LOCK HAVEN — The future of Mifflin County and Juniata County cross country was on display as the junior high boys and girls cross country teams competed at the Pennsylvania Middle School Championship meet on Saturday at Lock Haven University.

“It was a great day to race cross county,” Juniata coach Shari Miller said. “This is the fourth year for us competing at the Pennsylvania Middle School Championships, but this is the first year that we have had a boys and girls team compete. Previous years, we have only had a couple boys and girls compete in the championship race.”

The day started off with the boys running on the flat and fast course. Seventh-grader Evan Yackey started out fast and was 11th at the mile mark. He did not give up even one place from the mile mark to the finishing line, taking 11th place overall with a time of 10:52.6.

“Evan showed how tough he is,” Juniata coach Jeff Miller said. “When he got to the mile in 5:24, we thought that he went out too hard and was going to pay the price later in the race, but he proved us wrong staying in his 11th place and making the podium.”

Eighth-grader Matthew Corman ran tough for a 68th place finish in 11:59.9. Eighth-grader Elliott Miller ended up 105th with a time of 12:28.8, followed by seventh-graders Landon Miller in 116th place in 12:44.8 and Austin Phillips not far behind in 122nd place in 12:52.1.

Next for the Indians was eighth-grader Alex Copenheaver, who was 150th in 13:21.50. Eighth-grader Andy Rutherford was 175th in 14:30.4, and seventh-grader Mason Hardin was 197th in 17:05.30.

“Everyone ran a personal best time today,” Jeff Miller added. “It was great to see everyone’s hard work pay off and to watch their progression from the beginning of the season. Some of them ran what we knew they were capable of, but needed to run with confidence and they did today.”

On the girls side, the Indians were led by eighth-grader Hannah Wirt in 61st place with a 13:28.90. She was followed by eighth-grader Moira Doydora in 84th in 13:58.40 and eighth-grader Aubrey Fogle in 101st place in 14:09.60.

Finishing in 113th place in a time of 14:26.7 was eighth-grader Sophia Laub, who ran before was a pack of three eighth-graders in finished in 135-137 places: Charlotte Barner in 14:46.20; Claire Ciarrocchi in 14:46.30 and Juliet Heidenreich in 14:48.4.

Eighth-grader Ella Snyder was next in 149th place in 15:02.5, with eighth-grader Avery Mitchell in 154th place in 15:17.7, and eighth-graders Eowyn Rendall and Adi Peck in 165th and 166th place in 15:46.0 and 15:48.2. Rounding out the Indian runners was seventh-grader Teagan Burger in 193rd in 15:48.20.

“Juliet, Avery and Adi ran huge personal best times today,” Shari Miller added. “No matter how big or small of a personal best they ran today, they all finished on a high for the season and should be very proud of themselves. We are very proud of what each and every one of them have accomplished this season.”

MC JH girls place fifth

LOCK HAVEN — The Mifflin County junior high cross country teams came away with a fifth-place team finish on the girls side, a 10th place individual finish, and sixth personal records at the Pennsylvania Middle School Championship meet on Saturday at Lock Haven University.

Paced by Daliyah Bargas’ 10th overall finish with a time of 12:12 over the two-mile course, the Husky girls claimed fifth place among the best teams in the state. Teammates Elissa Bell (12:45) and Lillen Adams (12:51) were 29th and 31st, boosting the team scoring. Maddy Yoder was 74th in 13:45, followed by Jakalya Colon in 93rd place with a PR time of 14:04, and Adalyn Lutz (14:53) in 141st place.

All three of the Mifflin County boys nailed personal records as Levi Anderson crossed the finish line in 11:21 for 31st place, Kenneth Swartzel took 38th at 11:38, and Aiden Wible was 114th in 12:39.

“Though short on competitors, Mifflin County consistently demonstrated strong will and perseverance throughout the season against teams, including those in the Mid-Penn Conference, fielding two, three and four times as many runners,” Huskies coach Kim Bennett said.

Bennett and coach Gary Ishler want to thank the athletes for all their dedication and willingness to take on any challenge put in front of them, both during practice and on race days. Team members demonstrated a powerful work ethic and mental toughness — traits vital to success in distance running.

“The coaches would also like to thank the team parents for their enthusiasm and support throughout the season,” Ishler added.

Using this season’s success as a springboard, the junior high program is looking for more runners and depth for next year. Interested sixth- and seventh-graders are welcome to participate in twice weekly open runs beginning in a few weeks at Lewistown Intermediate School. Information on the start date will be announced soon.