Center County track and field athletes compete in the Mountain League Championship

Many Center County track and field teams competed Tuesday for the final time of the season.

It was the Hollidaysburg boys’ and girls’ teams that stole the show as both were crowned Mountain League champions at the championships in Bellefonte. Red Raiders athletics head coach Seth Miller said the championships both raised the sport’s profile in the area and allowed his school to host an event that brought with it fierce competition.

“I thought we did pretty well,” Miller said. “Hollidaysburg – we knew they were going to be the team to beat. They’re just a lot deeper than us, but overall I’ve been happy with our efforts on the girls’ and boys’ sides. Today there were a lot of PRs (personal records). Lots of kids came out today to compete which was fun. That’s what I like about this meet–eight schools that are fairly balanced, and each has someone to compete against. It’s just a really fun meeting.”

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Ashleigh Aukerman of Bellefonte and Alexis Durn of Penns Valley at the start of the 1600 meter dash during the Mountain League Track and Field Championships on Tuesday May 10, 2022. Abby Drey [email protected]

Below are Center County’s medalists at the Mountain League Championships.

bald eagle

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Bald Eagle Area’s Abigail Hoover competes in the shot put Tuesday, May 10, 2022 during the Mountain League Track and Field Championships. Abby Drey [email protected]

Bald Eagle took home gold and bronze medals in the pole vault with the vaults of Kevin Taylor (12-03.00) and Chase Thompson (11-03.00). Abby Hoover won the girls’ discus final with a throw of 101-04.00 and her teammate Katie Snyder took bronze with a throw of 93-00.00. Hoover was narrowly edged out in the girls’ javelin to finish second (113-00.00). Snyder also took bronze in the shot put with a throw of 29-9:25.

“We were very happy with the performance of our team,” said head coach Ronald Hoover. “They fought throughout the race and several athletes set personal records.”

Matthäus Knepp’s throw of 126-02.00 in the discus throw was enough for second place. The Eagles came on the board with a third-place finish in the 4×400 (3:39.07). Kieran Jodon finished the shot put with a throw of 42.65 feet.

Bellefonte

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Ashleigh Aukerman of Bellefonte and Alexis Durn of Penns Valley at the start of the 1600 meter dash during the Mountain League Track and Field Championships on Tuesday May 10, 2022. Abby Drey [email protected]

The biggest win for the Bellefonte boys was in the shot put. William Spratt took the circle and took a big slide step, throwing the metal ball 43.25 feet for first place. The Lady Raiders were the focus of the 3,200 meter race as Emma Liadis took first place in 13:11.23 and Ashleigh Aukerman was second in 13:34.56.

Eric Bennett finished second in the 800m with a time of 2:08.50. Chase Ebeling was third in the 1,600m (4:48.09). Ebeling (10:17.30) and Caleb Vinnedge (10:27.49) finished second and third in the 3,200m. The Bellefonte 4x400m team placed second (3:38.70) and the 4x800m team placed third (8:50.71). Landyn Miller was third in the triple jump with a distance of 41-00.00. Third was Spratt in the discus throw (124-06.00).

Penns Valley

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Anna Stitzer of Penns Valley smiles as she runs the 1600 meter dash during the Mountain League Track and Field Championships Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Stitzer took first place with a time of 5:36.06. Abby Drey [email protected]

The Lady Rams and Rams teams had four winning groups. Sisters Anna Stitzer and Abby Stitzer took first place in their respective races. Anna Stützer won the 1,600 meter run in 5:36. Abby Stitzer had a time of 2:28 to pass all runners.

In the boys, Micah Good was the only individual winner. He took first place in the 400-meter dash, sprinting past the competition in 53:65. The Penns Valley 4 x 100m team showed up big with Logan Crater, Zach Braucht, Tanner Ilgen and Good taking first place with a time of 44.76.

Penns Valley Athletics head coach Garrett Milner understood the challenges of having fewer athletes for certain events. However, this did not prevent his program from having multiple winners on both the girls’ and boys’ sides.

“I thought we fought really well,” he said. “I thought we lacked depth at some events and that hurt us a bit. From an individual perspective, we’ve had a lot of kids with PRs (personal records) and first places. That was great to see.”

Alexis Durn also finished second in the girls’ 1,600m with a time of 5:42, and the 4x800m relay featuring Durn, Ann-Marie McMurtrie, Ayva Fetterolf and Abby Stitzer finished second with a time of 10:58 .

Colin Niewinski also took second place in the boys’ javelin with a throw of 153-11. Braucht took second place in the long jump with a jump of 20-2.5. Braucht was third in the 100m (11.33) and Jack O’Donald third in the 400m with a time of 54.85.

Philipsburg-Osceola

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Chad Muckey of Philipsburg-Osceola competes in the 1600 meter dash Tuesday May 10, 2022 during the Mountain League Track and Field Championships. Abby Drey [email protected]

Philipsburg-Osceola’s standout javelin thrower, Kalista Butler, did what she does best – she pulled back the metal javelin and threw it as far as she could. Her throw of 113-10.00 earned her first place in the event. Reilly Vroman also continued to shine in the shot put. The senior took first place in the girls with a toss of 31-08.50.

Chad Muckey clocked a time of 4:32.67 in the boys’ 1,600m and finished second. Kylie Timko finished third in the girls’ 1,600m (13:52.32).

Kyle J. Andrews is a 2018 graduate of the University of Baltimore, home of the perpetually unbeaten bees. Before joining the Center Daily Times, he spent time as a sports reporter for the Baltimore Sun Media Group, covering the Ravens and Orioles for 105.7 The Fan, Baltimore Beatdown and Fox Sports 1340 AM.

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