CHARLESTON -- Cabell Midland's Brian Dilcher set a school record in the pole vault Saturday morning. The senior cleared 13 feet in the West Virginia High School Track Championships at Laidley Field, good for second in Class AAA boys.
Dilcher's effort, combined with a first-third finish by Wheeling Park which had three jumpers in the event, started the Knights on an impressive run on day two.
Drake Kinzel sweeps the hurdles. David Bias captures the 800 and thanks to a strong close takes second in the 1600. Cole Bowers, battling injuries, places second in the shot put. A third-place finish in the 4x400, the final event on the cool, sunny day, and the Knights rack up 101 points to take home the state championship for the eighth time in school history, their first since 2005.
"Everybody stepped up," Cabell Midland coach Chris Parsons said. "It was so contagious after what Dilcher did. It snowballed the right way."
Hedgesville was second with 70 points and Wheeling Park, one of the favorites coming in, was third with 66.
Dilcher got the Knights rolling when he cleared 13 feet on his final try at that height. He and winner Eric Ripley of Wheeling Park both failed to clear 13-6, but Ripley got first on fewer misses. The third Patriots jumper did not place.
"I was pumped," Dilcher said. "I thought this could be my last jump (13 feet). I gave it all the gas I had. This really helps the team. It's pretty awesome."
Bias, one of nine seniors on the roster, ran a gutsy race in the 1600. He passed Wheeling Park's Ryan Beabout with about 200 meters to go and held on. Zach Tennant of North Marion won, but the points Bias secured are what matters.
"I was going after every point I could get," Bias said. "I knew I had some kick left."
A year ago, Cabell Midland had zero points in the hurdles. This time, Kinzel, who ran a leg on the victorious shuttle hurdle team Friday night, secured 20 with wins in the 110s and 300s. It was especially sweet because he knew what the double meant to assistant coach Jerry Smalley. He suffered a stroke after the Gazette Relays in late April and missed the final two meets plus the state. He's recovering at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital.
"I'm going to take my medals by tonight," a proud Kinzel said. "It was nice to finally to be healthy. I left it all out there. I stayed smooth and thought don't knock any hurdles down."
In the 110 race, Kinzel finished ahead of Greenbrier East's John Gadamski, one of his top rivals.
"Awesome," Kinzel said. "All that was going through my mind was stay smooth. Coach Smalley's probably flipping out in bed right now. I know he's dying to be here."
Bowers, who won the shot put last year, got off a toss of 50 feet, 9.5 inches on his final attempt. Denver Effland of Hedgesville stepped up for his last throw and reached 51-5 to win.
"It's disappointing," Bowers said. "You want the win, but this helps out."
Bias then came on to run the 800, the race he won in 2007. He and Andrew Bailey of St. Albans waged quite a battle, but in the end, Bias outkicked Bailey and cross the finish line first in 1:56.22. Khiry Timbers of Martinsville was second and a tired Bailey dropped to third.
"He tested me," Bias said of Bailey. "He wanted to see if he could break me. I wasn't going to let that happen. With 200 (meters) left, I put it in the last gear I had.
"We wanted to prove everybody wrong (Wheeling Park was favored over the Knights in state meet predictions on RunWV.com) and put ourselves at the top. Hard work is what did it. Coach Smalley is probably running around right now. This means everything. The last state title, finish it off for the team. I hope the team's proud of me."
Parsons, who broke out new "speedsuit" uniforms for the meet, got the Knights inspired when he showed a video of the 2007 state meet. Wheeling Park won with 89 points and the Knights, victimized by some errors, settled for second with 81.
"I told the kids this team has the potential to be something special if they do what they're capable of," Parsons said. "They did."
Parsons said Kinzel got emotional when he talked to Smalley.
"We called him after every event," Parsons said. "Kinzel had tears in his eyes. I'm sure Smalley's voice choked up. We'll go see him tonight."
Looking ahead, Parsons said, "We lose nine studs. Let's enjoy this now."
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