Ephrata, Cocalico remain on track for collision course

The Ephrata girls 4 X 800 team of (left to right) Megan Mahlandt, Sydney Morgan, Taylor Mahlandt and Haley Schal-ler set a new school record of 9:36.53 Saturday to earn first place at the Shippensburg Invitational.

Both the undefeated Ephrata and Cocalico girls track teams held serve Monday with a pair of lopsided wins.

At Solanco, Ephrata (5-0 section, 6-0 overall) ran its Section Two win streak to 29 straight with a convincing 103-47 victory over the Golden Mares. Cocalico also remained perfect at 5-0 in section play (6-0 overall) Monday with a 103-47 win at Garden Spot.

What is all means is both teams remain on a collision course for a head-to-head battle for the section title when the two teams lock horns on the final day of the regular season on Monday May 4. Ephrata still must take care of winless E-town at home on April 27 while Cocalico hits the road that day to face winless Lebanon.

If things go as expected that day, the May 4 match-up will in fact be for all the Section Two marbles.

In Monday’s meet at Solanco, Kay Liebl and Ariel smith both won a pair of events to pace the Lady Mounts. Liebl earned victories in the 100 (13.1) and long jump (16-11) while smith claimed both the 200 (27.8) and high jump (4-6) events).

Single event winners included : Erica Voigt in the triple jump (33-1); Megan Mahlandt in the 400 (63.8); Haley Schaller in the 800 (2:26.6); and Jordan Carvell in the 3200 (12:08).

Ephrata also picked up wins in the 400, 1600 and 3200 relays.

In New Holland Monday, junior Stephanie Wahl led the way for Cocalico with three individual wins on the day. Wahl claimed victories in the 100 (13.4), high hurdles (16.4) and long jump (17-11¼), and ran anchor on the victorious 400 relay (54.4) as the Lady Eagles prevailed.

Juniors Megan Gingrich and Emily Stauffer both added a pair of individual wins for Cocalico. Gingrich captured the triple jump (31-1) and 300 hurdles (48.7) while Stauffer launched the shot put 47.4) to win that event, and captured the discus (119-9) as well.

Other individual winners for Cocalico included: Hannah Palm in the 200 (28.1); Jamie Zamrin in the 1600 (5:21.3); Mackenzie Hainley in the javelin (126-1); and Morgan McDevitt in the high jump (4-4). Cocalico also won all three relays on the day.

In boys action Monday, Cocalico earned its first win of the season with an 81-65 victory over the Spartans.

The Eagles (1-4 section, 1-5 overall) got a pair of wins from Demetri Whitsett to lead the way. Whitsett captured both the 300 hurdles (44.1) and high jump (5-4) to give the Eagles a big lift.

In addition to Whitsett, several others posted individual wins for Cocalico. They included: Kenny Wallace in the 1600 (4:59.3); Eric Trowbridge in the 3200 (11:31.7); Stewart Martin in the discus (131-7); and Brad Heck in the javelin (142-2).

Ephrata (2-2-1 section) did drop its meet at Solanco as the Mules claimed a 94-56 victory over the Mount boys.

Winning individual events for the Mounts were: Travis Troutman in the 400 (53.2); Zach Lefever in the 1600 (4:45.3); Jimmy Hickey in the discus (113-6); and Mark Njenga in the triple jump (42-5).

Ephrata added a victory in the 1600 relay.

In addition to Monday’s dual meets, both Ephrata and Cocalico participated in the 89th annual Jack Roddick Shippensburg Invitational this past Saturday at Shippensburg University.

The Ephrata girls 4X800 relay team of Megan Mahlandt, Sydney Morgan, Taylor Mahlandt and Haley Schaller set a new school record of 9:36.53 to capture first place in that event. They broke the old school mark of 9:43.52 set back in 2003.

In addition, Ephrata’s 4X100 girls relay squad of Kay Liebl, Kyra Horst, Jennie Young and Cassie Vaitl finished third overall with a time of 49.82.

All told, Ephrata athletes earned seven PRs at the competition.

Cocalico’s Emily Stauffer was a force for the Lady Eagles. She captured the shot put with a throw of 45-7¼, and also placed third in the discus with a throw of 121-0.