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Mount Union sweeps EJ in track action

By Kenny Varner

MOUNT UNION – It was the perfect way for a team to start a season.
In the annual friendly rivalry between Mount Union and East Juniata, the two teams played to form Monday as the two battled back and forth with the girls’ side coming down to the final event, the shot put.
But in the end, it would be the Trojans that would come out the victors on both the boys and girls’ side. The boys won 83-59 while the girls gutted out a 71-69 victory.
“I was very pleased. I was pleased on how both girls’ and boys’ team did. Both put forth their best effort. I am really happy with that,” said Mount Union coach Bob Wydock. “We usually run against East Juniata early and we have a great rivalry. They have a good crew. Its always great competition and comradery from both schools. Excellent way to jump into the season. I was a nice close match.”
On the girls’ side, Mount Union started off the night with winning the 3200-meter relay with a time of 12:01.2.
Back came the Tigers as Mackenzie McDonald took the 100-meter hurdles with a top time of 18,4 while teammate Emily Kline took the 100-meter dash with a finishing time of 13.8.
Mount Union battled back on the track and took the next two events as Mackenzie Rodgers took the top honors in the 1600-meter run with a time of 6:39.0. Teammate Adrianna Loner finished first in the 400-meter dash with a finishing time of 1:07.7.
In the second relay of the night, East Juniata took the top honors this time finishing the 400-meter relay with a time of 55.1.
For the second time on the night, McDonald finished first in the hurdles, this time she took the top position in the 300-intermediate hurdles with a time of 58.0.
Loner picked up her second win as she posted a 3:03.5 in the 800, giving the Trojans yet another clutch win.
Kline helped keep her team in striking distance taking top honors in the 200-meter run, sporting a time of 29.1.
In the last track event of the night, the Tigers took the final relay, the 1600-meter relay sporting a time of 4:55.7.
Meanwhile in the field events, the night belonged to the Trojans.
Mount Union’s K. SMITH led the way in the javelin with a winning toss of 82′ while teammate Tyonna Hartley earned a top spot in the shot put, throwing it a distance of 26′.
Things kept rolling along for the Trojans as Keirorra Worthy took the long jump and the triple jump with distances of 14’6″ and 4’10”, respectively.
In the triple jump, L. HILDEBRAND finished tops with an impressive jump of 27’11”.
With it all coming down to the shot put, Hartley was cool under pressure as she brought herself and her team a victory posting a throw of 64′ 6″.
“I was really happy with the team effort and with individual performances. We came up here a little undermanned and we really competed hard,” East Juniata coach Cory Benner said. “We had a couple of PRs. John Moyer PR’d in the 110-hurdles and a lot kids stepped up and showed a lot of sportsmanship and class. We always love running up here. Happy to be here but a little disappointed that we came really close but it was a great experience.”
After Mount Union took the opening 3200-relay, Moyer picked up his personal best time and first place time of 17.1.
Tavin McMickens took both the100-dash and the 400-dash for Mount Union, posting times of 11.9 and 57.5, respectively.
Sandwhiched in between those wins was a first-place Trojan performance in the 1600-run by Shykai Banks with a time of 5:25.3.
East Juniata broke the consecutive Mount Union wins by posting 50.6 in the 400relay and then a 46.2 in the hurdles by Moyer.
Banks took another top spot later on, this time he took the a first place time of 2:25 in the 800.
The Tigers’ Carson Horning finished in the top slot with a 25.2 in the 200.
Briar Stone was tough in the 3200-run with a top time of 12:14.7.
Mount Union rounded out its day on the track with a win in the 1600-relay, posting a time of 3:57.5.
East Juniata’s G. GABEL stole the show in the field, posting wins in the javelin (113’9″), shot put (37′) and discus (98’10”).
In the rest of the field events, the Trojans came out victorious, en route to the victory.

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