Williamstown aims for another double-A title | News, Sports, Jobs

Doddridge County’s Tommy Walters-Hickman, left, runs alongside Wahama’s Conner Lambert during the 4×1 in last year’s state track meet in Charleston. (Photo by Jordan Holland)

PARKERSBURG — If things go as planned at the Class AA state track and field championships set for today and Saturday at the University of Charleston’s Laidley Field, the Little Kanawha Conference will reign supreme.

The Williamstown girls of head coach Zach Hall and the Doddridge County boys of head man Bobby Burnside are the teams to beat.

Of course, 2025 was the first season in double-A for the Yellowjackets and they are out for a repeat. The Bulldogs, both boys and girls, moved up to 2A this season and won it all in single-A a year ago.

The Bulldog girls are expected to battle with Tyler Consolidated for second place. The DCHS boys will be challenged by Frankfort, Independence and Williamstown.

“We knew going into it it was going to kind of be us and Doddridge fighting it out and that’s the good part about the LK(C), you don’t have to travel to see the teams that you are going to have to face for state,” said Hall. “We are by far the toughest small conference in the state, especially in track.

Williamstown’s Grace Boone warms up prior to the pole vault during a track meet earlier this season. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“We had a really smooth regional. Didn’t really mess anything up type deal. Qualified everybody we should’ve. A couple girls ran really well. Addi Kerby had a heck of a regional meet. She’s definitely rolling at the right time. It was just an icing on the cake type deal.”

Everything, thus far, has been going according to plan for Burnside.

“It has been a special season. The guys have performed,” said the coach. “We’ve battled some injuries, but pretty healthy now.

“They’ve performed all year and I think one of the biggest challenges of the season is going to happen this weekend.”

Runwv.com has predicted a tie for high-point honors between Bulldog Tommy Walters-Hickman and Sissonville’s Connor Pritt, who is expected to edge the ‘Dog in the 100, 200 and 400.

For the girls, Roane County’s Josie Cox and Buffalo’s Cami Samples are projected to tie with 28 points with ‘Jacket Cassie Sites expected to earn the fourth-most points.

“We got a couple in the relays, a vaulter, a thrower qualified for the first time, but the good part is there are girls around them that can kind of show them the ropes, and it’s a track meet,” Hall said of having some first-timers at state. “It’s the old Hoosier’s thing, a 15-foot foul shot is a 15-foot foul shot no matter where you go.

“We’re exactly where we thought we would be. We kind of knew going into the season if we did what we were supposed to do we’d be in the hunt. Maybe not as far out, as far in front as we are now, but we knew we had a shot for a title.”

The WHS girls have predicted champs with Grace Boone in the pole vault and Reagan Corbett (2nd in shot) in the discus. Sites is slotted to go runner-up in the 1600 and 3200, while Cox is favored to capture both hurdles events for the Raiders.

Ravenswood’s Riley Sotomayor, last year’s 800 winner in single-A, is expected to take gold in the 800 after moving up a class. She’s picked second in the 400 ahead of Cox and Williamstown’s Addison Richardson.

Also expected to win individual events from the area are Bulldog Payton Trent in the long jump and Silver Knight Ayou Buerger in the high jump, ahead of teammate Katie Grimm.

“It just shows with results,” Hall said of the effort by his squad. “What’s the old saying? Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. They put in the time and it shows, especially Reagan Corbett.

“Look at Reagan Corbett and Christian Hoosier (top-ranked in discus). They are top 20 in the state of all-time right now, same year. That’s pretty impressive.”

Tyler Consolidated’s Amos Kimble, who is off to Marshall University, won last year’s 1600 and 3200 in Class A. He’s favored to win both events again this year, albeit in double-A.

Doddridge County’s Tristan Swiger was the 2025 pole vault champ in Class A and is favored to win it in double-A ahead of teammates Trey McDonough and Nathanael Lloyd with Roane County’s Brandon Charles and Krystian Hall expected to be followed by ‘Jacket Tyrell Miller.

“There’s a chance for rain. Everybody is going to have the elements,” added Burnside. “We have been number one and we’ve had an outstanding season, but you have to do it at the state track meet. You got to do it this weekend. That’s been the goal all year is to go down there and get our best marks and times, you know, and regardless of the weather, everybody is going to have that, just perform.

“I’m just very excited for all the events. I love it from the sprints to the distance, the hurdles, all of it. Field events are always a big thing for us here at Doddridge County. It’s the one meet where we get to make our way around to most of the events and we’re not really just stuck in one area because of the time schedule. Just really excited to take it all in because the work is done at this point. You just got to go do it.”

The other expected local champions for the boys in Class AA are Williamstown’s Vincent Zagrea in the 800, with Kimble picked second, and Bulldog Brycen Eidel in the 300 hurdles.

“It’s always a little bit bittersweet,” Hall added of the season coming to a close. “You kind of wish you could go a little longer, especially with your seniors, but you’re kind of glad to see what they can do. You worked all season to compete this weekend. Hopefully, good weather. I highly doubt it. You know how that goes.”

Despite being favored, neither coach is taking anything for granted.

“Frankfort has a very good team,” stressed Burnside. “They qualified a lot of people. I’d say they do a lot on the track and then you got to throw Independence and Williamstown in there because they both qualified a lot of people, and are very quality performers. I think those four teams probably head it up and then you have a lot of outstanding athletes.

“I think the 2A field is pretty deep and I think you’re going to see some really good times. If the weather is good I think you’ll see some really good times and some really great performances. Proud of what the guys have accomplished so far and just go down there and perform, and whatever happens, happens.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com