Agee back in his element on the track
Greenbrier West state champion hurdler Isaac Agee relaxed on the turf at Van Meter Stadium Friday night, basking in the warm evening sun.
Agee was clearly in his element once again.
Roughly seven months back, that surreal moment was very much in doubt.
During game four of the football season in late September, against Pocahontas County, the senior three-sport standout's high school sports career took an unfortunate turn.
"I was running a sweep to the outside and I got tackled," Agee recalled. "My leg slipped in the mud and my knee just buckled behind it. I tore my ACL."
Initially believing the injury wasn't severe, Agee quickly learned his situation was much different than what appeared on the surface.
"I didn't think it was that bad, only because the pain wasn't that bad. I later found out that if you tear something completely, the pain really isn't that bad normally," Agee explained. "The first thing that came to mind was track and if I was going to be able to get back. That was the first thing that I asked the doctors."
The reigning Class A state champion in the 110 meter high hurdles had good reason to be anxious about his track career.
Agee stormed past the Class A field in the hurdles last May, winning by a full second. His time (14.76) that day only paled in comparison to Class AAA competitors Dalton Ferguson (14.72) from Spring Valley and Jai’Den Smith (14.75) from Hurricane.
The night before he won the individual medal at the state meet, Agee was part of the Greenbrier West state champion shuttle-hurdles team which included Colton Dunbar, Randy Keener and Benjamin McDaniel.
Photo courtesy of the WVSSAC
While it was clearly not the path he wanted to traverse during his senior year, Agee refused to be bitter. In his eyes, the events of his life were all part of God's plan.
"One of the first things that I talked about with my family was this was all for a reason. There was no reason to be mad about it," Agee said. "I don't think at any point I was mad about it. I am not going to say I wasn't upset and sad that I could play basketball or couldn't play football the rest of my senior year. It is what it is. I am just glad I am at where I am right now."
Returning to the sport he loved naturally involved hard work, but Agee was also fortunate with the timing of his ACL surgery.
"I was fortunate to get the surgery so quick. Not even a week later. They told me that they thought I could be back, at least running track," Agee said. "My feeling from the start was that I could get back to track if I worked hard enough. It sucked in the beginning doing the lifting and when I got to do running, it sucked. I knew whatever happened, happened. It was God's plan."
Agee made his return to the hurdles just over a week ago at the Mountain Lion Invitational at Concord University. This past Friday night, he ran at the Pete Culicerto Hall of Fame Invitational at Woodrow Wilson.
In both meets, Agee was back where his finished his junior season, in first place.
"I knew I was going to be back, but until about a month ago, it was iffy when I would be back. They were telling me, by this time, I might be running 100 meters," Agee said. "We went back to the surgeon and he said I was good to try anything I wanted. Once I started trying stuff and breaking up scar tissue and stuff, it started feeling so much better."
The time of 15.46 seconds in the win at Concord University was the fastest time recorded in the state for Class A at that point in season. Agee bettered that time Friday night, running 15.15 seconds in Beckley.
"Comparing my times is definitely one thing that I have done, obviously. Last year in our first meet of the season, I ran either a high 15.3 or 15.4 on the dot," Agee said Friday night. "I was honestly pretty happy that I was at least there. Today, I really thought I was going to run in the 14's. It was low 15 today. So, I am thinking if I'm where I am at right now that I can get back to where I was last year pretty soon."
Submitted photo
There is also some special excitement for Agee in regards to running the shuttle hurdle relay, with teammates Brandon Poticher, Randy Keener and Colton Dunbar.
Dunbar has the second fastest individual 110 meter hurdle time (15.55), while now, after Friday night, Poticher has the third fastest time (15.76).
"We have all had the conversation that this is our year (together)," Agee said. "Freshman year it was me, Brandon Poticher and two seniors. Sophomore year, it was me, Brandon Poticher and Randy. We had another guy that was pretty good, but he wasn't really a hurdler."
"Last year Brandon got hurt, so it was just me and Randy, but Dunbar came last year. We added him and realized he was a good hurdler. He really made a difference on the team. We are super excited to have Brandon back this year, but when I got hurt, I was concerned. If I wasn't back, it would have really sucked because this was our first year to have everyone together."
Friday night the four Cavalier standouts came home first in the shuttles, besting second place Bluefield (AA) and Woodrow Wilson (AAA) by nearly two seconds.
Agee and the Cavaliers will participate in four meets prior to the Class A regional on May, 14 at Woodrow Wilson.
Provided they qualify, the state meet will be May 24 in Charleston at U.C. Stadium on Laidley Field.
Photo courtesy of the WVSSAC
