Sprinters Pace Woodrow Wilson Boys 3rd-Place Finish at States

The saying goes that "iron sharpens iron."

The Woodrow Wilson boys track team is a classic example.

Led by a bevy of speedsters, the Flying Eagles put on a strong performance Saturday at the 2025 West Virginia State Track Meet at UC Stadium on Laidley Field.

Bringing home state titles in the 100 meter dash, 4x100 meter relay and 4x200 meter relay, Woodrow Wilson finished in third place (67 points) overall in the team competition, behind University (95 points) and Hurricane (80 points) in Class AAA.

Leading the weekend for the Flying Eagles was the senior trio of Gabriel Kidd, Daniel Walling and Concord University commit Christian Stewart.

The Beckley threesome combined with junior Myles Walters to win the state championship in 4x100 meter relay and the 4x200 meter relay.

With Walling running lead-off, followed by Walters, Kidd and Stewart in the anchor leg, the Flying Eagles finished a head of second place Washington in both events.

Kidd had the biggest day for Woodrow Wilson winning the title in the 100 meter dash and finishing third in the 200 meter dash.

After missing the final in the 100 meter a year ago, Kidd refused to be denied even after a slight hiccup in the opening seconds.

"I actually tripped a little on my third or fourth step, so I got really scared," Kidd said. "I pushed through and I'm really glad I won that state championship."

Following a slow start to the track season, Kidd, who will join the Air Force after graduation, found his groove and overtook his teammates as the regional and state meets rolled around.

"I came out really slow because I had an injury. I healed and worked on my craft a little more," Kidd said. "Daniel has pushed me to run faster. I don't like to lose either. Practices were like a state race every time. We are all top-5 in the state."

Kidd also received a burst of confidence heading to Charleston after a win in the extremely tough AAA Region 3 meet.

"We were the best region in the state. I believe all top-8 from our region went to states," Kidd said. "So I knew at states, where I won that regional, I had a pretty good chance to win it. Last year was stacked and this year was stacked. It's amazing because I will probably never run track again, so it's good to go out with a bang."

Stewart finished fifth in the 100 meter dash and Walling was eighth. Walling had a fifth place finish in the 200 meter.

M.J. Staples, Jasiah Miller, Preston Clary and A.J. Thomas combined to finish second in the Shuttle Hurdles relay.

Staples also finished fourth in the 110 meter High Hurdles and fifth in the 300 meter Hurdles to earn All-state honors given to the top-8 finishers in each event.

Sophomore Vance Lindley took eighth in the 800 meter run, while freshman Kezamai Mathis was fifth in the Long Jump.