CHARLESTON — The WVSSAC Class AAA state track and field meet kicked off Thursday evening with representatives from multiple schools in Monongalia and Preston counties competing for state titles and looking to qualify for finals Friday.
All field events were in the final rounds with boys taking part in the discus throw, long jump and pole vault. The girls took their turn on high jump and shot put.
In the boys pole vault event, two Morgantown High team members and long-time friends, Lucas Howell and Landon Young, found themselves as part of the final five vaulters aiming to clear a height of 13 feet. After two competitors failed to clear 13, we were left with Howell, Young, and Harry Wallace of George Washington.
Wallace was unsuccessful at the next height of 13 feet, six inches, while the two Mohigans seniors each cleared the mark and found themselves facing off against one another in the state finals.
Howell was the first to clear the mark of 14 feet, earning the notch on his second attempt of three jumps. Young also missed his first jump and unlike his teammate, was unable to find a clear on his second jump. With the season and state title on the line, Young stepped up to the runway with his pole in hand and his teammate-turned-competitor cheering for him louder than anyone else.
“Come on now, let’s go,” MHS coach Jeff Core encouraged, willing his vaulter over the bar.
Young twisted his body at the apex of his jump, clearing the bar, and fell to the mat with a pump of his fists, forcing the jump off to continue. Howell waited at the bottom of the mat to congratulate Young, ecstatic of his teammates accomplishment. We weren’t done just yet.
After each missed their first attempt at the next height of 14 feet, six inches, Howell stepped up on his second attempt and launched himself feet first toward the sky. On the fall to the mat, he nicked the bar causing it to shake, but it came to a settle earning Howell the title if Young failed to match. After an unsuccessful third attempt by Young, Lucas Howell earned the state title for class AAA in the pole vault.
After finishing third (Young) and fourth (Howell) in 2021, the two knew that the finals could very well come down to a showdown between each other.
“Both of these two guys have really come into this thing together and shared these experiences all four years,” Core said. “They’re pretty much joined at the hip. Right after soccer season ended for Lucas, they trained together and did everything to get ready for the season in March. They have pushed each other throughout their careers and have consistently achieved bigger milestones and higher marks. We talked about this week that it could come down to a jump off between the two of them and with their development and hard work the sky was the limit.”
Young earned second place, improving on his third place finish a year ago. He said being able to put a one-two finish on the board with Howell means the world to him.
“It’s meant everything to me, we’ve been together since freshman year. Started this thing together and finishing together is huge,” Young said. “It’s really important for both of us and I couldn’t be more happy for him and I know he has worked really hard for this.”
Howell won a state title as a member of the MHS boys’ soccer team last fall, but this individual title in track is a little sweeter for the senior vaulter.
“I actually haven’t hit this height since I saw you at Clay-Battelle last season,” Howell said jokingly, reflecting on his performance. “As my last year, heck yes, and losing a year to COVID (in 2020) makes it even better because it just means I got there quicker. Beginning of the year I set a personal best and the end of the year I set a personal best and it feels so good.”
“I love that man [Young]. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have the drive that I have to work so hard. I actually wouldn’t enjoy it much either because it helps loosen me up when competing.”
Other Mohigans
MHS had another state title earned on Thursday night by Irene Riggs in the 3,200-meter race with a time of 10:14.16, nearly 40 seconds in front of second place.
As it stands, the MHS girls are first in the team standings with 20 points, while the boys are in second overall with 18 points.
The following Mohigans qualified for finals on Friday:
Izayah Everett – 100M dash
Marquis Mauney – 100M dash
TWEET – @ahhh_griff
