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EJ and Juniata split in track action

COCOLAMUS – For the second time this season, two rivals, East Juniata and Juniata, met on the track to compete against each other in Tri-Valley League action at the Tigers home track.

Like in most rivalry contests, the two brought out the very best in each other causing a split in results.

“It was really nice today. I think we came out and we fought really hard. We knew that Juniata ran Greenwood last night so we thought we would have an opportunity there,” said East Juniata assistant coach Cory Benner said. “They are very well coached and organized and ready to come at us, like always. We are really happy with the split.”

On the girls’ side, East Juniata won a very close contest, taking the Indians 84-57 while the Juniata boys battled their way to a close 86-55 match Thursday afternoon.

Coming off a tough match against Greenwood the night before, Juniata coach Kim Hart said her team battled well despite the injuries and illness going through her squad.

“As far as the girls go Janelle Swartz was not here today…and we don’t get the pole vault points with those two things combined are pretty big factors. I don’t want to make excuses but those that’s talent on our team that is not able to contribute,” Hart said. “On the good side of it we had to make some switches and I put Hallie Shertzer in at shot put and she won it. It was the first time she ever threw it in a meet. We put Jen Houtz in the discus and she placed. Those types of things are big when you have to scramble and try to make amends for something you control. It was very admirable on their parts to be willing to do it, let alone to do a good job.”

Juniata’s Neil Bodley led the Indians to the victory, posting three first place showings in individual competition. Bodley took top honors in the 100-yard dash (12.0), 200-yard run (24.1) and the discus (125’ 10”).

East Juniata’s close second place score was paced by David Brantley’s four first-place finishes. Brantley went 4-for-4 notching a first place finish in the 110-meter hurdles (15.6), 300-meter hurdles (43.6), long jump (18’ ¼”) and the triple jump (40’1”).

Juniata took 2-of-3 from East Juniata in the three relay events. The Indians won the 3200-meter relay (10:03.0) and 400-meter relay (47.4). East Juniata took care of the 1600-meter relay posting a finishing time of 4:46.4.

In the end, Hart was very proud of the make up of her team and the endless team effort all of her players take when participating.

“Today you just had to take what would come. You don’t like to have two hard meets back-to-back you just do it. You do what comes along,” Hart said. “Its really gratifying to coach people that do not think of themselves at all when pretty much this is an individual sport. I really can’t think of one boy or girl on our team that thinks of themselves first.”

The East Juniata girls’ relay team took 2-of-3 from the Indians, winning the 400-relay by less than two seconds. The 1600-relay was just as close as the Tigers won its second by less than two seconds.

Amber Knouse and Megan Hart led the Tigers’ attack, finishing with two first place finishes on the day. Knouse finshed tops in the 100-meter (13.2) and the 200 (28.2). Hart finished in the top spot in the 100-meter hurdles (17.2) and long jump (14’ 4 ¼”).

Leading the way for Juniata was Carly Burns. Burns finished her day with two first place finishes and a second.

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