TV: Pennsylvania Cable Network (starting with live coverage at 9 a.m. Saturday)
Live results: PIAA website
Results: Friday | Saturday
Friday recap: Sherry, Bojalad lead area athletes with second-place finishes
SHIPPENSBURG –– By mid-spring, Bradford High’s John Eakin was just getting healthy enough to compete in all his events.
On Friday, he broke the Owls’ five-year state medal drought after he threw the shot put 55-04.50 to place sixth and guarantee Bradford High brings home some hardware from Shippensburg University for the first time since Dave Reinhardt did so in the spring of 2012.
“He wasn’t able to participate in several of our meets because he hurt his shoulder,” Bradford High boys head coach Tom Tessena said. “He not only adapted to the rotation method of throwing the shot put well, [but] he did it on no practice.”
After a nagging ankle injury limited his effectiveness late during football season, Eakin made the decision not to go out for the Owls’ basketball team, opting instead to compete on the school’s indoor track team. That training foundation, according to Tessena, helped Eakin on Friday.
“He’s done well on limited amount of work,” Tessena said. “[Assistant coach] Dave Cercone needs to get some credit because that’s what he coaches, the throwing events.”
The Owls had a number of others athletes competing Friday at Seth Grove Stadium, but none advanced out of preliminary heats to advance to today’s track finals or finished in the top-half of the competitors in the field events.
“John obviously was the highlight of the day in general,” Tessena said.
Mitch Vleminckx was 22nd in both the 100 and 200 dashes, while Jaron Ambrose ran in both hurdle events. Mike Bosworth ran a personal-best 52.41 in the 400 dash.
The Owls had both its 1,600 and 3,200 relay teams run –– but not make the finals –– while Jack Kellam no-heighted in the pole vault. Logan Caruso competed in the 1,600 meters.
“As far as the other guys go, Mitch ran pretty well in the 100 and 200 and didn’t make the semifinals of those,” Tessena said. “Our 4-by-8 was a little bit off (Tyler Kraft, Vinnie Bizarro, Nate, Isaac Paterniti).”
The 1,600 relay team of Bosworth, Bizzarro, Kraft and Matt Stafford ran 3:37.57, which Tessena figured was one of its fastest times of the season as a foursome that didn’t involve Vleminckx.
Caruso starts off today’s events at 9 a.m. in the 3,200 meters, while Vleminckx will compete later in the long jump.
“Most of these guys were sophomores, so it was big learning experience,” Tessena said. “Hopefully this experience will improve us in the future.”
Highlighting the day for the Lady Owls was the performance of Ashton McGriff in the 200 dash. McGriff ran 25.95 to place fourth in her preliminary heat.
