Union City track on pace to sweep Big 8 titles

UNION CITY – Wednesday night the Union City Charger track program took one step closer to doing something that has only been accomplished twice by the maroon and gray, as both the boys' and girls' teams won their final Big 8 dual of the season, remaining unbeaten and on track for a Big 8 title.

On the boy's side of the competition, it was Union City winning 86-50 over rival Bronson, while on the girls' side of the dual it was the Chargers taking the 90-45 win.

The last time the Union City boys won the Big 8 championship was during the 2013 season, while the girls last title came in 2011. There was something a little special about the 2011 title, as both the Union City boys and girls won track conference crowns that year. As the 2024 iteration of the Chargers looks to each win a title again this year, the feat has only been accomplished twice by Union City, once in the 2011 school year and once in the 1991 school year.

Both teams have the upper hand as they head to the Big 8 conference invitational to be held May 22 at Maple Valley High School. With the way the standings are set up, Union City can finish third or better and still claim the conference crown, giving the Chargers an incredibly good shot at raising two trophies this season.

Dual Meet Stars-Boys

Union City’s winning effort on the boy's side was paced by senior Logan Cole who once again broke the UCHS school record in the discus, winning with a new record throw of 164 feet, 11 inches. Cole also won the shot put, taking the win in a season best throw of 49 feet, 0.5 inches.

Also taking a pair of wins was Nathaniel Maurer who swept the hurdle events, winning the 110-meter hurdles in 15.99 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 42.52 seconds.

Also claiming wins for the Charger boys was Caden Hughes in the 100 in a time of 11.88 seconds; Riley Laird, first in the 200 in a time of 25.10 seconds; Ben Gautsche, first place in the 1,600 in 4 minutes, 52.30 seconds; Jason Shoop, first in the 3,200 in 10:58.91; and Rick Austin, first place in the long jump with a jump of 19 feet, 10 inches.

Union City also won three of the relays, as the 400 relay team of Hughes, Owen Kincaid, Laird, and Austin won in a time of 49.94 seconds; the 800 relay team of Maurer, Hughes Laird, and Hunter Sinke, first place in a time of 1:50.36; and the 3,200 relay team of Shoop, Cohen Burdick, Malachi Payne, and Gautsche, first place in a time of 8:46.50.

Bronson’s effort was led by Kam Brackett who took first in the 400 in a time of 53.63 seconds; Boston Bucklin with a first place finish in the 800 in a time of 2:07.25 and first place in the high jump with a jump of 6 feet, 0 inches; the 1,600 relay team of Tyler Wilber, Stevie Wilson, Brackett, and Bucklin, first place in 4:19.58; and Brycen Fincham, first place in the pole vault with a vault of 10 feet, 0 inches.

Dual Meet Stars-Girls

Union City’s winning effort was paced by junior long distance runner Skyler Fraley who won the 1,600 in a time of 6:01.00 and the 3,200 in a time of 13:11.58.

Junior star Nevada Gillons brought home three individual wins, sweeping the hurdle events with a win in the 100 hurdles in a time of 15.95 and the 300 hurdles in a time of 48.84. Gillons also won the long jump with a jump of 15 feet, 10 inches.

Also taking wins for Union City was Attica Hoath, first in the 200 in 28.64; Parker Williams, first in the 400 in a time of 1:05.24; Alissa Skirka, first place in the 800 in 2:44.87; and Kylie Creech, first place in the pole vault with a vault of 7 feet, 0 inches.

Union City also won three of the four relays, as the 800 relay team of Willow Austin, Hoath, Alaina Labar, and Williams took first place in 1:54.00; the 1,600 relay team of Austin, Hoath, Lilly Eyre, and Williams, first in a time of 4:42.75; and the 3,200 relay team of Skirka, Eyre, Williams, and Alli Gautsche, first in a time of 11:46.90.

Bronson’s effort was paced by one double winner in senior Skylar Smith who won the high jump with a jump of 4 feet, 10 inches and first place in the discus with a throw of 82 feet, 8 inches.

More: Quincy track sweeps Big 8 double dual

Bronson’s was also led by sophomore Itzel Albarran who won the 100 in a time of 13.59; the 400-relay team of Albarran, Addison Calloway, Miriam Sanchez, and Jaiden Hayes, first in a time of 55.13 seconds; and Zoay Herbert, first place in the shot put with a throw of 26 feet, 6 inches.

What’s Next?

Both teams will be back in action on Friday, with Union City heading to the John Green Relays in Mendon while Bronson travels to the Constantine Invitational.

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Leading the Pack: Union City track poised to sweep Big 8 titles