On the surface, Bridgeport High School’s girls’ and boys’ track teams are in roughly the same position that they were last year heading into the state track and field championship in Charleston. The girls are heavily favored, while the boys are ranked third in the RunWV.com power rankings.

 

If you go a little deeper, however, it looks like the girls’ situation is the same, while the boys are facing much steeper odds. Based on events throughout the year, RunWV.com has the girls coasting to the title with a predicted point total of 124.25. The next closest is Berkeley Springs with a predicted total of 52.

 

Coach Emilee Stout, however, said it adds to the pressure of being the defending state champs. Already with a target on their collective backs, BHS goes in as more than just heavy favorites.

 

“There is definitely some pressure on us just because of all the hype of an expected win. We've been scoring a lot of points this year, and I think people just assume we can score high at the state meet,” said Stout. “It's possible, but it won't be easy.  Our team will certainly be challenged by a lot of talented girls in the AA field.”

One thing that could hurt the girls is the injuries that have mounted in the last several weeks. The good news, however, is that most are on the mend, Stout said.

 

“There are still some lingering injuries, but it shouldn't be anything of high significance,” said Stout. “The girls have to stay focused on each of their individual events.  They have to take care of business within their relays, too.”

 

The girls qualified in 13 of the 18 events at Charleston’s Laidley Field. They are as follows:

100m - Kayla Haywood, McKenna Smith

200m - Kayla Haywood, McKenna Smith

400m - McKenna Smith

100mHH - Jenna Alonge, Mateah Kittle

300m H - Jenna Alonge

4x100m Relay - Maleehah Saab, Lexie Sczerba, Ashton Miller, Kayla Haywood

4x200m Relay - Maleehah Saab, Lexie Sczerba, Jenna Alonge, McKenna Smith

4x800m Rleay - Jenna Soltesz, Savannah Blythe, Caroline Ferrell, Maggie Lane

Shuttle Relay - Mateah Kittle, Ashton Miller, Hannah McCall, Jenna Alonge

Pole Vault - Jenna Love, Lauren Winkie

Long Jump - Kayla Haywood, Lexie Sczerba

Shot Put - Kiana Swann

Discus - Kiana Swann, Hannah McCall, Sarah Randolph

 

“We're excited for the big weekend. It's what we've been working for all season,” said Stout. “All I can ask from the girls is to perform their best and leave everything they have on the track.”

 

The favorites to win the boys’ side of the bracket appear to be Roane County and Ritchie County. Roane is predicted to finish with 83 points, while the Rebels are slated to finish with 82. While Bridgeport is tied for third, the prediction is a distant third with Bluefield. Both are predicted to score 42 points. This comes a year after BHS was predicted to finish fourth and won the meet.

 

“It really doesn’t matter, as I tell the boys, we can only control what we do.  We have to have every athlete perform at their highest level.  If we do that, we will be satisfied no matter where we finish,” said Griffith. “We have to feed off of the energy and enthusiasm of the moment.  We need each and every athlete to be able to say they gave everything they had to give.  

 

“Our focus from day one has been improvement and it still is just that.  We want this weekend to be full of personal bests across the board for our athletes,” Griffith continued. “If they can do that, I will be thrilled however the meet turns out.”

 

Griffith will have a bevy of athletes in Charleston. Incredibly, the Tribe qualified for 17 of the 18 events on the boys’ side of the Class AA bracket. Griffith said the entire group – from meet one to the upcoming meet – has been enjoyable to coach.

 

“It has been a pleasure working with this group of athletes.  They have worked extremely hard and done all that we have asked of them.  Like so many years before, the athletes and their families, as well as the entire Bridgeport community make my job so much easier,” Griffith said. “I am blessed to be able to coach here and can’t imagine ever coaching anywhere else.”

 

Those he will be coaching Friday and Saturday in Charleston include:

 

100m - Dylan Tonkery

200m - Dylan Tonkery

800m - Michael Duez

1600m - Jimmy Lacaria

3200m - Jimmy Lacaria, Arryn Tennant

110mHH - Justin Massie

300m IH - Justin Massie

4x100m Relay - Jonathan Murray, J.T. Harris, John Wilfong, Dylan Tonkery

4x200m Relay - Jonathan Murray, J.T. Harris, Justin Massie, Dylan Tonkery

4x400m Relay - Timmy Kinney, J.T. Harris, Michael Duez, Troy Pallay

4x800m Rleay - Timmy Kinney, Arryn Tennant, Michael Deuz, Jimmy Lacaria

Shuttle Relay - Justin Massie, Josh Orsborn, John Wilfong, Jared Massie, Troy Pallay

Pole Vault - Troy Pallay

High Jump - John Wilfong

Long Jump - John Wilfong, J.T. Harris

Shot Put - Jacob Griffith, Lane Noel

Discus - Jacob Griffith, Lane Noel

 

The teams leave at for the meet at 8:30 a.m. Friday. The first events are at 2 p.m. Friday, while the second day of the meet will see the teams begin action at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo show Kayla Haywood, while teammate McKenna Smith pictured in the second photo. Dylan Tonkery is shown in the third photo, while the trio of, from left, Jimmy Lacaria, Arryn Tennant and Michael Duez are shown below.