Photo and write up courtesy of Shari Miller

The Juniata Junior High Cross Country team competed at the 51st annual Big Valley Invitational on Saturday, August 30 in Reedsville.  This was their first meet of the season.  The boys and girls teams ran basically at the same time with the boys starting 5 minutes before the girls.  Finishing first for the boys was Evan Yackey with a time of 12:10 for 10th place.  Evan unfortunately, missed a turn on the course and ran about .19 miles further.  Next was Matthew Corman with a time of 12:56for 27th place.  Next for the junior high Indians boys was Elliott Miller with a time of 13:21 for 32nd place.  Shortly behind was Landon Miller with a time of 13:24 for 33rd place.  Next was Austin Phillips with a time of 14:07placing him 50th.  Next was Alex Copenheaver with a time of 14:39 for 62nd place.  Andy Rutherford ran a time of 15:20 for 74th place and Mason Hardin ran a time of 18:46 for 87th place.  The boys finished 5 as a team overall with 2 of those schools being AAA schools.  Juniata was the 3rd AA school.  Juniata Coach Miller said “It was a nice day for racing.  I was excited to see how well the boys were going to run today.  For many of them, this is their first year of cross country and their first ever cross country race.  I saw improvements from when mandatory practice started in the middle of August.  I felt bad for Evan.  He was in 2nd place at the mile mark, but unfortunately missed a turn in the field and ran an extra .19 miles.  He finished strong to still come away with a 10th place medal.  This boys team has a lot of potential and I am excited to see what the rest of the season has in store for them.”

Leading the way for the Junior High Indian girls was Moira Doydora with a time of 14:20 for 21st place.  Hannah Wirt was closely behind running a time of 14:40 for 24th place.  Next was Claire Ciarrocchi with a time of 14:58in 27th place.  Next was Sophia Laub with a time of 15:19 for 33rd place.  She was followed by Juliet Heidenreich with a time of 15:33 for 38th place and Eowyn Rendall with a time of 15:46 for 42nd place.  Coming in shortly behind was Charlotte Barner with a time of 15:54 in 7th place.  Next for the Indian girls was Aubrey Fogle with a time of 16:03 in 50th place.  Avery Mitchell, Teagan Burger, and Adi Peck with times of 17:09 (65th place), 17:50 (74th place), and 18:58 (80th place) respectively.  The girls placed 4th as a team overall and were the first AA school.  “All but one girl is returning from last year.  They ran well today with the cooler weather this morning.  The girls are in a good place for the beginning of the season” Coach Miller said.  Both the boys and girls Junior High will travel to Hughesville on Tuesday, September 2.