HS Track: Greenbrier East girls riding high expectations

Marshall University commit Annie Whited leads the Lady Spartans quest for a state title

To say the expectations are high for Greenbrier East sprinter Annie Whited and the Lady Spartans track team is an understatement.

With the move to four classifications this year, Greenbrier East, who finished third last year in AAA, instantly became the favorite with the bulk of 2025 team returning.

And, as the saying goes, the high octane Lady Spartans are off and running.

Following a strong showing last year at the state meet, Annie Whited has paced Greenbrier East with strong performances in the speed events in 2026.

At the 2025 state meet, Whited was the state champion in the 400 meter dash, while finishing runner up in the 100 meter dash and 200 meter dash.

Whited also combined with Kiana McClung, Noelle McClintic and Avery Thompson to win the state title in the 4x200 meter relay, earning the Paul Steinbecker Memorial Award given for the High Point Winner.

The Marshall University commit has not missed a beat. If anything, she has stepped on the throttle even harder.

So far, Whited has recorded the fastest time across the state in the 100 meter, 200 meter and 400 meter dash.

Whited talked about her track career, which included all-state honors in the 400 meter dash as a freshman and sophomore, the team as a whole and signing with Marshall.

Greenbrier East has several runners joining Whited with top-5 times across the state.

Cross Country standout Neena McClintic has had premier times in the 400 meter dash (3rd), 800 meter run (4th), 1600 meter run (2nd) and 3200 meter run (3rd).

Avery Thompson has the fastest time in the Mountain State in the 300 meter low hurdles and the fourth-best time in the 100 meter high hurdles.

Kiana McClung owns the fourth-best time in the 100 meter dash and 200 meter dash.

While the Lady Spartans are still juggling combinations for the relays, they do own the best times thus far in the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and the shuttle hurdle relay.

The top times during the regular season do not always equate to state championships, but Greenbrier East does have talent and experience on it's side.

The regional meet for Class AAA will take place, May 14 at Herbert Hoover High School, while the state meet is scheduled for May 22-23 at UC Stadium on Laidley Field.