SHIPPENSBURG — Bradford’s John Eakin took home a gold medal with his first place finish at the PIAA Class AAA Track and Field Championships on Friday.
Eakin had a distance of 58-10.75 to beat out all other competitors, becoming the first Owl to take first place in the state tournament since Jack Craven in 1971.
“He had an exceptional year,” Bradford head coach Tom Tessena said. “He won both the indoor and outdoor events which has never been done before in our history.”
Eakin finished his Bradford career with 480 points.
Also participating in the state tournament for the Owls on Friday were Jaron Ambrose, Matt Stafford, Logan Caruso and Steve Kellam.
Ambrose finished 17th in the 300 hurdles with a time of 45.57. Ambrose’s time was the seventh-best in Bradford history. The junior led the Owls with 220 points on the year.
Stafford completed the 110 hurdles in 16.10, while Caruso finished the 1600 with a time of 4:42.78.
Kellum participated in the pole vault, but was unable to reach the 13-feet requirement.
Ryan Whittemore will participate in the discus on Saturday.
On the girls side, Ashton McGriff competed in three events, placing 17th in the 300 hurdles (46.26), 25th in the 200 (26.62), and 26th in the triple jump (32-5.25).
Elsewhere, Emily Bosworth was 23rd in the 400 (1:00.72) and Abby Coffman 19th in the shot put (34-7.25). The 400 relay team of Alexis Huber, Logan Sunafrank, Erica Marshall, and Regan Johnson ran their best time of the year (51.78).
“Everyone competed very hard today in very hot weather,” coach Larry Stillman said. “Abby threw well in the shot put, Emily ran well in the 400 and Ashton McGriff had a very good 300 hurdle race.”
