirstin George- 800, 4x400, 4x800; McKenna Smith- 100, 200, 300 H, 400; Kristen Crowder- high jump, 4x100, 4x200, 4x400; Emma Campbell- 3200; Abby Strait- discus; Olivia Arbogast- 4x800;Madyia McCullough- shot put, discus; Ashton Miller- long jump, 4x200, 100 high hurdles, shuttles;Jenna Love- pole vault; Sarah Kinney- shuttles; Sophia DelGreco – pole vault, 4x100; Emily Meade- 100 high hurdles, 300 hurdles, shuttles; Catie Wilson - 200, 400, 4x200, 4x400;Hailie Davis- shuttles.

 

For the boys Region II champions, the qualifiers are as follows:

 

Maverick Eddy - 200, 4x100, 4x200, 4x400; Chase Binegar - 400, 4x100, 4x200, 4x400; Jimmy Lacaria - 800, 1600, 3200, 4x800; Mark Duez - 800, 1600, 3200, 4x800; Hunter Hutson – 1600; Braeden Oldaker – 110 high hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4x200, shuttles; Brice Haines - 4x100; Trenton Shaw - 4x100, 4x200, shuttles; Josh Osborn - 4x400, shuttles, pole vault; Coleton Marsh - 4x400, 4x800; Tristan Shaw - 4x800, shuttles, high jump, long jump; Aston Davis - high jump; Chris Trent - shot put, discus; Lane Noel - shot put; Timmy Kinney - 4x800.

 

The meet begins Friday at 2 p.m. Action resumes in Charleston Saturday at 9 a.m.