The Juniata Cross Country Teams Open Up Season With Prestigious 50th Annual Big Valley Invitational in Reedsville on Saturday
Sep 1, 2024

Courtesy of Shari Miller
REEDSVILLE – In the girls varsity high school race, sophomore Sylvia Brubaker led the Indians with a 5th place finish overall and 5th in AA competition with a time of 19:22.  Freshman Carolyn Heidenreich came in next for the Indians with a 10th place finish in AA competition with a time of 22:13.

Freshman Hannah Zeiders ran to a 22nd place finish with a time of 24:20.  Sophomore Hannah Book placed 30th with a time of 25:56.  Juniata was unable to compete in the team competition because Jessie Bomberger had to sit out the race race due to an injury.  “The girls ran well to start out the season, said Juniata coach Jeff Miller.  “For Hannah Zeiders and Carolyn this was their first cross country 5k.  Sylvia had some top competition in AA with last years state champion from Lewisburg Baylee Espinosa in the race along with state medalist Bedford’s Chloe May and Lanee Berkheimer from Central Martinsburg.  Berkheimer won the race with a time of 18:37.”

In the boys varsity race, Senior Wyatt Stroup led the Indians with a 2nd place finish in AA with a time of 15:57 and a new personal best.  Senior Joey Bomberger came in next for the Indians with a time of 16:37.  Senior Wesley Ehrisman medaled with a 8th placed finish and a time of 17:41.  Junior Levi Zeiders placed 18th with a time of 18:27.  Sophomore Coy Kerstetter rounded out the scoring for the Indians with a 20th place finish and a time of 18:39.  Senior Teagan Trout placed 27th with a time of 19:13.  Senior Charlie Telfer ran a time of 21:31 good enough for 45th place.

Lewisburg’s Jonathan Hess won the AA race with a time of 15:33.  Lewisburg won the boys team competition with 30 points while Juniata was 2nd out of 11 teams with 50 points.  In the boys JV race, Junior Kade Wagner led the Indians with 34th place finish with a time of 20:39, Sophomore Joel Hardin placed 58th with a time of 23:05 and Senior Luke Fowler placed 68th with a time of 23:41.  The JV race had runners from all three divisions (A, AA, AAA) in it.
“The boys ran a very solid race today to open up the cross country season.  We are ahead of where we were last year at this race, so if we stay focused and do all the little things, we will be at our best in 8 weeks when it matters,” said Miller.   “I thought Kade and Luke did great for their first cross country race.  They are new to the team and great additions to our cross country family.”

In the girls junior high 1.65 mile race, 8th grader Ella Zimmerman led the Indians with a 26th place finish with a time of 12:41.  Other girls competing for the Indians were:

Sophie Laub – 37th place – 13:17

Eowyn Rendall – 43rd place – 13:28

Claire Ciarrocchi – 44th place – 13:31

Moira Doydora – 47th place – 13:41

Hannah Wirt – 50th place – 13:45

Aubrey Fogle – 53rd place – 13:59

Juliet Heidenreich – 57th place – 14:34

Avery Mitchell – 68th place – 15:21

Charlotte Barner – 77th place – 16:22

Genesis Guante – 78th place – 16:25

Adrianne Peck – 83rd place – 19:05

Mackenzie Wray – 86th place – 20:29

The girls placed 6th out of 8 teams

“I thought the girls ran great with the majority of them running their very first cross country race. Ella is in her 2nd year of cross country and is starting to show her potential,” added Miller. “ She has all the tools to be a very good high school cross country runner next year when she enters high school.”

In the boys junior high race, 8th grader Zeb Ehrisman led the Indians with a 56th place finish with a time of 13:40 and first year runner Andrew Rutherford ran a time of 14:46 good enough for 64th place.  “Zeb and Andrew ran well and will continue to get better each week,” said Miller. 

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