BROOKVILLE — Youth will be served.

Bradford High freshman Ashton McGriff has been turning heads all season, but what she did Wednesday at the District 9 Class AAA Track and Field Championships  was truly a performance for the ages.

McGriff swept the sprinting events — the 100, 200 and javelin and capped off her terrific day by anchoring the winning 4×4 relay team to earn the James Manners Award, given to the meet’s top point-getter.

“She had a phenomenal day,” said Bradford coach Larry Stillman. “She has done this all year. She came up big in her first districts and I’m really happy for her. It’s well-deserved.”

As a team, the Lady Owls made the meet much closer than many could have predicted, coming in second place to champion DuBois, 122.8-98.

“It was a great team effort,” Stillman said. “DuBois is very good. We knew it was going to be very difficult to beat them with the talent and depth they have. We went at it and made it an interesting meet. Coaches Marasco, Teribery and I are proud of the effort our girls gave.”

McGriff’s effort was outstanding, as was that of her sister Brooke McGriff as well as a number of other Lady Owls.

For Ashton, the 100 might have been the most surprising of the victories, as she was seeded fourth going into the event. A false start by top seed Arianna Kleppinger of St. Marys in the prelims opened the door, however and McGriff took full advantage, edging DuBois’ Tanya Davies in the finals.

Kleppinger came back in the 200, but Ashton once again took first, winning by .13 seconds.

The 400 was perhaps the most impressive victory for the young freshman, as she won by nearly four seconds.

Brooke, meanwhile, won by three feet in the pole vault and turned in a PR of 15.45 in winning the 100 hurdles, .29 seconds off the District 9 Class AAA record.

“Brooke had a fantastic day,” Stillman said. “She won the pole vault, had her best time in the 100 hurdles and took second in the 300 hurdles.”

Brooke was also a bookend to her sister in the 4×4, teamed with Logan Sunafrank and Bri Wells that ran a season-best time of 4:14.04.

“They had to run really well to beat a solid field,” noted Stillman. “They did a great job and worked hard to bring that relay along all year.”

Bradford took three of five places in the 100 hurdles, with Rachel Borland finishing third and Sunafrank fifth.

“Our hurdlers were fantastic today,” Stillman said.

Makaila Banka is also going back to states for the third straight year, as the junior defended her title in the 1600, narrowly beating Lauren McAnany of St. Marys (5:22.61 to 5:23.18) while finishing second in the 3200. Her time in the 1600 was the best of her high school career.

“She ran a great race in the 1600,” Stillman said.

Other Lady Owls to place included Laura Black (4th in shot put), Chelsea Madore (5th in javelin), Sophia Oliver (3rd in discus) and Carli Bennett (5th in long jump).

“Laura Black threw well and Sophia Oliver had by far her best throw in the discus to take third,” Stillman said. “The throwers did a nice job.”

Stillman also noted that Katie O’Neil was a “nice surprise” in taking fifth in the high jump (4-6), while also highlighting the solid performances of Abby Coffman in the javelin (PR), Bry Stahlman (6th in 100), Amanda Little in the 800 and the 400 relay team (Rachel Martin, Sunafrank, Wells and Courtney Shade) as well as the 3200 relay team, which finished fifth.

“Congratulations to the guys,” Stillman concluded. “It was a great win for them. I want to thank coaches Tessena, Kelley and Mealy. We have worked together and we are all in this together. We’re happy for the guys to win and grateful for the help from all the coaches and also want to thank athletic director Tim Walter for his support.”

Team scores

DuBois 122.8, Bradford 98, St. Marys 67, Punxsutawney 29.25, Clearfield 22

Event results

100 Dash — Ashton McGriff (B), Davies (D), Barackman (SM), Smith (P), Sayers (D); Time: 12.85

200 Dash — Ashton McGriff (B), Kleppinger (SM), Smith (P), Barackman (SM), Davies (D); Time: 26.22

400 Dash — Ashton McGriff (B), Burkett (D), Sutter (D), Whitman (P), Cherry (SM); Time: 59.92

800 Run — Claire Mikesell (C), Smith (D), P. Mikesell (C), McAnany (SM), Graham (D); Time: 2:26.07

1600 Run — Makaila Banka (B), McAnany (SM), McAninch (D), P. Mikesell (C), Foster (SM); Time: 5:22. 61

3200 Run — Michelle Bauer (SM), Banka (B), Gunsallus (D), Small (P), Brennan (D); Time: 11:41.21

100 Hurdles — Brooke McGriff (B), O’Donnell (D), Borland (B), Sunafrank (B), King (D); Time: 15.45

300 Hurdles — Rachel Glenny (C), B. McGriff (B), O’Donnell (D), Borland (B), Armanini (SM); Time: 49.05

400 Relay — DuBois (Burkett, Davies, Desalve, O’Donnell), St. Marys, Bradford; Time: 52.30

1600 Relay — Bradford (Brooke McGriff, Logan Sunafrank, Bri Wells, Ashton McGriff), DuBois, Clearfield, St. Marys, Punxsutawney; Time: 4:11.04

3200 Relay — Clearfield (P. Mikesell, C. Mikesell, Glenny, Grice), DuBois, St. Marys, Bradford, Punxsutawney; Time: 9:59./69

High Jump — Elle McGowan (SM), O’Neill (B), Smith (D), Folmar (D), Borland (B); Height: 4’8’’

Pole Vault — Brooke McGriff (B), Wascovich (D), Nosker (D), Vite (P), King (D); Height: 9’6’’

Long Jump — Dayna Desalve (D), Cary (P), Morgan (D), Burkett (P), Bennett (B); Distance: 16’4 3/4’’

Triple Jump — Dayna Desalve (D), Sheffo (D), Cary (P), Miller (P), Rensel (D); Distance: 34’6 1/2’’

Shot Put — Allison Orenak (SM), Stephens (C), Palmiere (D), Black (B), Clinger (D); Distance: 32’8 1/2’’

Discus — Denise Stephens (C), Clinger (D), Oliver (B), Bridges (SM), Young (P); Distance: 94’10’’

Javelin — Sarah Lash (C), Hanes (SM), Johnson (D), Madore (B), Barnett (P); Distance: 115’3’’