LEBANON — A pair of Mifflin County Christian Academy distance runners went up against the best in the Keystone Christian Education Association at the league’s cross country championships, and both came home sporting top-four finishes.

Racing at South Hills Park in Lebanon on April 8, Ethan Angney placed second in the Senior High Division on the 2.0-mile course. In the Junior High Division, Grant Ort crossed the line in fourth, racing on the 1.75-mile course.

TRACK AND FIELD

Huskies earn strong finishes at LHU Classic

LOCK HAVEN — While Mifflin County High School’s Distance Medley Relay was making history in Philadelphia, the rest of the Huskies track and field team turned in a Friday afternoon at the Lock Haven University High School Classic.

Mifflin County competed against 21 teams and came away with several top-eight finishes. The boys team tied for ninth place and the girls team finished 11th.

Huskies head coach Tamara Sechler said the highlight of the meet came from Hart Oden, who earned runner-up honors in the boys 2000-meter steeplechase with a time of 6:39.41. His performance led a strong distance showing for the Huskies.

On the girls side, Amilia Coffey placed fourth in the 2000-meter steeplechase in 8:40.61. Taylor Kenepp delivered two top-five finishes, taking fifth in both the 400 meters (1:00.11) and the 200 meters (26.59).

The boys team added several more scoring performances. Aiden Scavitti placed third in the 1600 meters in 4:30.49 and Hoyt Rodenbaugh finished third in the 3200 meters in 9:40.09. In the throws, Dekker Pietzsch earned seventh in the discus with a mark of 121-2. The Huskies also picked up two placements in the javelin, with Reece Bell taking third at 169-10 and Jack Suydam finishing sixth at 151-4.

Juniata battles Bearcats in defeat

HUNTINGDON — After a rain delay Friday afternoon, the Juniata Indians were able to complete their meet at Huntingdon, turning in a long list of individual highlights despite team losses on both sides.

The Juniata girls fell 103-45 but produced several top finishes. Emme Freed led the way with a win in the 300-meter hurdles in 53.50 for a personal best and added a second in the 100 hurdles in 19.29. Sara Montoya placed second in the 300 hurdles in 55.64 and took third in the pole vault at 6-0. Willow Aurand added thirds in both hurdle events.

Carolyn Heidenreich won the 800 in 2:38.3 and tied for second in the high jump at 4-4. Aubryn Deihl finished second in the 800 in 2:46.32 and second in the javelin at 78-5. Selena Mayall-Marker placed third in the 200 in 30.59.

In the jumps, Sylvia Brubaker swept the long and triple jump with marks of 15-7½ and 33-½, the latter a personal best. Madison Copeland added a second in the high jump and a third in the triple jump. Yaa Serwaa placed third in the shot put at 25-11.

The girls also recorded several non-scoring personal bests, including long jump marks from Camryn Burd (14-0), Copeland (13-4), Olivia Mummah (13-3), Rylee Delancey (12-4) and Leni Kopf (11-8). Burd added a PR of 29-2½ in the triple jump and Mackenzie Wray threw a personal best 41-11 in the javelin.

On the boys side, Juniata fell 102-48 but saw standout performances from Jasper Shepps, who won the 110 hurdles in 14.69, the 300 hurdles in 40.63 and the high jump at 6-4. Shepps also won the long jump at 20-7.

Anthony Maradiaga placed third in the 300 hurdles in 47.11 for a personal best and won the pole vault at 12-0. Alex Armstrong cleared 6-0 in the high jump for a personal best and added thirds in the long jump at 19-0 and the triple jump at 41-8 for another PR. Arthur Hazard also hit a personal best in the triple jump at 40-1.

Distance runners added more scoring as Joel Hardin broke the five-minute barrier for the first time with a 4:59.6 for second in the 1600. John Randolph ran a personal best 5:23.7 for third. Blake Schreffler ran a personal best 59.99 for third in the 400.

In the throws, Sammy Spriggle placed second in both the shot put at 38-8½ and the javelin at 131 feet for a personal best. Dekker Pietzsch added seventh in the discus at 121-2.

Non-scoring boys PRs included Colten Rowles in the 110 hurdles (21.01), Zeran Clark (12.83) and Alex Portzline (13.01) in the 100, Matthew Mayberry in the 800 (2:43.69), Max Ricker in the 200 (28.18), Portzline in the long jump (16-0), Kade Wagner in the triple jump (36-11½), Portzline in the triple jump (34-8½), Erick Betancourt in the shot put (27-11½) and Lucas Doydora in the discus (79-4½).

“We had some good performances today,” coach Shari Miller said. “The majority of the girls jumped to personal best distances in the long jump. All of the boys jumped personal best in the triple jump. A few of the boys broke monumental barriers.”