Clarion Junior High Track Club Concludes A Successful Season!

(By Christie Datko)

Fourteen members of the Clarion Junior High Track Club finished out their season at the AC Valley Invitational on Tuesday, May 25. It was an outstanding invitational for the club as eighteen personal records were achieved. This club also made their presence known by finishing with seventeen place winners.

(Photos by Christie Datko) 2016 Clarion Area Junior High Track Team

It was a great day in the field for Hollee Workman as she won first place in the shot put (23 ft) and threw the discus 53 1/2 ft, which was her personal best. Emma Spitz ran the 1600 in a personal best time of 7:03 and claimed a second place finish. Alex Cussins finished third in the 800 meters as he ran his best time of the season (2:53). He also ran a solid 1600 race setting a new personal record of 6:17.

Nathan Kline captured two of his best times in the 200 meters (30.3) and the 110 hurdles (22.7). His time in the 110 hurdles earned him a second place finish. Josh Mitchell got in on the winning action as he crossed the finish line at 35.3 in the 200 meters which earned him a third place finish. Nathaniel Lerch found himself setting a personal record as well, running the 1600 meters in 5:20. He secured a second place finish with that time. Nate Datko finished a hard fought 400 race in third place (1:04), while Daniel Hackenberg was close behind with a fourth place finish (1:07). Ethan Burford continued his winning ways in the 300 meter hurdles. He took home first place with a PR time of 51.1. He also gained a PR in the long jump (14’2”).

Hollee Workman tossing the discus!

Morgan Kahle jumped 27’11” in the triple jump and 12’8” in the long jump. Both of these distances were her best of the season. Ben Murtha showed great improvement in his jumping ability as he jumped 11’2” in the long jump. Kyara Girvan not only finished second in the high jump (4’6”), but she earned a first place finish in the 100 meter run. Her time of 13.2 was better than the varsity district qualifying mark which is 13.5. She also joined Ava Cherico, Emma Spitz and Brianna Warner in the 4×400 relay, which won second place (5:20). That was the team’s fastest time of the season.

Datko, Burford, Lerch and Hackenberg have been running the 4X400 relay all season and had yet to win a first place. Finally, they ran their best time of 4:21 and snagged the first place finish.

Ben Murtha giving his all!

Coach Murtha’s Thoughts:

“I thought this season was a great success starting by competing and holding our own with some to the best and biggest schools at the Butler invite and continued to get better as the season progressed. Fourteen athletes competed at AC Valley with eighteen personal records and seventeen place winners! We are proud of Archer Mills and Jake Burns (members of the first junior high track club 2015) who moved up to varsity this year and represented us at districts as freshmen. I feel junior high track will just continue to feed the varsity programs as well as develop athletes in general as they enter the varsity arena. It is the original and best of developmental sports!”

(Thanks to Christie Datko for the great articles and photos this season. Good Job, Cats!!!!)