STATE COLLEGE — Bradford senior John Eakin Broke the school indoor record on his way to the top throw in Pennsylvania at the PA Indoor State Meet held at Penn State on Sunday. Eaking threw 57’5.75” to take top honors at the meet and for the season in PA. He broke David Reinhardt’s Indoor record of 56’4.5” set in 2011.

Eaking started the meet ranked ninth in the state but quickly asserted himself as the favorite with some long warm up throws. Then, his first official throw of 54’5” put him into the lead in the first round of throws. Eakin’s second throw was even better with a toss of 55’10.25”.

“Starting the finals in first place was a definite advantage and John seized this opportunity to better even the earlier throws with a 57’4.57” monster,” BHS coach Tom Tessena said.

The second place finisher did manage a strong last throw of 56’1” but it was not enough. Eakin won a very nice watch for this first place finish.  

“This was a great ending for this indoor season for John,” Tessena said. “He has worked very hard and had many ups and downs but preserved.

“Throwing Coach Dave Cercone worked just as hard as John for this title,” Tessena went on to say. “He took John out to Youngstown University to practice in all kinds of weather. We only had a few days of practice in our own gym so John didn’t get all the practice throws he needed.  That made it difficult to master the rotation method of throwing that John was using.

“Coach Cercone became a master of innovation to get John the work he needed.”

Eakin became the first male to be a State Indoor Champion and only the second State Meet Champion including the Outdoor Meet since Coach Tessena began coaching in 1969. Jack Craven was the champion in the 200 meters (220 yard dash then) in 1971.  

“We have had many medal winners in both indoor and outdoor but those two guys are the only State Champs,” Tessena said. “This was a fantastic way to end the indoor Track Season and kick off the outdoor season which starts on March 5.”  

Those boys going out for Track this year are reminded to come to the mandatory track meeting after school on Thursday, Mar. 1 immediately after school in the cafeteria.  

“Special thanks goes out to our coaches Mark Kelley, Larry Stillman, and Dave Cercone who donated their time and  devoted the past three months to making our Track and Field program better,” Tessena said. “Our guys and girls who participated will be our leaders this spring and we all thank them for their efforts to make themselves better.”

McGriff competes in 400

Also competing at the state meet for Bradford was Ashton McGriff, who finished 22nd in the 400 meters with a time of 61.04.

“Ashton qualified for the state indoor meet three years in a row and set three indoor sprint records, both of which are great accomplishments,” Owls coach Larry Stillman said.

Outdoor track and field practice starts on Monday, Mar. 5.