Juniata Cross Country Team Shines at Big Valley Invitational. Boys win AA Race.

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: September 4, 2022

Courtesy of Shari Miller

The first race for the day was the junior high boys and girls. Juniata’s first year runner Alex Armstrong placed 6th overall in the 1.65 mile course with a time of 9:54. Alejandro Guante also competed in the same race finishing in 76th with a time of 19:02. In the girls race, first year runner Sylvia Brubaker won the junior high race with a time of 10:03 overall in the 1.65 mile course. Other finishers for the Juniata Indians were Carolyn Heidenreich in 32nd place with a time of 12:33, Drue Hoffman in 36th place with a time of 12:49, Calla Mianulli in 54th place in a time of 13:38, and Sylvi Gaisior in 77th place in a time of 16:35. Juniata coach Jeff Miller said “Our junior high team ran exceptional well considering this is their first season of running for all of them. Alex ran tough and could have won the race with some experience. Sylvia ran out of this world! I knew she would run well, but I didn’t expect her to run such a well executed race with no prior cross country experience. She took the lead early on and never let it go.”

In the second race of the day, sophomore Charlie Telfer placed 52nd with a time of 23:07 in the JV race. Coach Jeff Miller said “Charlie ran well considering he was battling a head cold.”

The next race for the day was the varsity girls race. Sophomore Jessie Bomberger lead the Indians with her 12th place finish with a time of 23:54 over the 5k course. Haley Mummah came in next in 31st place with a time of 26:50, Nia Matthews placed 36th with a time of 29:01, Aspen Eby placed 38th with a time of 29:22. Also competing in the varsity race was Brooklyn Herrold who dropped out due to a foot injury. The Indians didn’t have 5 runner to score as a team. Coach Jeff Miller said “I thought the girls ran very well. For Nia and Aspen this was their first cross country race. Jessie ran a very nicely paced race to finish with a medal.”

The final race of the day for the Juniata Indians was the boys varsity race. Senior Logan Strawser not only won the AA race, but came in first in all divisions. Logan made a move shortly after the two mile mark to run solo to the finish with a time of 15:44. Next to come in for the Indians was sophomore Joey Bomberger in 6th place with a time of 17:21. Shortly after Wyatt Stroup came in with a time of 17:30 for 8th place. Wesley Ehrisman placed 11th in a time of 18:06, Levi Zeiders placed 13th with a time of 18:22 to round out the scoring for the Indians. Ricky Guante placed 15th with a time of 18:50. Brady Roe came in shortly after with a 17th place finish in 18:58. The boys won the class AA division with 39 points over 2nd place team finishers Bellefonte 52 points. Juniata coach Jeff Miller said “The boys ran exceptional well. All seven runners ran personal best for the day. For Wesley, Levi, and Ricky, this was their first cross country race ever. We are just coming out of our base training so this was a good test to see where we are at. I feel real good about what’s ahead for the season. Logan ran a little over :30 faster than last year at this invitational, so he’s right where he needs to be this time of the season.” Top 15 in each division received medals.

The Indians will host, St. Joseph’s Catholic, Newport, Susquenita, and Halifax on their home course on Wednesday, September 7th at East Juniata High School at 4:00 pm.

Sylvia Brubaker – 1st overall in junior high girls race.

Logan Strawser – 1st overall in AA and all divisions.

Levi Zeiders, Brady Roe, Wesley Ehrisman, Logan Strawser, Wyatt Stroup, Joey Bomberger, Ricky Guante – 1st place team in AA

Jessie Bomberger, Sylvia Brubaker, Levi Zeiders, Brady Roe, Wesley Ehrisman, Logan Strawser, Coach Jeff Miller, Wyatt Stroup, Joey Bomberger, Ricky Guante, Alex Armstrong – medal winners.