ERIE – It will go down in the book as a 2-point loss for the Youngsville girls track and field team at Seneca on Tuesday, but without the pole vault, which the Lady Eagles do not have, it would have been a win.

In fact, they won all but two of the events on the track on a cold and rainy day.

Brooke Messinger won the 800, 1600 and 3200, while Jocelyn Taydus and Naomi Swartzbaugh went 1-2 in the 100 hurdles. Linsey Jukes won the 100 and 200, Swartzbaugh the 300 hurdles, Liz Evans the triple jump and Maddi Marino the high jump.

Aleea Geise and Ashley Petitt went 2-3 in the 400, with Petitt adding a third place finish in the 800, Evans a third in the long jump, Elliyanna First a third in the triple jump and discus and Amber McAfoose third in the javelin.

“Today was a mental toughness day,” said Youngsville coach Michelle Johnson. “Everyone is out here competing in this weather. You have to dig deep and put forth your best effort. We weren’t expecting amazing times today with the weather. They hung in there.”

For the boys, Aaron Morris was the big highlight, winning the 110 hurdles and qualifying for districts in the process.

Owen Engstrom won the triple jump, was second in the 100 and third in the 200 and long jump, missing qualifying for districts in the 200 by .01.

Noah Myers was third in the 100 and 400, Morris second in the 300 hurdles (Braden Wilson was third), Mason Benjamin third in the shot put and Jordan Keyes second in the javelin.

“Seneca’s 4×800 team is the defending state champions and they actually took some runners to the Penn Relays,” noted Johnson. “They have a good, strong boys team with good distance kids and fast sprinters.” The Eagles will return to action on Saturday at the Oil City Invitational.