Gallery by Heather Belcher
Beckley – Erica Hegele could have disassociated herself from track in Shady Spring and still been a legend. Her 100-meter hurdle time in the 2019 state trials is still a Class AA record.
Her lore grew Thursday night.
In her first year as the boys track and field coach at Shady Spring the Tigers snapped a two-year regional title drought, claiming the program’s first Region 3 championship since 2021.
The Tigers claimed the title in a thriller, besting Nicholas County 138-134.
Trailing Nicholas County by three points heading into the final event – the 4×400 relays – the four-man squad of Jack Billeter, Eli Jordan, Reid Radford and Seth Farmer left no doubt, besting the field by nearly 12 seconds.
“I can’t even explain it and I’m not quite sure who it can be accredited to but definitely these boys who have worked so hard,” Hegele said. “I coach with my mom and my old coaches and they have done everything and they’ve given me support. They’ve taken me under their wing and helped me out. We had a very rough start to the season with two major injuries in the first two meets, but honestly I’m quite speechless at the moment because I kind of went into the season I was like, ‘Okay, it’s a building year and we’ll take it step by step.’ And these boys really came in and they were like, ‘No, we don’t want to take it step by step, kick our butts and do what you got to do and let’s win this thing’ and that’s what they did.”
The moment Hegele realized her squad cemented the regional title was a euphoric one and an instant highlight for the former standout who won state titles in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles in 2018 and ’19.
“I think everyone is shocked when I say this – I think I was a great track athlete and I think I had a lot of potential and talent but I’ve never been as happy as I am coaching these boys,” Hegele said. “They are always an eventful time to be around. One day they’re ready the other day we went to work handoffs the last practice before and I went to the concession stand and got a lollipop because they wouldn’t settle down to do anything. They keep you on your toes and they – I can’t explain it. I really can’t. I wish I could but it is definitely one of the happiest moments of my life.”
On the girls side the Tigers continued their dominance in the region, capturing the team title with 210 points, ahead of Herbert Hoover which finished second with 109.
“It’s awesome and coaching with Erica has been fun,” girls head coach Vince Culicerto said. “I can pick at her or I can get on her or I can yell at her because I used to anyway, but she didn’t take much yelling and it’s been great to have her around. She started working with these kids and getting after it doing flex days way before the season. I was real impressed with how she worked with these kids and worked with them all – boys and girls but that’s how we do it at our school.
“We coach together. I coach the girls and boys hurdles and Erica works with the girls and boys speed team. We work together and the team practices together every day. And we think that’s the best way to do it. And Erica did a super job, her mom (Elizabeth) is the assistant coach and she did an outstanding job and Doc’s my assistant but girls and boys workout all season just no problems. They’re hard workers and I’m tickled to death that they both got the win tonight.”
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Amir Hairston’s athletic journey has been full of peaks and valleys.
The Bluefield senior earned first-team all-state honors in football and was a part of the 4×100 and 200 relay teams that claimed state titles in 2022.
It’s been mostly downhill since.
His junior season ended when he broke his ankle against Beckley and his senior year was lost to a torn ACL last summer.
A Fairmont State football signee, Hairston returned to the scene of his first injury Thursday and earned some redemption. The speedy senior claimed first place in the finals of the 100-meter dash at Class AA Region 3 track and field championships at Van Meter Stadium, securing a spot in the state track meet at Laidley Field in Charleston next week.
“It really feels good,” Hairston smiled. “You know, I haven’t played in over two years now. I just love doing what I do. I’m glad I got back to – well I’m not fully back to where I want to be – but I’m glad I’m here, competing with other people. My first surgery, I was going through it. I was sad. I didn’t think I was gonna get to walk again and then just to get back here is amazing!”
If Hairston can stay healthy he’ll have a chance to contend for a title next week. His time of 11.49 seconds is just outside the top 10 in Class AA this season but he ran with an injury.
“I stepped on a nail yesterday and had to get a shot,” Hairston laughed. “So I’m trying to stay clear and win against anybody I line up against. I love competing!”
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Hairston isn’t the only Beaver hunting for hardware next week.
On the girls side freshman Iyana Patton isn’t short on confidence.
She set a new personal record in the 100-meter preliminaries finishing in 12.75 seconds the best time in all of Class AA this season according to result compiled by Athletic.net.
“I’m a freshman,” Patton said. “I’m trying to set an example for all the underdog freshmen. Everybody just thinks freshman aren’t and I’m trying to set an example for them.”
Patton is a track newcomer, taking up the sport on a recommendation.
“I didn’t even want to run track,” Patton said. “My basketball coach (Ernie Gilliard) told me it was good for me. So I started and then he was like, push yourself and then I did. I like it a lot now. It’s so fun! I don’t even think about winning, I just like competing out here with my Beaver Family.”
The camaraderie has been important for Patton. She’s chasing a state championship as an individual but also as a member of the 4×200 relay team. The Beavers’ best time 1:49.89, is over a full second better than any other in Class AA this season.
“I’ve been watching the times,” Patton said. “In the 200 we’re No. 1 in the state. I’m trying to get my seniors what they want.”
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Nicholas County’s Adrienne Truman was seemingly a lock to win the Class AA high-jump title last season. And then she didn’t.
Truman’s thought a lot about that this year and how humbling the results were.
“Last year I was really disappointed because I was No. 1 for most of the year,” Truman said. “When I got up to states I really got in my head. This year I’ve tried to focus on the mental side of things and tried not to think about it too much. For the higher heights I would get scared and not try to jump them. This year I just go at them all the time.”
That approach has paid dividends.
Truman’s best height this year is 5-foot-4.25 inches. That’s best in the state regardless of class and she’s consistently hit 5-foot-4 down the stretch including Thursday when she claimed first-place honors.
It’s largely a result of her new approach, one that has helped across the board in other sports such as basketball, her first love.
“The mental stuff has helped me a lot because I would get nervous before games,” Truman laughed. “I’m used to it now and I still do get a little nervous but it’s not as bad.”
A full list of results can be viewed below. The top three individuals and relay teams in the final events qualify for the state meet while the top four in the high jump and pole vault events qualify as well.
WVSSAC Class AA - Region 3 Championship - Results - Track & Field Meet