COCOLAMUS - To say that Tuesday's track matchup between the East Juniata girls and Mifflinburg girls teams were very evenly matched would be an understatement.
After a day of competing, the two teams ended the day the way they began it, tied.
In the end, the both had to settle for a final score of 70 1/2.
On the boys' side, the Tigers used a strong performance from its field team, mixed with numerous strong second- and third-place performances to defeat the Indians, 81 1/3-59 2/3 in their home opener at East Juniata High School.
The weather seemed perfectly fit for strong on-track performances. The East Juniata track team was led by David Brantley who took top spots in the 110-meter hurdles (15.8) and in the 300-meter hurdles (43.5). Teammate Cody Scholl also finished in tops in two events, winning the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash (24.4).
Rounding out the first place finishes on the track was Justin Murphy in the 400-meter run (56.3) and the 1600-meter relay team that finished with a time of 3:47.1.
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East Juniata hosts Greenwood Thursday
In the field events, the Tigers swept two events. In the sweep, East Juniata dominated the javelin and the long jump.
Taking first in the javelin was Tyler Hepner with a launch of 142-6. Hepner was followed by Scholl (137-4) and Adam Strawser (130-6).
Hepner was the team's big winner taking first place in three events. He finished first in the discus with a throw of 105-6 and led the shot put with a toss of 43-8.
Jake Kauffman took top honors in the long jump, leaping a distance of 17-1. Rounding out the list were Tyler Fawver (16-7) and Melvin Smith (16-1 1/2).
Kauffman also took top honors in the triple jump with a leap of 35-5.
"We told them today going into the meet that it should be really close. We thought maybe being at home we would have a slight edge that we don't have up there," East Juniata coach Mark Ritzman said. "The guys stepped up. The girls stepped up. I have to compliment the Millersburg coach who came in and said she wanted to compete without the pole vault, plus she didn't take the points. It takes a classy coach to agree to not take the pole vault points."
The girls also found success in the field events, as the Tigers took first in all but one of the events.
Picking up multiple wins in their events were Mollie Scholl and Amelia Spade.
Scholl took first in the javelin and the shot put with throws of 96-6 and 29-2, respectively.
Spade won both the high jump (4-6) and the triple jump (32-7).
Rounding out the first place finishes in the field area was Brooke Maneval, who topped out with a final best of 13-3 1/2 in the long jump.
Despite numerous second- and third-place finishes in the track events, East Juniata was only able to manage one first and that came in the 400-meter run.
Taking the 400 was Amber Knouse, finishing with a top time of 1:06.4.
East Juniata is back in action Thursday as the host Greenwood in another Tri-Valley League contest.
