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MC, Juniata track teams shine at State College Invitational

UNIVERSITY PARK – The action started off hot and heavy for the Mifflin County Indoor Track And Field team Thursday night at the State College Invitational. The Huskies 4×800 team battled strong in the first event placing in the fourth place spot and in the process finished with a time of  8:50.23.

The team consisted of Chase Sheader, Robert Kuykendall, Dylan Kurtz and Seth Phillips.

Also picking up a first place win was Brayden Harris in the 3000-meter run. 

Harris has the lead from start to finish as he cruised to the victory. His winning time was 8:52.10. 

“It was kind of difficult for me. I didn’t have anyone to really run with. I usually pace myself in crowds. The only way I could pace myself was off of the times I was hearing. I started out a little too fast in the first mile. I was trying to see what it would be like to run at states,” Harris said. “I’m planning on running the 3000 there. I was trying to get a time of 8:45 or better.  But other than that it was a nice meet and a nice workout for me to see what it’s like running wise at states.” 

In the girls’ side, Mifflin County’s Joy Gailbraith also finished in First with an 11:34.53. 

Teams participating in the meet were the likes of State College, Altoona, Juniata, Williamsport, Penns Valley, Harrisburg, Selinsgrove, Shikellamy, St. Josephs, Indiana, Bellefonte, Hollidaysburg and Susquenita.

“It was exciting how the kids came out and done pretty well. This was probably the best meet we had all year,” Mifflin County coach Scott Gantz said. “We had quite few PRs and Chayce bumped that state qualifying time down. Brayden looked good in the 3000. We are pleasantly surprised after the layoff. “

It was a night of numerous Personal Records for the “Purple and Black Attack” in numerous events.

In the boys mile, Chayce Macknair took center stage for Mifflin County looking to capture the top spot.

Strong start for Macknair leading after the first lap.

He extended his lead in the second lap, securing a comfortable lead.

He continued his steady pace into the third and fourth laps, still adding to his lead.

As the lead got wider and wider for Macknair he was running against the clock to post a personal record speed.

He kicked in the afterburners, passing some of his competitors and finished with a bang! Topping the mile in grand fashion. He finished with a personal best of 4:23.41.

“Going into the race I kind of knew that I wanted to qualify for the state meet. We’ve had a bad time as of late with meets being cancelled and  last week I missed me heat so I had to run and I had to run solo and I lapped a couple runners and it slowed me down,” Macknair said. “With my run today I’m setting at fourth in the state which should get me into the top heat for states.”

Also in the mile, Chris Royer finished with a 5:17.51.

Juniata’s Yadiel Nieves finished 33rd with a final time of 5:47.58.

But Macknair wasn’t done on the evening as he also competed in the 800-meter run with teammates Seth Phillips and Chase Sheader 

Phillips placed second with a time of 2:01.21 while Macknair finished fourth for the Huskies with a time of 2:03.41. Sheaffer rounded out the top 20 as he finished in 15th with a time of 2:09.98.

The Combination of Jeremiah Parson and Clay Yarger finished eighth and ninth for Juniata with times of 2:06.55 and 2:07.04.

Mifflin County got an  5th place finish by Lauren Kuykendall with a time of 5:53.95. Teammate Magdalene Webb crossed the finish line with a 6:32, good for 11th place.

In the 60-meter hurdles, the Huskies’ Ella Spriggle with a time of 11.17 good enough for 10th while Belky McNeil finished 22nd with a time of 13.02.

In the 60-meter dash, Alexis Stanton finished with a time of 9.19 while teammate Kiana Sechler finished with an eighth place finish of 8.58. 

On the boys’ side, the Huskies got a  22nd place with a time of 7.72 from Khalil Grantham.

Hunter Packard finished with a time of 8.26 respectively.

Rounding out the event was Parth Patel with a time of 9.15.

In the girls 400-meter run, Mifflin County was led by McNeil in 29th with a time of 1:17.22.

While in the boys, the Huskies got a 4th place finish from Grantham with a 53.88. 

Mason Laudermilch placed 16th with a mark of 58.73.

Rounding out the runners was Cole Chilson with a 20th place time of 1:05.32.

In the girls shot put Layla Shimp finished 15th for the Huskies with a throw of 25-05.00. Sierra Curry rounded things out with a 23rd place 13-11.00.

Alexis Stanton finished 32nd to lead all Huskies in the girls 200-meter dash with a 31.29.

 Packard led the way for Mifflin County in the 200 with a 25th finish with a time of 26.37.

In the boys’ shot put, Logan Renninger places fourth for the Huskies with a top throw of 40’ 3 1/2”.

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