SUNBURY — It came down to the final event, and the experienced Milton lineup of Mike Grasso, Garrett Brought, Stephen Moore and Brandon Smith ran to victory in the 1600 relay propelling the Black Panthers to a 76-74 Susquehanna Valley Conference-I victory over Shikellamy Tuesday in Sunbury.
“That was a case where those four decided they weren’t going to lose,” said Milton coach Tom Leeser. “They work hard. They practice together and they push each other.”
All four did their parts individually to aid in the Panther victory as well.
Smith won the 400 (52.88) and finished second in the 800 and javelin while Grasso held off a late-charging Nick Attinger for victory in the 1600 (4:44). Brought won the 100 (11.73) and took second in the 200 behind Moore, who ran to victory in 23.61. Moore finished second to Smith in the 400.
In the battle of pole vault heavyweights, it was Shikellamy’s Nicco Dalpiaz claiming victory with a personal-best leap of 14-6. Dalpiaz edged Milton standout Todd Postie, who won the 110 hurdles (16.23) and was the second leg of Milton’s victorious 400 relay team (45.22).
“(Postie) was disappointed he didn’t win, but we told him that we don’t win that meet without him winning the (110) hurdles,” said Leeser. “His effort today winning the hurdles and stepping in on the 4-by-1 helps us win.”
Postie ran a leg of the 400 relay with sprinter Cody Middlesworth sidelined with in injury.
“With leagues and districts coming up, he will just be pole vaulting,” said Leeser. “That’s what he’s good at and that’s what he’s worked so hard at.”
Milton also got victories from David McRae in the discus (114-7), Austin Cohrs in the long jump (18-5.5) and the 400 relay team of Hayden Guffey, Postie, Moore and Brought.
The Panthers are back in action Saturday at the league meet.

chris brady: 570-742-9671
sports@standard-journal.com