The last time the KarnsCity boys track and field team lost a meet was in 2001.

That loss came againstClarion, which went on to win the Class AA team title at the PIAA Track and Field Championships.

The streak now stands at 62 meets following a win over Union in the regular-season finale Tuesday.

"We really play it up," said Karns City boys coach Don Black. "We emphasize each year the streak is alive. The kids have a lot of pride in that."

The 14 seniors on the team, Steve Black, Mark Ferguson, Evan Crawford, Andrew Harmon, Joe Grubbs, Dale Grimm, Aaron Ganter, Kory Kusick, Chad Turner, Chad Shoemaker, Jeremy Bowser, Ben Wallace, Danny Thuroni and Chad Zabicki never lost a meet in their high school careers.

They are also part of a program that has won five straight Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference titles.

"I don't think it has really sunk in yet," Ferguson said. "When we were freshmen, we began talking about it as something we wanted to do, not to lose a dual meet. It feels good to succeed."

There have been some close calls along the way, mostly against rivals Moniteau and Clarion.

Black hasn't been shy about putting athletes in different events in big meets to squeeze as many points as he can out of his team.

Ferguson competed in the long jump for the first and only time all season against Moniteau earlier in the year and jumped more than 20 feet to earn valuable points.

"Meets we may need a little extra, one of the seniors will step up and volunteer," Black said.

Ferguson enjoyed his day as a long jumper, not only because he did well, but because he felt like he did his part to keep the streak alive.

"I think our class is one of the most competitive classes," Ferguson said. "It feels good when I can help the team in a way they don't expect. I know I can help in the hurdle events. I'll do the long jump and the triple jump — whatever is needed to win."

The days before a meet against Moniteau and Clarion were intense for the Gremlins, particularly this season as the Warriors also have a strong boys team.

Steve Black said sometimes he forgets what season it is before a big meet againstMoniteau.

"It feels like we're getting ready to play a football game in the fall," Steve Black said. "That's the only thing I can compare it to. It is intense. It's a good feeling."

Black cleared 13 feet, 6 inches in the pole vault and hopes to place at states.

Ferguson made it to the state meet last season in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles, placing fifth in the 300 hurdles.

Despite their success as a team, the Gremlins have had spotty success at the state meet.

That could change this year, though, as Karns City might come home with multiple state medals.

To Ferguson, nothing would be more fitting.

"That would finish off the year perfectly," he said. "It will show all the hard work was worth it."