(Posted April 17, 2004)

4/17/04--Grantham, Pa.? Competing on the same track where they will show their skills at the MAC Championships, the Juniata College men?s and women?s track and field teams put together a pair of strong finishes at the Messiah Invitational Saturday afternoon. The Eagle men placed fifth out of 11 teams, while the women?s team finished sixth in a 10-team field.

For the Eagle men, Mike Vella (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) earned the highest finish on the day as he placed third in the 1,500 meters, and followed it up by placing fifth in the 5,000. Robin Cordier (St. Jude/Bailleul, France) rounded out the team?s scoring in the distance events with a seventh-place finish in the 10,000.

Randy Anderson (DuBois/DuBois) finished fifth in the 100-meter dash to earn Juniata some points in the sprints. Dustin Sier (Smithsburg (MD)/Smithsburg) finished sixth in the 200-meter dash for Juniata, while Will Cantara (West Branch/Winburne) and Gary Ondecko (Bishop Carroll/Northern Cambria) finished sixth and seventh respectively in the 400. Ondecko also added a fifth-place finish for Juniata in the triple jump, joining Anderson who placed sixth in the event. Shawn Miller (Altoona/Altoona) and Adam Loser (Central York/York) each placed fourth in the pole vault and high jump respectively. Finally, the Eagles had a pair of athletes earn points in the long jump as Jeremy Weber (Garden Spot/Mohnton) and Anderson finished fifth and seventh respectively.

The Eagle women were bolstered by a pair of first-place finishes. Meredith Troutman (Meyersdale/Meyersdale) placed first in the 400, running home in a time of 59.87. Also finishing first was Kira Troutman (Line Mountain/Valley View) who earned a victory in the javelin with a throw of 133? 4?. Kira Troutman would add points with a sixth-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles.

Freshman Elena Amato (Notre Dame Prep./Baltimore, Md.) had a strong day for Juniata as she finished second in the 800 meter while also placing third in the 400. Nancy Hayes (Westminster/Westminster, Md.) continued her recent success as she finished fourth in the 1,500 for Juniata. The Eagles had competitors finish third and fifth in the 10,000 as Carla Kifer (Sheffield/Sheffield) and Meghan Fahy (Brandywine/Wilmington, De.) earned those spots. Rounding out the scoring performances in the running events was Lynzee Alworth (Allegheny-Clarion Valley/Parker), who placed sixth in the 400-meter hurdles, and Misty Heuston (Central/Martinsburg) who placed eighth in the 100 hurdles.

In the field events, Jan Jennings (Pleasant Valley/Saylorsburg) joined Troutman by placing seventh in the javelin. Maria Welch (Jersey Shore/Avis) notched a personal best with her jump of 15? in the long jump, which was good for sixth place. Debbie Delaney (Franklin/Reisertown, Md.) notched a fifth-place finish in the discus, while Betsey Kusniez (Boyertown/Gilberstville) rounded out the scoring with a sixth-place toss in the hammer throw.

Juniata will be at the Penn Relays and the Dickinson Invitational next weekend.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.