Class AA Track & Field State Meet Preview

Today, I'll breakdown local athletes competing in the Class AA Track & Field State Meet to be held Friday and Saturday at the University of Charleston's Laidley Field. For my AA Daily Mail preview in Thursday's paper, click here.

The Poca and Herbert Hoover boys look to be the area's top local teams, with each in the state's top 10. No dominate girls team has stepped forward though Poca, Hoover and Scott will have multiple representatives at the state meet.

Boys

Poca ranks ninth in the state. Dots coach John Bonecutter related to me his team hopes to place top five. Herbert Hoover lists 10th-best in Class AA and will look to exceed ranking, too. Bridgeport enters as the state's No. 1 Class AA boys team, though Bonecutter said he considers defending champ Ritchie County the favorite to win. Other top contenders include third-ranked Roane County, Keyser, Oak Glen, Weir and Fairmont Senior.

100: Wayne's Kade Sebastian has the fastest time in the state. It's a .01 margin, but he's the top dog entering the event. Champmanville's Devin Wiley and Ethan Thompson will also compete.

200: Andrew Workman, of Chapmanville, ranks fourth-best in the state as the top local competing. He's expected to earn All-State honors. Wayne's Kurt Langdon-Arthur will also compete.

400: Langdon-Arthur ranks ninth in the state. Herbert Hoover's Josh Gurksi will also compete.

800, 1600 & 3200: Scott's Will Shaffer, a Marshall commit, ranks top three in the state in all three events. He'll be among favorites competing in each event. Hoover's Josh McClung will compete in the 1600 and 3200 with teammate Noah Toops in the 3200.

100H: Poca's Josh Crites ranks ninth in the state. Gurski and Tyler Hagewood, of Hoover, will battle for points, too.

300H: Crites, a reigning All-Stater, will look to defend that status as he's ranked sixth-best in the state. Teammate Austin McNeely will join Crites in quest for All-State honors, as will Scott's Zack Marcum. After claiming the regional championship in his first-ever attempt in the 300s, Hoover's Gurksi will look to make another statement.

 4x100 & 4x200: Chapmanville lists highest among area teams. Hoover and Wayne will also compete.

4x400 & 4x800: Poca will compete in each event, with Scott in the 4x400 and Hoover in the 4x800.

Shuttle hurdles: Poca represents the top area contender to earn points. Hoover and Scott will also compete.

High jump: Poca's Nathan Ranson won the regional championship and will be the area's top threat.

Pole vault: Travis Davis, of Poca, is the top local contender.

Long jump: Poca's A.J. Keyes and Hank Larch finished one-two at regionals and will look to contend to score.

Shot put & Discus: Christian Buckley, of Poca, is the clear favorite to win both events. Christian Buckley's older brother Quentin Buckley should place top three in the discus, and he'll contend in the shot too. Fellow Dot thrower Jacob Hickman is a threat to score in the discus too. Hoover's Zane Weese will compete in both throwing events.

Girls

No local Class AA girls teams ranks among the state's top 10. Defending runner-up Frankfort enters No. 1, with Oak Glen and Keyser ranked second and third.

100 & 200: Hoover's Emilee Henry is a serious threat for All-State honors in both events. Ashley Johnson (Scott), Christina Osborne (Chapmanville) and Hailey Miller (Ravenswood) will also compete in the 100, with Wayne's Tyler Webb in the 200.

400: Henry once again is a favorite to score, as is Ravenswood's Miller. Hailey Lunsford (Wayne) and Mara Mazzecchi (Champanville) will also compete.

800: Samanthan Graffius, of Scott will contend for All-State status. Wayne's Lunsford will also compete.

1600: Graffius and Sheena Chambers, both of Scott, and Ravenswood's Taylor Treadway represent top area competitors.

3200: Chambers and Brittany Green, both of Scott, will compete, in addition to Treadway and Rutherford.

110H & 300H: No area athletes will compete in the 100H. In the 300H, University of Charleston commit Haylie Damron will be among favorites to score. Sissonville's Grace Montgomery and Poca's Paula Ord will also compete.

4x100: Hoover ranks eighth. Scott will also compete.

4x200: Wayne and Chapmanville will compete.

4x400: Wayne and Scott will compete.

4x800: Scott ranks ninth in the state. Hoover and Wayne will also compete.

Shuttle hurdles: Scott and Poca will compete.

High jump: Regional championship winner Bailey Aab, of Hoover, lists as the top area athlete in the event. Sissonville's Hanah Atkins will also compete.

Pole vault: No local athletes will compete in this event.

Long jump: As in the 300H, Damron is a favorite to score.

Shot put & discus: Wayne's Lexy Beckett is a top contender to score points in both events. Poca's Kelsey Westfall and Keree Moles will compete in the discus, with Dot Kristen "Taylor" Broughman in the shot. Cherrikah Mayhorn, of Scott, will compete in the shot.