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By Michael Minnich
Tribune Sports Editor
mminnich@newstribune.info
KEYSER—It’s state meet week in the Mountain State for track, and the Keyser boys are in good position to win the school’s first-ever title.
“We need to win seven to nine events, and we can do that. We’re right there in first, second place in a lot of them, and we’re going to need some people to perform maybe above what they’ve done, but I’ll be honest with you—in a lot of the events we’ve had, we haven’t been pushed, and if anyone’s got the athletes to do this, we do. Our expectations are high, really high,” said boys’ coach Scott Furey.
KHS’ best finish as a team is fifth.
Keyser will have 14 boys competing in 14 events and 13 girls competing in ten events.
It’s a final chance for seniors like Jeremy Green, Matt Wilmer, and Taige Redman to grab that elusive state title.
“These seniors are starving for a state championship. They’ve been disappointed twice, and they don’t want to go out 0-for-3,” said Furey.
“I’ve been with them for all three of the sports, and most of the core kids of these teams are here. They have the worst taste in their mouth from football still, and basketball didn’t end the way they wanted it to end. This is a little bit different, as far as I’m concerned. There’s not a whole lot of strategy involved compared to what Coach [Sean] Biser and Coach [Gary] Liston had to do. They’re just so ready; they want to end that way. I don’t have to do a whole lot of motivating this week; they’re motivated to the nth degree.”
In the 100-meter dash, Wilmer is seeded seventh (11.65 seconds)
Wilmer, along with Kaison Rohrbaugh, will compete in the 200-meter dash, and both are among the favorites.
Wilmer’s seed time of 23.34 seconds is the best in the state, and Rohrbaugh’s 23.48 is tied for second.
Rohrbaugh and Redman will represent Keyser in the 400-meter dash.
Rohrbaugh (51.59 seconds) is seeded fourth, while Redman (51.73) is seventh.
Taven Rohrbaugh slots fifth in the 800-meter run (2:05.06).
Green will be a contender for the 100-meter hurdles title; Green is seeded fifth after posting a time of 15.97 seconds.
“Jeremy’s time that he qualified for the state with is a lot lower that people expected because he was running straight into a 25-mph wind. Anyone from our area that’s seen Jeremy Green perform knows that when Jeremy wants to do something, it usually gets done. I expect nothing less from him. He could set four state records this weekend,” said Furey. “It’s a challenge for him, and athletically he rarely has challenges. I think he’ll make the most of it.”
Wes Washington is seeded sixth (42.06 seconds) in the 300-meter hurdles.
Keyser’s strength, however, comes in the relays: their five squads are seeded either first or second in every race.
“We thought coming in to the season that we could do that. Our 4x8 has been a pleasant surprise. We expected the speed guys to be there, and we’re two-time defending state champions in the shuttle hurdles,” said Furey.
“On top of that, we’ve broken four school records this year: 4x1, 4x2, shuttle hurdles, and the 110 hurdles for Jeremy [Green]. Not only that, but we’re less than four tenths of a second from the state records in all of those events, so to win those four and then to break the state records would be icing on the cake.”
Redman, Kadeem Garland, Green, and Jarell Ross’s time of 44.30 seconds in the 4x100 race is the mark to top right now; Oak Glen’s time of 44.95 seconds is the next-best seed.
The difference between the two schools is razor-thin in the 4x200: Oak Glen’s seed time is 1:31.06, with Keyser (Redman, Wilmer, Green, Ross) sitting at 1:31.10.
Keyser’s foursome of Redman, Kaison Rohrbaugh, Washington, and Ross is also seeded second (3:33.96) in the 4x400-meter relay.
Another second seed goes to the 4x800-meter racers (Ryan Shreve, Langston Hines, Dustin Fertig, and Taven Rohrbaugh; 8:33.55).
Arguably Keyser’s best unit is in the 4x110-meter shuttle hurdle event.
Green, Kaison Rohrbaugh, Wilmer, and Ross sped to a seed time of 57.36, nearly a second-and-a-half better than Tyler Consolidated, the only other AA unit until a minute.
“The way we work our shuttle hurdle team is to go get speed and make them hurdlers. When you’re dealing with relays, that’s what you have to do: get the four fastest guys and put them together and tell them to go be fast. It’s just amazing. We lost Grant Blaisdell from that state title team last year, but when you can add a guy like Matt Wilmer, who is our fastest guy and maybe the fastest in the
state, your time’s going to go down. Their goal is 56-flat, which would be a second-and-a-half faster than the state record time,” Furey said.
In the field, Furey needs some top-six performances to put his runners over the top.
Chris Brown is seeded eighth in the shot put (42-00) and Damon Thorne tenth (41-1.5).
Peyton Hartman is slotted in a tie for sixth in the high jump (5-10.00), while Washington is tenth in the long jump (19-00).
“We need them to really step up. Peyton’s only jumped twice this year: he won the Steve Method [Invitational] and then he went and won the regional. He’s been injured all year, but he’s in good shape right now. We look for him to finish top-three and we’re going to need one of the two shot putters to get in the top six, and if Wes could crack top-four on top of placing two in the 200 and two in the 400, nobody’s going to have enough points to beat us, but we’ve got to perform,” Furey said.
On the girls’ side, Julia Ludwick is seeded seventh in the 200-meter dash (28.75 seconds) and Sha’Kia Coates ninth in the 400-meter race (1:03.25).
“Julia Ludwick in the 200 should make the finals, and then we’ll just have to wait and see,” said KHS girls’ coach Dan Dawson. “Sha’Kia Coates is another runner who we’re expecting to do better than she did in the regional meet. She’ll be in the mix for a medal.”
Hannah Biser is rated tenth in the 1600-meter run (5:58.66).
“Hannah has run well in the mile this year. Her time at the regional has not been her usual time this year. Looking at her best times going in, she is competitive in that top six.”
In the 100-meter hurdles, Darlene Williams is seeded 11th (17.71 seconds).
“Darlene Williams has improved as the season has progressed, and she is capable of making the finals in the 100-meter hurdles,” said Dawson.
The strength of Dawson’s squad, too, is in the relays.
“On our relays, we really expect good performances out of our 4x4 and 4x8. We’re hoping that the shuttle team has a shot at a medal, and outside shots in the 4x1 and 4x2,” said Dawson.
Coates, Ludwick, Payton Derryberry, and Danielle Kesner are seeded 13th in the 4x100 meter race (54.97 seconds).
The same first three, plus Kathleen Myers, compose the 4x200 foursome. Keyser is seeded eighth (1:55.57) in that race.
Those four will also run in the 4x400-meter relay; KHS is seeded third (4:24.83), but Grafton looks like a runaway winner in the event (4:19.45).
Keyser sits second in the 4x800 race (Biser, Sarah Boddy, Payton Derryberry, and Chelsea Willis; 10:24.06) behind some familiar faces: Frankfort posted the state’s top AA seed time, 10:17.83
KHS is seeded seventh (1:11.9) in a congested shuttle hurdle relay with the team of Williams, Kesner, Tiesha Dawson, and Autumn Hudson.
In the discus, freshman Tianna Minifield tossed a seed distance of 93-08, good for seventh, while Matraca Shirley is seeded tenth (92-10).
“Our two throwers are tossing over 90 feet, and usually it takes that one great throw in the state meet. So hopefully they can find the confidence to do that.”
“Some athletes handle [the pressure of a state meet] a little bit differently. We always tell our kids that the toughest meet is the regional, where you have to qualify to get to the state meet, and if you’ve done everything right through the regional meet, and then at the state meet, with the competition there, you should have your best performance, “ said Dawson.
The meet begins this afternoon at Laidley Field in Charleston and runs through Saturday night.
By Michael Minnich
Tribune Sports Editor
mminnich@newstribune.info
KEYSER—It’s state meet week in the Mountain State for track, and the Keyser boys are in good position to win the school’s first-ever title.
“We need to win seven to nine events, and we can do that. We’re right there in first, second place in a lot of them, and we’re going to need some people to perform maybe above what they’ve done, but I’ll be honest with you—in a lot of the events we’ve had, we haven’t been pushed, and if anyone’s got the athletes to do this, we do. Our expectations are high, really high,” said boys’ coach Scott Furey.
KHS’ best finish as a team is fifth.
Keyser will have 14 boys competing in 14 events and 13 girls competing in ten events.
It’s a final chance for seniors like Jeremy Green, Matt Wilmer, and Taige Redman to grab that elusive state title.
“These seniors are starving for a state championship. They’ve been disappointed twice, and they don’t want to go out 0-for-3,” said Furey.
“I’ve been with them for all three of the sports, and most of the core kids of these teams are here. They have the worst taste in their mouth from football still, and basketball didn’t end the way they wanted it to end. This is a little bit different, as far as I’m concerned. There’s not a whole lot of strategy involved compared to what Coach [Sean] Biser and Coach [Gary] Liston had to do. They’re just so ready; they want to end that way. I don’t have to do a whole lot of motivating this week; they’re motivated to the nth degree.”
In the 100-meter dash, Wilmer is seeded seventh (11.65 seconds)
Wilmer, along with Kaison Rohrbaugh, will compete in the 200-meter dash, and both are among the favorites.
Wilmer’s seed time of 23.34 seconds is the best in the state, and Rohrbaugh’s 23.48 is tied for second.
Rohrbaugh and Redman will represent Keyser in the 400-meter dash.
Rohrbaugh (51.59 seconds) is seeded fourth, while Redman (51.73) is seventh.
Taven Rohrbaugh slots fifth in the 800-meter run (2:05.06).
Green will be a contender for the 100-meter hurdles title; Green is seeded fifth after posting a time of 15.97 seconds.
“Jeremy’s time that he qualified for the state with is a lot lower that people expected because he was running straight into a 25-mph wind. Anyone from our area that’s seen Jeremy Green perform knows that when Jeremy wants to do something, it usually gets done. I expect nothing less from him. He could set four state records this weekend,” said Furey. “It’s a challenge for him, and athletically he rarely has challenges. I think he’ll make the most of it.”
Wes Washington is seeded sixth (42.06 seconds) in the 300-meter hurdles.
Keyser’s strength, however, comes in the relays: their five squads are seeded either first or second in every race.
“We thought coming in to the season that we could do that. Our 4x8 has been a pleasant surprise. We expected the speed guys to be there, and we’re two-time defending state champions in the shuttle hurdles,” said Furey.
“On top of that, we’ve broken four school records this year: 4x1, 4x2, shuttle hurdles, and the 110 hurdles for Jeremy [Green]. Not only that, but we’re less than four tenths of a second from the state records in all of those events, so to win those four and then to break the state records would be icing on the cake.”
Redman, Kadeem Garland, Green, and Jarell Ross’s time of 44.30 seconds in the 4x100 race is the mark to top right now; Oak Glen’s time of 44.95 seconds is the next-best seed.
The difference between the two schools is razor-thin in the 4x200: Oak Glen’s seed time is 1:31.06, with Keyser (Redman, Wilmer, Green, Ross) sitting at 1:31.10.
Keyser’s foursome of Redman, Kaison Rohrbaugh, Washington, and Ross is also seeded second (3:33.96) in the 4x400-meter relay.
Another second seed goes to the 4x800-meter racers (Ryan Shreve, Langston Hines, Dustin Fertig, and Taven Rohrbaugh; 8:33.55).
Arguably Keyser’s best unit is in the 4x110-meter shuttle hurdle event.
Green, Kaison Rohrbaugh, Wilmer, and Ross sped to a seed time of 57.36, nearly a second-and-a-half better than Tyler Consolidated, the only other AA unit until a minute.
“The way we work our shuttle hurdle team is to go get speed and make them hurdlers. When you’re dealing with relays, that’s what you have to do: get the four fastest guys and put them together and tell them to go be fast. It’s just amazing. We lost Grant Blaisdell from that state title team last year, but when you can add a guy like Matt Wilmer, who is our fastest guy and maybe the fastest in the
state, your time’s going to go down. Their goal is 56-flat, which would be a second-and-a-half faster than the state record time,” Furey said.
In the field, Furey needs some top-six performances to put his runners over the top.
Chris Brown is seeded eighth in the shot put (42-00) and Damon Thorne tenth (41-1.5).
Peyton Hartman is slotted in a tie for sixth in the high jump (5-10.00), while Washington is tenth in the long jump (19-00).
“We need them to really step up. Peyton’s only jumped twice this year: he won the Steve Method [Invitational] and then he went and won the regional. He’s been injured all year, but he’s in good shape right now. We look for him to finish top-three and we’re going to need one of the two shot putters to get in the top six, and if Wes could crack top-four on top of placing two in the 200 and two in the 400, nobody’s going to have enough points to beat us, but we’ve got to perform,” Furey said.
On the girls’ side, Julia Ludwick is seeded seventh in the 200-meter dash (28.75 seconds) and Sha’Kia Coates ninth in the 400-meter race (1:03.25).
“Julia Ludwick in the 200 should make the finals, and then we’ll just have to wait and see,” said KHS girls’ coach Dan Dawson. “Sha’Kia Coates is another runner who we’re expecting to do better than she did in the regional meet. She’ll be in the mix for a medal.”
Hannah Biser is rated tenth in the 1600-meter run (5:58.66).
“Hannah has run well in the mile this year. Her time at the regional has not been her usual time this year. Looking at her best times going in, she is competitive in that top six.”
In the 100-meter hurdles, Darlene Williams is seeded 11th (17.71 seconds).
“Darlene Williams has improved as the season has progressed, and she is capable of making the finals in the 100-meter hurdles,” said Dawson.
The strength of Dawson’s squad, too, is in the relays.
“On our relays, we really expect good performances out of our 4x4 and 4x8. We’re hoping that the shuttle team has a shot at a medal, and outside shots in the 4x1 and 4x2,” said Dawson.
Coates, Ludwick, Payton Derryberry, and Danielle Kesner are seeded 13th in the 4x100 meter race (54.97 seconds).
The same first three, plus Kathleen Myers, compose the 4x200 foursome. Keyser is seeded eighth (1:55.57) in that race.
Those four will also run in the 4x400-meter relay; KHS is seeded third (4:24.83), but Grafton looks like a runaway winner in the event (4:19.45).
Keyser sits second in the 4x800 race (Biser, Sarah Boddy, Payton Derryberry, and Chelsea Willis; 10:24.06) behind some familiar faces: Frankfort posted the state’s top AA seed time, 10:17.83
KHS is seeded seventh (1:11.9) in a congested shuttle hurdle relay with the team of Williams, Kesner, Tiesha Dawson, and Autumn Hudson.
In the discus, freshman Tianna Minifield tossed a seed distance of 93-08, good for seventh, while Matraca Shirley is seeded tenth (92-10).
“Our two throwers are tossing over 90 feet, and usually it takes that one great throw in the state meet. So hopefully they can find the confidence to do that.”
“Some athletes handle [the pressure of a state meet] a little bit differently. We always tell our kids that the toughest meet is the regional, where you have to qualify to get to the state meet, and if you’ve done everything right through the regional meet, and then at the state meet, with the competition there, you should have your best performance, “ said Dawson.
The meet begins this afternoon at Laidley Field in Charleston and runs through Saturday night.
