Magnolia High School made a powerful statement on the first day of the West Virginia State High School Track Meet at Laidley Field in Charleston, delivering both an emotional comeback and a surprise team victory.
Leading the charge was senior Matthew Anderson, who just a month ago was recovering from ACL and meniscus surgery. Against all odds, Anderson returned to the field and won the Class A discus title with an impressive throw of 161 feet, 9 inches—just shy of the school record.
“You know it’s a good one when it comes out,” Anderson said after his winning toss. “Everything felt great. It’s been a long journey getting back here, but this moment makes it worth it.”
Anderson’s injury occurred midway through his final football season, and initial medical expectations ruled out any chance of returning in time for track. Through months of rehab and the careful guidance of coach Travis Emch, he defied the odds and reclaimed his place among the state’s best athletes.
Not long before Anderson’s win, the Magnolia 4×800-meter relay team pulled off a thrilling upset. Originally expected to finish third, the Blue Eagles surged to a dramatic victory thanks to a late addition to the lineup—Hunter Oates, a sprinter turned middle-distance runner who joined the team just two weeks ago.
Oates, along with teammates Parker Werkau, Riley Dennis, and Landen Davis, clocked a winning time of 8:16.46, a dramatic improvement over their earlier-season results.
“At some meets this season, I didn’t even think we’d make it to states,” said Davis. “But when Hunter came over, it was like a gift from God. We needed someone to believe in us, and our coach, Kasey Sapp, never gave up on us.”
Oates, who normally focused on short sprints and baseball, embraced the challenge of the 800-meter relay.
“I just wanted to stay with the lead group and give my team a shot,” he said. “They took care of the rest.”
Across the field, other local athletes turned in strong performances. In the Class A girls shot put, Doddridge County’s Brooke Burnside captured the state title with a 33-0.75 throw, even though it fell three feet short of her personal best.
“It’s still amazing to win a state championship,” Burnside said.
Charleston Catholic’s Telina Williams was runner-up, while Tyler Consolidated’s Juliana Lattea placed third.
In Class AAA high jump action, Parkersburg South senior Navi Hewitt overcame injury concerns to secure third place with a leap of 6-8.
“I’ve been battling heel pain,” Hewitt said, “but I made it here and gave it everything I had. I’m just grateful.”
Williamstown also made a mark in the girls Class AA pole vault, placing three vaulters in the top seven. Grace Boone placed second at 10 feet, Izzy Zide took fourth, and Cate Berdine came in seventh.
“Grace is one of the best in the state,” said assistant coach Jason Buttrey. “It just wasn’t her day, but she’ll be back stronger.”
Williamstown’s 4×800 relay also came up just short, finishing second behind Herbert Hoover, whose anchor leg was powered by standout freshman Maysen Fletcher. Williamstown’s Ava Lightfritz spoke candidly after the race.
“We worked hard all season for this,” Lightfritz said. “But sometimes the outcome doesn’t go your way. It motivates us to push harder for next time.”
Meanwhile, in the Class A girls 4×800, St. Marys finished third after Anna Bennett delivered a strong opening leg to give her team an early lead. Charleston Catholic took first place.
“We gave it all to God and our training,” said Bennett. “I just wanted to do my part for the team.”
As the state meet continues, Magnolia and several area teams have already etched their names in the record books—through grit, teamwork, and a belief that with hard work, anything is possible.
