‘Golden’ day for Marian’s Capparell

WHITEHALL – Tina Capparell continues to check off items on her to-do list.

After another dominant showing at the District 11 Track and Field Championships, she can add two more conquests to her catalog.

Capparell cruised to wins in the Class 2A 800 and 1600 Thursday at Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex. She also won both events at last week’s Schuylkill League meet.

Running mostly unchallenged, Capparell still posted an impressive time of 5:02.23 in the 1600. North Schuylkill’s Cori McCormick was second in 5:12.06.

“It means so much,” Capparell said after the victory in the 1600, a race she was second in last season. “It was my goal all season. Now that I got first, I’m gonna go out to states, and I’m finally gonna get to see what I can do out there.

“I was really nervous coming into this race, knowing that I came just close to breaking 5:00, that just gives me so much confidence for next week.”

Capparell will get the competition she’s looking for next week – and another opportunity to break 5:00.

“I’m really looking forward to that, because I’m finally gonna get someone to push me, and hopefully chase those times that I want, and see what I can do,” she said.

Capparell again dictated the pace from the outset Thursday in the 1600, controlling the race from the front and setting the tempo.

“I actually took it out a little bit slower than I wanted to, but it all worked out perfectly,” Capparell said.

If she does it again in Shippensburg, Capparell — already a state champion in cross country — will be able to add the final piece to the puzzle to cap off her remarkable scholastic career.

“I want a state championship, that’s my goal,” Capparell said. “So I’m gonna go out and do everything I can to get that.

“I just want to thank everyone who got me here. I wouldn’t be anywhere close to where I am without them.”

Capparell won the 800 in 2:18.11, ahead of Jim Thorpe’s Lydia Wallace (2:20.08).

Wallace dropped her time in the event significantly from last week’s league meet, when she was second in 2:25.01.

And the freshman did it after winning the 400 in 1:00.31 – and helping the 400 relay team of Emma Dunbar, Debbie Loyd and Kylee Dulski qualify for states with a second-place finish in the 400 relay with a time of 51.43.

“My main goal was just to make it to states,” said Wallace. “I wasn’t seeded very high for all of my events. But doing well in the (relay) helped me gain some confidence, and then just going through with the 400 and getting first, and getting the school record. And then this.

“I was definitely tired (in the 800); my legs were shot. I was at my last 100 meters, and I was a good 10 meters away from her (Capparell), and I thought I had it. But she took it.”

Still, a remarkable day.

“I went in, and my main goal was to beat my PRs, go to states, and just worry about myself,” said Wallace. “And that definitely helped.”

Loyd also found success after the relay, winning the pole vault with a height of 11-0.

“It’s just exciting. I can’t believe I won,” said Loyd. “I worked so hard over the past year; I just started last year. So to get 11-0 is really good.

“I can’t wait. My goal for next year is 12-0, and I really just want to go higher.”

Loyd was able to quickly refocus after the relay to get prepared for the pole vault.

“It was crazy,” she said. “I had to run the relay, then I came over and I had to warm up right away, so I was really tired. And actually my warm-ups didn’t go too well. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, what if I don’t clear my coming in height,’ I was scared.

“But it worked out for the best. And running that (relay), I feel like it got me all energized, and loose, and I feel really happy with what we did, and I can’t wait to go to states in both of those events, and do even better.”

Weatherly’s Emily Zoscin repeated as 2A champion in the 100, winning the race with a time of 12.73, just ahead of Dunbar (12.76), who also qualified for states in the event.

The victory is one that will be celebrated by more than just Zoscin.

“It feels so great, because we don’t have any track, the community’s really rooting for me, and I just felt so good,” said Zoscin. “I’m not doing it for myself; I’m doing it for the town, I’m doing it for the team, everyone.

“It feels so good to bring another medal back to them.”

After getting a taste of what the state meet was like a year ago, the junior is eager to make the most of her second “Trip to Ship” this season.

“I was hoping for another gold, but I really wanted to make it back to Ship, because that was just an amazing experience,” Zoscin said. “When I went to Shippensburg last year, I saw there are some amazing runners, and they are faster than me. And I want to be the fastest. So seeing them really motivated me to do better, and train harder.”

Lehighton’s Isabelle Meckes has enjoyed a banner season as a junior, and it continued with a victory in the Class 3A discus, where she had a winning throw of 125-10, a mark she got on her last attempt in the finals.

“It’s extremely satisfying, because I really worked my way up to this,” said Meckes. “And the last two years I was here, I didn’t do as well as I wanted to. And even today, I was second from last throwing in the finals, and I really pulled through at the end with one of my personal bests, and I’m really happy about it.

“It feels great, because I get jittery and nervous, and to settle down and focus and pull through at the end was great.”

Meckes, who has rewritten the school record book in the event throughout the season, credited the success to an unwavering commitment.

“I think the biggest thing is, I’m more motivated,” she said. “I enjoy doing it, and just wanting to do it, and practice on my own, not just going after school and practicing for an hour is really what got me where I am.”

Jim Thorpe’s Devon Lignore placed second in the 2A shot put, with a personal best 34-9 to advance to states.

“It’s super exciting,” Lignore said. “I worked all season for this, so finally to get here, and earn it, is super exciting.”

2018 District 11 Track and Field Championships

Class 2A

GIRLS FINALS

(Top 3; other locals)

100 – 1. Emily Zoscin (Weatherly) 12.73, 2. Emma Dunbar (Jim Thorpe) 12.76, 3. Emily Demalis (Shenandoah Vy.) 12.82, 6. Kristen Guelcher (No. Lehigh) 13.27.

200 – 1. Lydia Bottelier (Palisades) 25.05, 2. Nilitza Malave (Pine Grove) 26.44, 3. Emily Demalis (Shenandoah Vy.) 26.52, 5. Emily Zoscin (Weatherly) 26.84, 6. Emma Dunbar (Jim Thorpe) 27.31.

400 – 1. Lydia Wallace (Jim Thorpe) 1:00.31, 2. Sara Manbeck (No. Schuylkill) 1:01.02, 3. Alexis Disora (Notre Dame GP) 1:01.29, 7. Destiny Mokshefski (Palmerton) 1:03.42, 8. Shaina Mazzocca (No. Lehigh) 1:03.71, 15. April Gerber (Tamaqua) 1:05.44, 19. Abby Hernandez (Weatherly) 1:07.32, 20. Olivia Stanek (Tamaqua) 1:07.60.

800 – 1. Tina Capparell (Marian Catholic) 2:18.11, 2. Lydia Wallace (Jim Thorpe) 2:20.08, 3. Olivia Cory (Minersville) 2:23.08, 4. Brianna Dumond (Tamaqua) 2:24.46, 6. Brianna Brennan (Palmerton) 2:30.04, 13. Reagan Pender (No. Lehigh) 2:36.58, 18. Alexandra McGinley (Jim Thorpe) 2:40.30, 19. Katie Guelcher (No. Lehigh) 2:41.60, 20. Abigail McGinley (Jim Thorpe) 2:41.63.

1600 – 1. Tina Capparell (Marian Catholic) 5:02.23, 2. Cori McCormick (No. Schuylkill) 5:12.06, 3. Gaby Vega (Wilson) 5:14.49, 5. Sarah Maue (Tamaqua) 5:24.15, 6. Reagan Pender (No. Lehigh) 5:26.04, 7. Frances Kabana (Tamaqua) 5:30.70, 13. Katie Guelcher (No. Lehigh) 5:48.69.

100H – 1. Meredith Rhoades (Mahanoy Area) 16.14, 2. Elora Mitchell (Palisades) 16.27, 3. Skye Porter (Palisades) 16.55, 5. Madison Martinez (Palmerton) 17.35, 6. Kylee Dulski (Jim Thorpe) 17.60, 8. Mackenzie Rosenberger (Jim Thorpe) 18.78, 9. Kaitlin Lowery (Marian Catholic) 18.84.

400 Relay – 1. Wilson (Brianna Grant, Almond Goodman, Zoey Bronson, Anjali Salvi) 51.12, 2. Jim Thorpe 51.43, 3. Palisades 51.65, 5. Tamaqua 52.09, 8. Northern Lehigh 53.13, 11. Palmerton 53.77, 12. Marian Catholic 54.09, 13. Panther Valley 54.49.

1600 Relay – Palisades (Sydney Odle, Dorothy Curtin, Callie Fair, Lydia Bottelier) 4:05.31, 2. North Schuylkill 4:12.29, 3. Palmerton 4:15.41, 7. Tamaqua 4:23.61, 11. Jim Thorpe 4:35.14, 13. Northern Lehigh 4:39.02.

Shot Put – 1. Autumn Carr (Palisades) 34-10 ½, 2. Devon Lignore (Jim Thorpe) 34-9, 3. Franki Dibilio (No. Lehigh) 33-9 ¼, 4. Emma McClafferty (Marian Catholic) 33-3, 6. Hailey Evans (No. Lehigh) 31-8 ½, 8. Abigail Everett (Palmerton) 31-0 ¾, 12. Emily Titus (Tamaqua) 27-7 ¾.

Triple Jump – 1. Sarah Wagner (No. Schuylkill) 35-11, 2. Melena Koutch (Salisbury) 35-1, 3. Jillian Olewine (No. Lehigh) 34-10 ½, 6. Chloe Oldt (Palmerton) 32-11, 8. Olivia Romig (No. Lehigh) 32-2 ¼, 11. Maddison Beahm (Palmerton) 31-2 ¼, 13. Abigail McGinley (Jim Thorpe) 30-9 ½.

Pole Vault – 1. Debbie Loyd (Jim Thorpe) 11-0, 2. Sara Altonen (Wilson) 10-0, 3. Shanna Brinkworth (Tamaqua) 9-6, 4. Sophia Boyle (Tamaqua) 9-0, 10. (tie) Anna Shigo (Jim Thorpe) and Megan Rolko (Tamaqua) 7-6, 13. (tie) Abby Merkle (No. Lehigh) 7-6.

Class 3A

GIRLS FINALS

(Top 3; other locals)

100 – 1. Amanda Crooks (Whitehall) 12.26, 2. Kylie Kutz (Blue Mtn.) 12.41, 3. Alanna Smith (Emmaus) 12.60, 4. Jalurah Moore (Pleasant Vy.) 12.62.

200 – 1. Talitha Diggs (Saucon Vy.) 24.84, 2. Kylie Kutz (Blue Mtn.) 25.57, 3. Jalurah Moore (Pleasant Vy.) 26.03.

400 – 1. Talitha Diggs (Saucon Vy.) 56.61, 2. Jasmine Douglas-Grant (Stroudsburg) 58.17, 3. Ellissa Slader (Easton) 59.32, 16. Lauren Schellhamer (Northwestern) 1:02.78, 22. Tinaya Klotz (Lehighton) 1:06.41.

800 – 1. Greta Stuckey (Liberty) 2:18.55, 2. Katherine Ellmaker (Easton) 2:19.25, 3. Emily Banashefski (Stroudsburg) 2:20.08, 6. Morgan Covart (Pleasant Vy.) 2:24.72, 8. Alyssa Zack (Northwestern) 2:25.83, 10. Allison Costa (Northwestern) 2:27.23, 13. Cameron Caffrey (Pleasant Vy.) 2:29.13.

1600 – 1. Abigail Dalton (Emmaus) 5:03.45, 2. Ciara Conboy (Stroudsburg) 5:06.85, 3. Emily Deschler (Allentown Central Catholic) 5:06.88, 8. Madeline Consuelos (Northwestern) 5:23.05.

100H – 1. Gabriella Taylor (ES South) 14.94, 2. Sierra Williams (So. Lehigh) 15.54, 3. Kiaya Jones (PM East) 15.94.

400 Relay – 1. Whitehall (Monica Manu, Rebecca Ganthier, Kate Bonshak, Amanda Crooks) 48.85, 2. Emmaus 48.91, 3. East Stroudsburg South 49.33, 11. Pleasant Valley 51.87.

1600 Relay – 1. Easton (Ellissa Slader, Nina Corpora, Mikayla Roach, Kate Willshaw) 3:59.35, 2. Liberty 4:00.97, 3. Emmaus 4:03.41, 14. Northwestern 4:24.51.

Discus – 1. Isabelle Meckes (Lehighton) 125-10, 2. Jaiden Martellucci (Easton) 117-8, 3. Julia LaPorta (So. Lehigh) 111-1, 15. Rhylee Sherwood (Lehighton) 88-2.

Javelin – 1. Shelby Staib (Parkland) 122-3, 2. Eleni Prodes (Liberty) 121-7, 3. Elsie Wanamaker (Blue Mtn.) 119-10, 12. Grace Lienhard (Lehighton) 95-5, 13. Emily Miller (Lehighton) 94-5.

Long Jump – 1. Ayanna Burrell (Stroudsburg) 18-1 ¼, 2. Liz Lieb (Bethlehem Catholic) 17-11 ¼, 3. Grace Mittl (Liberty) 17-6 ½, 6. Kaia Slaw (Lehighton) 16-8.

High Jump – 1. Kate Willshaw (Easton) 5-3, 2. Chanette Garrett (PM West) 5-1, 3. Kristen Karavitch (Nazareth) 5-1, 8. Armani Dunkley (Pleasant Vy) 4-11.