Sometimes one doesn't necessarily go looking for a column, it just seems to be obvious.
While browsing around the website runwv.com the other morning I happened across something which I felt was pretty interesting.
According to runwv.com, there are only three Class A freshmen thinclads in the Mountain State who are ranked in individual events for the upcoming state track and field meet on its list of top 10 best performances for boys in the single-A ranks.
Of that trio, all of them are from the Mid-Ohio Valley.
The first person I noticed was Wirt County distance runner Glenn McMillan, who as a freshman last fall was a Class AA/A state cross country qualifier.
"Of course, when he qualified for state in cross country that was kind of an indicator that the talent was there," said Tiger head track coach April Petrovsky.
"He works pretty hard to get the mileage in. We knew at the start of track season he had the potential to contend."
Although it won't be easy for McMillan to place this weekend in Charleston, the Tiger had the No. 7 best performance according to runwv.com in the 1600 and the 10th best in the 2-mile.
Paden City high jumper Kennedy Cain also made the short list. Cain not only competes in track, but he also was a member of the Wildcats' football and basketball teams.
Aside from qualifying to compete in three events at Charleston, just like McMillan, Cain is tied for the ninth best high jump effort at 5 feet, 8 inches in Class A.
"He's going in three events and the rest of my athletes are going in one event," noted Paden City head coach Kim Huffman. "Knowing what he did last year (in middle school) I was very excited for this season.
"Being just a freshman, I think he has so much potential to improve. He's good now, but by his senior year I think we'll see great things."
The waiting might not be as long for Doddridge County newcomer Dyllon Hayes. Not only is he competing in the pole vault for the first time in his career, but he's also doing quite well. That's evident considering his third place effort and career best vault of 13 feet at the Little Kanawha Conference championships has him ranked with the fourth best Class A mark.
"Probably six weeks ago he was going 9 feet, but he's worked real hard. He's fearless and he's pretty athletic," said DCHS head coach Bobby Burnside, who added, "he's exceeded our expectations this year."
West Virginia Wesleyan's Cuylor Edgell, the current reigning three-time WVIAC decathlon champion, owns the Bulldog school record of 14-6 in the pole vault. Hayes has gone 13 feet just once, but has vaulted 12-6 thrice.
"He hasn't produced like a freshman. He's produced like an upperclassman," said his coach. "This weekend, it will be fun.
"He just needs to go down there and do his best and not worry about the other competitors. He's had a tremendous season already."
Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com
