CLEARFIELD — Last year the Clearfield High School Track and Field teams were both 0-3 to start the season. This year both teams started off the season with wins. For the boy’s team it was the first win in three seasons.
As in the past for Clearfield, the relays were the keys to both victories while individual winners and the depth made for a total team effort. In both wins on the girl’s and boy’s side all three relays produced victory. Those victories were then backed up with individual victories by Beau Swales, Alec Freeman, Dylan Graham, Tyler Stratton and Wyatt Flannigan. For the girls the individual winners were Jessica Shomo, Cassidy Bowman, Juliana Mellgard, Lauren Conrad, Rachel Thompson, Morgen Turner and Becca Lindstrom.
The girl’s team defeated Huntingdon by the narrow margin of 76-74, and lost to Juniata 94.5-56.5. The boy’s squad has the same result, besting Huntingdon 89-61, and losing to Juniata 93.5-57.5.
Strong performances from the underclassmen make the depth of both Clearfield teams a strength this season. For the boys runners like Casey Wilsoncroft, Rico Langoria, Ethan Tkacik, Kenton Climie, Matt McKenzie, Nathan Ting and Aaron Rodgers got key points that were lost last season. For the girls Shannon Reinke, Courtney Smith, Emily Aveni, Krystal Wriglesworth, Amber Scott, and Jill Heichel were keys to the two point victory. These athletes sacrificed many individual goals for the good of the team and their efforts were the spark for the team.
The highlight race of the night was the boy’s 4×400 relay where the race went down to the wire. Each of the four boys put in a total team effort. Ethan Tkacik kept the baton close against Juniata’s top runner and handed off to Rico Longoria. Longoria narrowed the gap and opened up a 20 meter lead with an impressive burst towards the end of the race. Kenton Climie kept the lead through the third leg and Beau Swales put on a tremendous kick to keep both teams at bay.
Not to be out done, the Girl’s 4×100 relay got back to their winning ways picking up close to where they left off last year. With all of the girls returning it will be a hard relay to beat all season. Reinke, Heichel, Thompson and Shomo could be the team to beat and look to improve this weekend at the Altoona Igloo Invitational.
Also performing well at this meet was Curwensville Junior Becca Johnson. Picking up overall wins in both the Girls 1600m (5:54) and Girls 800m (2:42) . Johnson ran away with both distance races and has already qualified for the District 9 A Track and Field Meet in the 1600m.
After the Altoona Igloo meet on Saturday, the Bisons will host a quadrangular with Bald Eagle Area, Mifflin County, and DuBois Central Catholic on Tuesday April 3.
Girl’s Results:
Clearfield 76 Huntingdon 74
4×800 Clearfield (Mellgard, Freeburg, Aveni, Conrad) 11:10
110 hurdles Bowman ( C) 18.6
100m Shomo ( C) 13.1
1600m Woods( H) 6:00
400m Fleming (H) 1:06
4×100 relay Clearfield (Reinke, Heichel, Thompson, Shomo) 53.2
300hurdles Woods ( H) 53.4
800m Mellgard (C) 2:51
200m Turner ( C) 29.4
3200m Conrad ( C) 14:05
4×400 relay Huntingdon 4:46
Long Jump Shomo ( C) 14’7’’
Triple Jump Sellers ( H) 34’4’’
High Jump Sellers (H) 4’6’’
Discus Thompson ( C) 96’3’’
Javelin Thomposn (C) 96’3’’’
Shot Put Lindstorm (H) 29’
Clearfield 56.5 Juniata 94.5
4×800 Juniata 11:08
110 hurdles Hart ( J) 18.8
100m Shomo ( C) 13.1
1600m Burns ( J) 6:02
400m Zimmerman (J) 1:05
4×100 relay Clearfield (Rinkey, Heichel, Thompson, Shomo) 53.2
300hurdles Smith ( C) 53.9
800m Mellgard (C) 2:51
200m Bishop ( J) 26.5
3200m Burns ( J) 13:45
4×400 relay Juniata 4:37
Long Jump Shomo ( C) 14’7’’
Triple Jump Brown ( J) 32’6’’’
High Jump Brown(J) 4’8’’
Discus Williams (J) 120’11’’
Javelin Thomposn (C) 96’3’’’
Shot Put Williams (J) 30’3’’
Boy’s Results:
Clearfield 89 Huntingdon 61
4×800 Clearfield (Carns, Soult, Freeman, Wilsoncroft) 9:42
110 hurdles Graham ( C) 18.6
100m Swales ( C) 11.3
1600m Freeman( C) 6:19
400m Reed (H) 56.7
4×100 relay Clearfield (Longroia, Stratton, Graham, Swales) 48.0
300hurdles Stratton ( C) 47.6
800m Hall (H) 2:16
200m Swales ( C) 23.1
3200m Freeman ( C) 11:45
4×400 relay Clearfield (Tkacik, Langoria, K. Climie, Swales) 4:51
Long Jump Graham( C) 16’
Triple Jump Graham ( C) 34’4’’
High Jump Fredrick (H) 5’8’’
Discus Flannigan ( C) 94’10’’
Javelin Gibbs (H) 111’5’’
Shot Put Arclary (H) 34’6’’
Clearfield 57.5 Juniata 93.5
4×800 Clearfield (Carns, Soult, Freeman, Wilsoncroft) 9:42
110 hurdles Gilbert (J) 17:09
100m Goshorn (J) 11.2
1600m Freeman( C) 6:19
400m Foster (J) 57.4
4×100 relay Juniata 45.8
300hurdles Gilbert (J) 45.2
800m McKenzie ( C) 2:28
200m Bodely (J) 23.2
3200m Freeman ( C) 11:45
4×400 relay Clearfield (Tkacik, Langoria, K. Climie, Swales) 4:51
Long Jump Goshorn (J) 18’8’’
Triple Jump Garich (J) 35’ 3’’
High Jump Gilbert ( J) 5’6’’
Discus Powell (J) 119’ 5’’
Javelin Bodley (J) 132’
Shot Put Fitzgerald (J) 39’9’’