Dan Eyrich, AP Sports
Both Panther track teams took part in a quadrangular meet in Orion on Monday, which was moved up from Tuesday for weather considerations. The boys held off Rockridge winning the meet scoring 87 points, five better than Rockridge with Orion taking third collecting 78. The Lady Panthers took second with 79 points, 10 behind Orion with Rockridge placing third earning 47.
The Panther boys flexed their muscle in the distance events with several top finishes. Tyson Skinner won the 1600m with a PR of 4:56 and also took first in the 3200m in 10:57. In an impressive showing EP took the top four spots in the 800m with Lucas Dreisbach edging Charlie Link by .1 in 2:09.
Jeremiah Kochevar grabbed two second-place finishes in the sprints going12.53 in the 100m and clocked a time of 25.64 in the 200m.
The Panthers ruled in the 400m taking three of the top four spots with Dreisbach taking second with a PR of 56.98.
In the field events Aiden Jepson won the pole vault with a PR of 12′ just ahead of teammate Nathan Punke with a PR of 11’6″. Kochevar took second in the long jump with a PR leap of 19′ 2.75″.
Lady Panthers Finish Second
The Lady Panthers won three of the four relays and also won four field events. A key member of the team, Kennedy Buck, is rounding back into shape in just her second competition of the season after rehabbing an injury. The senior is one of the top 400m runners in the area as well as a previous state qualifier in the shotput. She showed little sign of the layoff winning the shot with a PR toss of 36’8″.
In the 4 x 100m Relay Buck, Ellie Johnson, Alexus Kappel, and Saige Froeliger won in a time of 54.51. Johnson, Sarah Link, Lauren Punke, and Taylor Robshaw clocked a 4:27 win in the 4 x 400m Relay. The Panthers took the top two spots in the 4 x 800m Relay with Clara Ashdown, Jesse DeNeve, Punke, and Link taking first in 11:21.12.
Clara Ashdown also took second in the 1600m in a season best time of 6:37.
In the field events Buck led a contingent of Lady Panther shot-putters as they took the five top spots with freshman Navonna Lopez finishing second behind Buck with a PR toss of 30’6″.
Senior Claire Reymer continues to impress in the discus with a winning toss of 95’11”.
Pole Vaulter Olivia Purvis won the event with a season best 9’6″ clearance and freshman Lauren Punke won the triple jump with a PR of 30′ 5.75″.
The Lady Panthers will compete at the Fulton Relays on Wednesday, after originally being scheduled for Tuesday but was moved due to predicted storms.
