TRIPLE-WINNER BRONSON PACES ATHENS' EFFORTS AT TL COACHES' INVITE

By: Chris Manning  /  May 14, 2021  /  Photo: David Alliger

ATHENS — Athens sophomore Emma Bronson has been stellar all season  for the Lady Wildcats, and on Friday, at the NTL Coaches’ Invitational, she was dominant, sweeping the distance events.

“It was hard, but it felt good to win all three,” said Bronson.

Bronson won the 800 in 2:32.69, the 1600 in 5:36.52, and the 3200 in 12:35.99 — not an easy feat on a WARM day. She wasn’t fazed, however.

“I kind of stayed with the same strategy going in,” she said. “I knew there were a lot of good runners in each race, so I just wanted to stick with my game plan.”

Her three wins were part of seven for the Athens’ girls team on the day.

Senior Emma Roe (1:02.71) won the 400, junior Hannah Walker (49.76) won the 300 hurdles, freshman Mya Thompson (31-feet, 8-inches) won the triple jump, and the 4x400 relay team of Roe, Thompson, Walker, and senior Leah Liechty won in 4:26.07.

Liechty (4-feet, 4-inches) was fourth in the high jump, and seventh in the pole vault at 6-feet, 6-inches.

Thompson (16-feet, 1 1/2-inches) was second in the long jump, while Friend (29-feet, 1 1/4-inches) was eighth in the triple jump.

Olivia Bartlow (87-feet, 8 1/2-inches) and Emma Pernaselli (84-feet, 2-inches) went second, and third in the discus. The duo also placed in the shot put, with Bartlow (27-feet, 3-inches) fourth, and Pernaselli (27-feet, 1 3/4-inches) fifth.

Pernaselli (86-feet, 1-inch) was sixth in the javelin.

For Sayre, senior Carrie Claypool took silver in the 1600 (5:47.07), and the 3200 (12:41.98) behind Bronson. Teammate sophomore Corey Ault (16:21.34) was sixth in the 3200.

Senior Lauren Krall was seventh in the long jump at 13-feet, 6 1/2-inches, and eighth (4-feet, 2-inches) in the high jump.

Both teams will be competing at the District IV Championships Thursday and Saturday at Williamsport High School.

Bronson may triple down at districts, but hasn’t made any decisions. She knows one thing, it will be a change competing in Class AAA.

“It will definitely be different between NTL, and districts,” she said. “But it will be fun.”