Pictured are Calhoun County’s state track qualifiers. In the front row, from left to right, are Eli Ferrell, Lilly Falls, Rylan Smith, Regan Smith and Kyrian Mounts. In the back row are Jackson Clawson, Zac Smith, Jasmyne Tingler, Gabi Smith, Addie Collins, Gavin Hicks and Colin Grogg. Not pictured are Kristian Frederick and Dayvon Mitchell. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Despite not having a track and field complex of their own, Class A, Region IV Little Kanawha Conference programs Wirt County and Calhoun County are more than excited about this week’s state meet in Charleston.

“It’s been a pretty good year so far,” said Tiger head coach Nathan Edwards, who watched senior Tyler Smith sweep the 200 and 400 with Rylee Hall doing the same in the shot put and discus.

“Regionals were a little shaky in some events, but we managed to sneak in there in some of them. It ended up being kind of a warm day, but we handled it pretty well. We were a little sluggish actually with some of our distance kids for some reason. I’m hoping that gets fixed here.”

The Red Devils of head coach Kayla Ware had top individual efforts from junior Kristian Frederick and freshman Kyrian Mounts, who placed third in the discus and long jump, respectively.

“We got three relay teams going with our 4×1 boys, 4×4 boys and 4×2 girls,” admitted Ware, whose 4×2 unit of junior Gabi Smith, sophomore Addie Collins and freshmen Regan and Rylan Smith had the best finish of the trio after placing third. “Honestly, it’s just been a really good year for the kids. They’ve all had a very successful season.

Pictured are Wirt County’s state track qualifiers. In the front row, from left to right, are Kinsley Nicolais, Sarah Logan, Kaelyn Robinson, Rylee Hall, Millie Sampson, Skylie Thompson and Lily Cross. In the back row are Byron Long, Braxton Dennis, Kaedon Sees, Matt Balis, Colton Butler, Emma Gebauer, Brooklyn Mills and Allison Bumgarner. Not pictured is Tyler Smith. (Photo Provided)

“There’s been a lot of teamwork and a lot of just picking each other up whenever they get a little down. I mean, overall, the season has been kind of different, especially down in Charleston (Tudor’s Biscuit Relays) where the guy was shooting around the arena. All the kids were a little traumatized from that. It’s been a really good season with teamwork and cooperation and just pushing each other to reach their full limit. I’m proud of them.”

Coach Edwards was also pleased on several other fronts.

“I was happy sprint-wise with Tyler in the 200 and Kaedon (Sees) and Tyler in the 400, and Kaelyn Robinson has never really been a 100 hurdler and we just kind of put her in here recently,” he said. “She didn’t run an outstanding time, but she ran enough to get herself qualified for the state meet, which really wasn’t kind of expecting that to be honest with you.

“That was kind of a nice surprise for her and she’s pretty excited about that. The girls 4×8, pretty happy with their effort. If we can put it together, I don’t know if we’ll place in it necessarily, but it’s nice to get that out. Boys 4×8, I was actually surprised we got out. We did not run well in that at all. We came in with a 9:16 and ran a 9:40.”

Now that the state track meet, which will be contested Friday and Saturday at the University of Charleston’s Laidley Field, has four divisions it gives smaller programs a better chance at making the final weekend of the campaign.

“I think a lot of them came into the season saying it was going to be their year. It was going to be their season,” said Ware. “Kristian Frederick, for example, has been wanting this since he was a freshman in high school. He’s worked up to it. Last year he just fell shy of it. We’re really excited.”

Coach Edwards added of Hall “she’s been working pretty hard in practice and she’s slowly creeping up there with her PRs. I don’t know if she’ll make it to the 100s in discus, but you never know.

“You just need one good throw and you can surprise a lot of people. Discus and shot, she could potentially work her way up in there and hopefully at least make finals.”

Calhoun County didn’t have any representation at the state meet last year and each of the Red Devils will be competing in the big show for the first time.

“They’re excited. Calhoun County is a small little area so they are just really excited to make it and get out there,” Ware said. “Not only that, but we didn’t just have one placer. We have multiple people going.

“I think as a group they are excited to go together. I don’t think any of them are really anxious because I think in their head they’ve already made it, so they got what they were going for.

Now it’s just see how far, how much further they can get.”

As for the Tigers, coach Edwards is hoping for the best and that includes the final race of the year when the orange and black 4×4 until of Smith, Byron Long, Matt Balis and Sees put it all on the line for the final time together as seniors.

“I’m real excited for our boys 4×4,” Edwards added. “We got to put it together, but between Charleston Catholic and St. Marys there, we’ve kind of battled with them the last couple of weekends.

“I think if we can have a good day, it’s kind of anybody’s race there. I’m excited for everything down there, but that’s been kind of a goal of ours. The boys are pretty motivated there to either do it or die trying.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com