APRIL 18 Edition - 1st of TWO

HARRY GREEN STORY FOR BHS

by Jeff Toquinto
Editor of The Bridgeport News

In a season where Bridgeport High School’s girls track
team have already made plenty of statements, they save
their loudest for Saturday. Using the first-ever Harry
Green Invitational as their stage, the Lady Indians
got past Grafton for a 154-138 win in the 12-team
girls portion of the event.
The boys, who battled through several key injuries,
also fared well. BHS finished behind Ritchie County
(125) and Preston (95) with 58 points.
For the girls, coach Jim Dawson watched as his Indians
managed to score in every event and win every field
event. That depth and field wins alone may have won
the meet, but the performances of several of the
Indians all but guaranteed it.
Dawson pointed to Rachel Williams, Jamie Bragg, Ali
Moore and Theresa Melko as all having huge meets.
Melko managed to lead the Tribe in both the running
and field events. Even though she finished fifth in
the 3200-meter run, she actually broke the school
record by five seconds. That record was held by Rachel
Burns, who eventually ran cross-county at West
Virginia University.
However, it was in the discus and in the shot put
where she dominated with first place finishes. Her
winning toss of 117 feet and 8 inches in the discus
would have been good enough for fourth in the boys
portion of the met.
Melko added points in the 400-meter dash. She finished
fourth.
Williams’ total also was a smorgasbord of events.
Along with a first place in the high jump, she was
third in both the 100-meter dash and long jump, as
well as a member of the winning 4x100 team,
Ali Moore, last year’s state champion in the 100-meter
hurdles, didn’t disappoint. She not only won that
event, but was a member of the winning 4x100 and
shuttle hurdle relay teams, as well as the fifth place
4x200 team.
Bragg also found success on the 4x100 team, was first
in the long jump and third in the 200-meter dash.
Dawson was also pleased with the 8 foot, 6-inch pole
vault mark of Emilee Stout, which he said is the
highest vault in Class AA-A so far this year.
“It was a total team effort,” said Dawson. “Mentally,
this gives the team confidence and a positive outlook
at every event.”
Although the boys didn’t win, coach Jon Griffith
wasn’t too down on his team. The finish, he said, may
have been expected.
“We have had several athletes banged up and a few who
could not compete Saturday,” he said. “Considering the
condition of our team, I was pleased with our finish.”
The injuries hit junior standouts Chris Heater and
Chris Hampton, who were front runners in a few events.
Griffith said both developed hamstring woes and may
miss the next few meets.
Senior Joe Ielapi did help the Tribe in its point
total quest. He finished second in both the 110-meter
and 300-meter high hurdles, while helping the shuttle
hurdle team finish second.
"We seem to have a lot of better than average kids,"
said Griffith. "But, not very many standouts."
Griffith may have a point. Although placing in a
number of events, the boys did not win any individual
or group events.
BHS was in the Doddridge Host Harrison Invitational
Tuesday and will take part in the Ritchie County
Invitational at 4 p.m. Friday.