Martinez wins two gold medals

WHITEHALL – Jake Martinez knew all about his competition.

The Palmerton junior has spent the past three years studying his rivals, scouting their strengths and weaknesses.

Martinez used all of his experience to put together the perfect game plan Wednesday to ace his competition at the Colonial League Track and Field Championships.

Two precisely executed finishes helped Martinez leave Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex with gold medals in both the 1600 and 800.

A beautiful kick in the 1600 propelled Martinez to the title with a personal best time of 4:26.27, just ahead of Southern Lehigh’s Thomas Matsumura (4:27.61).

He did it again in the 800, powering to the line in a school-record time of 1:59.75, and again in front of Matsumura (2:00.29).

“This is the culmination of a lot of hard work,” Martinez said after the 1600. “I gotta thank the other guys out there, like Thomas (Matsumura), (Southern Lehigh’s) Colin (Cramer), and (Saucon Valley’s) Ethan (Bernstein). Those guys have been like my role models for all of high school, and to be able to race with them one last time has been awesome.

“It was hard. It was really hard. But I honestly didn’t think I ran that fast, so to be able to come out like that was fantastic.”

In the 1600, Martinez was hoping to eclipse the 4:30 barrier. He did that and then some.

“I really just wanted to edge under 4:30,” he said. “This whole season, I really haven’t been able to get close to that so far, so I just wanted to see what happens.

“I hung with Thomas, and he pushed me so hard, and once again, I wouldn’t be able to do it without them. And I came across the line, and I couldn’t believe it. It was just a great day.”

Martinez played the endings perfectly.

“All the other boys are so strong, and I knew that I just had to believe in my training,” Martinez said. “I was dying, too, so with 200 meters to go (in the 1600) I hoped I could hold them off, but I knew it would be a really close finish. My goal was just to try to get going early.”

But Martinez knows there’s still work to be done.

“This was a really great checkmark for the season so far,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to districts and states this year. And to be able to pull that off, on such a great day, it’s definitely a big confidence booster going ahead.”

Martinez’s two triumphs highlighted a solid second day for Times News area athletes.

Palmerton’s Jordan Nelson started the afternoon with a bang, roaring to a convincing win in the Colonial League boys’ 110 hurdles.

Nelson dropped his time of 16.85 in Tuesday’s prelims to 15.70 in the finals. Pen Argyl’s Eric Lobb was second with a time of 15.84.

“I’m pretty happy about it, from yesterday,” Nelson said of his improvement. “It was good competition, and I ended up in first, so I’m pretty happy about it.”

Nelson felt like he had something to prove after not performing as he had hoped in the prelims.

“I was a little nervous, considering my time yesterday,” Nelson said. “Knowing I could do better, I just wanted to go out and prove it.

“I wasn’t really concerned. I knew what I could do. Having that better competition (today) really pushed me. I really like having those guys right next to me, they really push me through the whole race.”

Northern Lehigh’s Robert Shoff blasted a school record leap of 44-0.0 to win the Colonial League boys triple jump.

“Coming into this event, I was really looking forward to it,” said Shoff. “I had my mind set on that school record, just trying my best to get up there.

“My first couple jumps were iffy in the prelims. But in the finals, I brought it all together and got that school record.”

The performance was everything Shoff hoped for and more.

“All throughout the day, I was thinking, 43-0, 44-0, I’ll be happy with 43-0, having not hit 42-0 lately,” said Shoff. “But I put my goal up pretty high to set a standard.”

Shoff is eager for an encore at next week’s district meet.

“It gives me a lot of confidence, knowing I’m coming back next week for districts,” he said. “I know what I can do here, and I’m comfortable with trying to do it again.

“I definitely want to try to get another 44-0, and qualify for states. That’s definitely my huge goal for next week.”

Northern Lehigh’s Franki Dibilio was second in the Colonial League girls shot put with a mark of 34-02.75.

“I’m happy for second, but I know I could have thrown farther,” said Dibilio, who was fourth in the discus on Tuesday. “But districts is the really important one, so my coach is pushing me for that one.

“There’s always room for improvement, and we’re definitely working on that everyday at practice.”

After a fourth-place finish in the long jump on Tuesday, Northern Lehigh’s Jillian Olewine finished second in the Colonial League triple jump with a leap of 34-7.5.

A league and district champion in both events a year ago – and a state medalist in the long jump – Olewine has battled shin splints throughout the season.

But the senior feels she is starting to find her form entering the postseason.

“I’m decently happy with how I did, I just know I could do better,” said Olewine. “I’ve been having a rough season with my shin splints, so I haven’t had my best meet yet, but come districts I’m hoping to pop back into my 18s (in the long jump), and high 35s, 36s (in the triple jump).

“My shins are feeling a lot better now. So hopefully come districts, I’ll pop something like I did last year. I’m definitely feeling a lot better, and more confident, about districts now.”

Olewine is motivated to defend her titles next week.

“It definitely motivates me a lot, but it also puts a lot of pressure on me,” she said. “Because I had such a great season, and I’m trying to push myself harder to get back up there and get two gold medals at districts.”

Palmerton’s Destiny Mokshefski, Hanna Nesfeder, Madison Martinez and Brianna Brennan also placed second in the Colonial League girls 1600 relay with time of 4:14.28.

Aaron Stasko placed third in the 100 for the Blue Bombers with a time of 11.49. Northwestern’s Alyssa Zack was fourth in the 800, crossing the line in 2:26.04.

In the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference meet, Pleasant Valley’s Jon Mickens was third in the 800 with a time of 2:00.15.

“Wow. Just wow,” Mickens said afterward. “We went out with a 55, 56-second first lap, and that was definitely faster than the norm. That first lap was really challenging.

“I’m just so blessed to be able to get third place. My goal was just to stay with the front pack, and hold on for dear life that last 200, and that’s exactly what I did. I’m just so proud of myself for keeping that kick at the end. I’m so shocked, and pleased, to be in this position right now.”

Pleasant Valley’s Morgan Covart was fourth in the girls’ EPC 800 with a time of 2:24.39, while Ryan Murphy took sixth in the boys’ 1600 (4:34.98).

TEAM SCORES … Parkland won the EPC boys team title with 130 points, while Stroudsburg took the girls crown in 89 points. Southern Lehigh swept the Colonial League boys’ and girls’ team championships.

BACK AGAIN … The District 11 Track and Field Championships are scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday, and will also be held at Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex.