Union City track sweeps Big 8 double dual, Chargers take big step towards possible title

UNION CITY – Union City’s Alumni Field christened their brand-new bleachers Wednesday, a project that has taken a great deal longer than was expected due to construction issues from the very start of the project. The stands were finally finished just this past week, allowing Union City to hold their first home track meet of the season as the Chargers welcomed Reading and Springport to town for a Big 8 double dual.

Girl’s Competition

The Union City Charger girls wrapped up a huge Big 8 sweep on Wednesday, as the Chargers defeated Reading by the score of 91-34 and Springport by the score of 86-41. Reading eked out a win in the other dual, defeating Springport 48-46.

Union City was led by Nevada Gillons who continues to put together an amazing junior season, winning the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 16.75 seconds, the 300 hurdles in a time of 49.94, and the long jump with a leap of 15 feet, 6 inches. Gillons was also a part of the winning 400 relay team along with teammates Alaina Labar, Katie Johnson, and Attica Hoath in a time of 53.42 seconds.

Also bringing home wins for Union City were Alissa Skirka, first place finish in the 800 in a time of 2 minutes, 42.56 seconds; Skyler Fraley, first place in the 1600 in a time of 6:11.60; Allison Gautsche, first place in the 3200 in a time of 13:35.06; the 1600 relay team of Willow Austin, Hoath, Skirka, and Parker Williams, first place in a time of 5:24.70; the 3200 relay team of Skirka, Gautsche, Fraley, and Kiera Taylor, first place in a time of 12:06.18; and Kiera Taylor, first place in the pole vault with a vault of 7 feet, 0 inches.

Also earning points for the Chargers with a top three finish was Hoath, second place in the 200; Williams, second place in the 400; Carly Smith, third place in the 800; Gautsche, second place in the 1600; Fraley, second place in the 3200; Elizabeth Arlt, third place in the 3200; Labar, third place in the 100 hurdles and third place in the long jump; Kylie Creech, second place in the 300 hurdles and second place in the pole vault; the 800 relay team of Austin, Lilly Eyre, Johnson and Hoath, third place; and Naomi Schwark, second place in the high jump.

Results for the 100-meter dash were not included in the final results.

Boy’s Competition

Union City rolled to a pair of wins on Wednesday, defeating Reading 76-25 and Springport 67-43. Springport defeated Reading in the other Big 8 dual 71-30.

Union City throwing ace Logan Cole swept up down in the throwing pits to lead the Chargers, winning the shot put with a throw of 46 feet, 4 inches and the discus with a throw of 155 feet, 6 inches.

Aiding the Charger victory with wins of their own were Ben Gautsche, first place in the 400 in a time of 54.65; Malachi Payne, first place in the 1600 in a time of 5:25.00; Jason Shoop, first place in the 3200 in a time of 11:58.52; Nathaniel Maurer, first place in the 300 hurdles in a time of 41.96 seconds; the 3200 relay team of Cohen Burdick, Payne, Shoop and Gautsche, first place in a time of 9:28.52; and Rick Austin, first place in the long jump with an amazing leap of 20 feet, 3.5 inches.

More: Baseball: Union City battles to hard earned sweep over rival Bronson

Contributing to the Charger win was Cohen Burdick, second place in the 800 and third place in the 1600; Shoop, second place in the 1600; Payne, second place in the 3200; Noah June, third place in the 3200; Nathaniel Maurer, second place in the 110 hurdles; Kenny Case, third place in the 110 hurdles and third place in the 300 hurdles; the 400 relay team of Caden Hughes, Owen Kincaid, Austin, and Kent Robbins, second place; the 800 relay team of Maurer, Hughes, Kincaid, and Austin, third place; the 1600 relay team of Maurer, Gautsche, Burdick, and Hunter Sinke, second place; and Kent Robbins, second place in the high jump.

Results for the 100-meter dash were not reported on Athletic.net.

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Union City track sweeps Springport and Reading, aims for Big 8 crown