Local Sports

Tigers split track meet with Indians

Brackbill leads the way for EJ

COCOLAMUS -- East Juniata earned a split between the boys and girls track and field teams with Millersburg in a Tri-Valley League meet on Tuesday.

"I was just hoping to do well, I was not expecting to do as well as we did," Tigers coach Johnna Towsey said. "We had a couple kids really pull through with some PRs and pulled in some second and third points. A couple of the younger ones stepped up as well. I'm just tickled pink."

On the boys side, the Tigers came out victorious by the final score of 92-49 and were led by Jake Brackbill, who dominated all three throwing events, winning the javelin with a throw of 137 feet, 5 inches. In the shot put, Brackbill threw for 38 feet, 2 inches before winning the discus event throwing 110 feet, 9 inches.

His teammate, Ashton Imes, came in second place in the discus and javelin. Imes scored himself a personal best in the javelin, throwing 122 feet, 3 inches.

"Jake is such an athlete. He is quick and coachable," Towsey said. "He is picking up stuff very quickly. Ashton Imes really did an exceptional job with that 122-foot throw."

The Tigers also swept Millersburg in both the 110 and 300 hurdles event with Rowan Smith, Coy Shaffer and Joseph Book finishing first, second and third in both races.

Brody Powell, Caleb Seeger and Tim Kelly all won in their respective events with Powell in the 800 meter run, Seeger in the 200 meter run and Kelly in the 3200 meter run.

"Caleb has really stepped up, working hard," Towsey said. "Coy and Rowan are good leaders. You can always count on them for some points. Gannon Ryan is working harder, Freed--he has really surprised me, really stepping up and doing well."

However, the East Juniata girls struggled, falling to Millersburg 107-32 in their meet. Though in fairness to the Lady Tigers their loss was largely due to the low numbers on their roster.

What they lack in depth, they more than made up for it with heart and hustle. Nothing showed that more than in the 4×400 meter relay.

The Tigers quickly fell early on in the race, losing the first two legs. In the third leg, Brianna Henry managed to claw her way into the Millersburg lead and by the time that Henry reached back to the line to hand off the baton, she had caught up to them. Henry then handed the baton off to Kierstyn Fogle, who bursted out of the gates and took over the race from there and powered East Juniata for the win.

That wasn't the only big moment for Fogle, as she also won in a couple of individual events as well. Fogle placed first in both in the 400 and 800 meter run races.

Other highlights for the girls was Marin Varner, who came in first place in the 300 hurdles. Henry also got herself a pair of personal bests for the day finishing second in the 100 hurdles with a time of 18.2 seconds. Henry got her second personal best in the triple jump, leaping 30 feet, good for a third place finish. Cadee Becker came in second place in javelin throwing 72 feet, 6 inches.

"Kierstyn always digs down so deep. She's a team leader. She's an excellent athlete," Towsey said. "Those girls worked so hard. You saw how we came back. We just don't have the numbers. But Cadee Becker is showing a lot of promise in javelin."

The East Juniata boys now have a record of (1-1) while the girls fall to (0-2) and will look forward to the next meet at Susquenita on Tuesday.

"The guys did a nice job I was very pleased and very happy for them," Towsey said.