McClafferty wins discus gold

WHITEHALL — The District 11 Track and Field Championships often brings with it a rush of emotions.

Marian’s Emma McClafferty knows that all too well.

McClafferty felt the rush of winning gold as a freshman, and experienced the heartbreak of coming up just short a year ago.

She reclaimed her throne on Wednesday.

McClafferty turned in a personal best performance to win the Class 2A discus with a throw of 118-06.

“It’s so nice, because freshman year I ended up winning, but last year it was not so good,” said McClafferty, who placed third in the event a year ago and just missed qualifying for states. “I’ve been dealing with a few injuries from basketball, but it’s good to get out here.

“The weather, it wasn’t the best. But I ended up with a PR, so it’s nice.”

McClafferty battled through a steady rain and shrugged off a subpar throw on her first attempt to set the winning mark on her second throw of prelims.

“I know my first one was like 80 feet. It was terrible,” said McClafferty. “I had to calm down; I was pretty nervous. And then it worked out.”

The mark is also the best McClafferty has thrown at districts. She won it with a throw of 117-11 as a freshman, and hit 106-08 to place third last season.

North Schuylkill’s Emma Green was second (110-07).

“It’s nice. I know my freshman year, I went and Emma (Green) didn’t, and then last year, she went and I didn’t,” McClafferty said. “It’s nice to go together.”

Tamaqua had a pair of runner-up finishes on the first day of competition at Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex.

The 3200-meter relay team of Sarah Maue, Frances Kabana, Brianna Dumond and Olivia Stanek finished second in the Class 2A race with a time of 9:56.75 to qualify for the state meet.

“Our time wasn’t the best, but we all just kinda go with it,” said Stanek.

“We got out there, and did our very best,” added Maue.

“We ran as a team, which is what we needed to do today,” said Dumond.

Minersville won the race in 9:51.40.

“We’re so thankful they were able to push us through (the race),” said Maue.

Tamaqua’s Alyssa Campomizzi was second in the 2A javelin with a throw of 109-01. The senior was also second in the event last year.

“I was excited coming into it, and then I was disappointed with how I threw,” said Campomizzi. “The weather didn’t help, but that’s no excuse.

“I was just trying to stay smooth and get to my block, just to accelerate.

Campomizzi is looking forward to another opportunity to compete at the state meet.

“I’m excited,” she said. “I’m just going to keep working, get stronger over this week.

“Knowing that I went to states last year, it calms me down, knowing that I made it this year as well, and that hopefully I can medal at states. I’m just excited. I was disappointed, but I know I’m going to states, so I’m excited.”

Lehighton’s Kaia Slaw had a huge performance in the Class 3A triple jump to advance to states. The sophomore placed third in the event with a jump of 37-3.0, extending her own school record and easily surpassing the state-qualifying standard of 36-6 to punch her ticket to Shippensburg.

“It was pretty cool to find out I qualified for states,” said Slaw. “I qualified on the first jump, so it was kind of like the pressure was lifted from me.

“I hoped to qualify for states. I knew I could do it. I knew I had the training.”

Slaw is hoping to continue her success next week.

“I’m hoping I can stay in the 37s, high 36s,” she said. “It would just be great.”

Several area athletes moved through preliminary races Wednesday with strong performances.

Weatherly’s Emily Zoscin and Jim Thorpe’s Emma Dunbar both qualified for the Class 2A 100 and 200 finals. Zoscin ran a 13.04 in the 100 prelims and came back to post a 27.30 in the 200.

Dunbar ran a 13.40 in the 100, and a 27.47 in the 200.

Northern Lehigh’s Kristen Guelcher ran a 13.51 in the 2A 100 prelims to advance.

Palmerton’s Madison Martinez (17.61), Jim Thorpe’s Kylee Dulski (17.68) and Mackenzie Rosenberger (18.23) and Marian’s Kaitlin Lowery (18.31) advanced to the finals in the 2A 100 hurdles.

In Class 3A competition, Pleasant Valley’s Jalurah Moore qualified for the 100 and 200 finals. The senior ran a 13.05 to move on in the 100, and finished the 200 in 26.76 to advance.

MEDALISTS … Martinez was third (50.29) in the 2A 300 hurdle finals. Northern Lehigh’s Reagan Pender (11:39.63) was third, and Maue (11:51.30) fourth in the 2A 3200. Northern Lehigh’s Jillian Olewine (16-7.0) was fourth in the 2A long jump, while teammate Franki Dibilio (94-7) was also fourth the 2A shot put. The Northwestern 3200 relay team of Molly Tarvin, Madeline Consuelos, Alyssa Zack and Allison Costa finished fourth with a time of 9:52.93 in the 3A event.

CHANGE OF PLANS … The inclement weather forced the postponement of the boys and girls Class 3A pole vault Wednesday. Both will now be contested Friday indoors at East Stroudsburg University. There will be an attempt to contest the boys and girls 2A pole vault today at Whitehall, but if they are unable to do so, both will be moved to ESU on Friday with the 3A events.

READY, SET … On track action is set to resume today at 3 p.m. with the finals in the 2A and 3A girls 100 hurdles. The 2A and 3A boys 110 hurdle finals will follow. Several field events will also begin at the same time.

CLASS 2A

GIRLS

PRELIMINARIES

(Top qualifier; other locals)

100 – 1. Nilitza Malave (Pine Grove) 12.93*, 2. Emily Zoscin (Weatherly) 13.03*, 5. Emma Dunbar (Jim Thorpe) 13.40*, 7. Kristen Guelcher (No. Lehigh) 13.51*, 10. Kayla Sherry (Tamaqua) 13.90, 11. Tressa Barron (Tamaqua) 13.91, 12. Grace Mussoline (Marian Catholic) 13.97, 14. Caitlin Smith (Tamaqua) 14.14, 23. Zoryana Duda (Marian Catholic) 14.45, 25. Nicole Gordon (Weatherly) 14.62.

100H – 1. Meredith Rose (Mahanoy Area) 16.81*, 4. Madison Martinez (Palmerton) 17.61*, 5. Kylee Dulski (Jim Thorpe) 17.68*, 6. Mackenzie Rosenberger (Jim Thorpe) 18.23*, 8. Kaitlin Lowery (Marian Catholic) 18.31*, 10. Makenna Kane (Tamaqua) 18.99, 15. Mercedes Weaver (Panther Vy.) 19.40, 17. Kristen Guelcher (No. Lehigh) 19.60, 20. Morgan Hadesty (Tamaqua) 19.74, 22. Molly Murphy (Tamaqua) 20.09, 23. Autumn Steibler (Panther Vy.) 20.11, 24. Emily Butz (Palmerton) 21.32.

200 – 1. Lydia Bottelier (Palisades) 26.09*, 5. Emily Zoscin (Weatherly) 27.30*, 6. Emma Dunbar (Jim Thorpe) 27.47*, 12. Shaina Mazzocca (No. Lehigh) 28.70, 13. Kayla Sherry (Tamaqua) 28.79, 15. Mia Fantasia (Palmerton) 29.07, 16. Caitlin Smith (Palmerton) 29.11, 19. Grace Mussoline (Marian Catholic) 29.29, 21. Zoryana Duda (Marian Catholic) 29.67.

* — Qualified for Finals

FINALS

(Top 3; other locals)

3200 Relay – 1. Minersville (Emily Kriston, Kaylene Raczka, Brooke Adams, Olivia Cory) 9:51.40, 2. Tamaqua 9:56.75, 3. Wilson 10:13.50.

300H – 1. Meredith Rhoades (Mahanoy Area) 48.93, 2. Almond Goodman (Wilson) 50.12, 3. Madison Martinez (Palmerton) 50.29, 11. Makenna Kane (Tamaqua) 53.42, 13. Kristen Guelcher (No. Lehigh) 55.19, 15. Molly Murphy (Tamaqua) 55.73, 17. Kaitlin Lowery (Marian Catholic) 57.39, 18. Autumn Steibler (Panther Vy.) 57.66, 20. Autumn Snyder (Jim Thorpe) 59.67, 22. Mackenzie Rosenberger (Jim Thorpe) 59.84.

3200 – 1. Cori McCormick (No. Schuylkill) 11:22.20, 2. Christina Difalco (Pine Grove) 11:29.35, 3. Reagan Pender (No. Lehigh) 11:39.63, 4. Sarah Maue (Tamaqua) 11:51.30, 7. Katie Guelcher (No. Lehigh) 12:42.35, 9. Carolyn Mehallo (Marian Catholic) 12:49.54, 10. Cailee Carroll (Tamaqua) 13:03.99, 14. Madelyn Jones (Tamaqua) 13:31.97.

Discus – 1. Emma McClafferty (Marian Catholic) 118-6, 2. Emma Green (No. Schuylkill) 110-7, 3. Delaney Hilferty (Palisades) 98-6, 4. Franki Dibilio (No. Lehigh) 94-7, 5. Devon Lignore (Jim Thorpe) 93-7, 9. Meghan McArdle (Tamaqua) 79-7, 11. Holly Skrimcovsky (Jim Thorpe) 74-1.

High Jump – 1. Lydia Bottelier (Palisades) 5-6, 2. Kenzie Bradley (Catasauqua) 5-2, 3. Melenda Koutch (Salisbury) 5-0, 8. (tie) Chloe Oldt (Palmerton) 4-6, 10. (tie) Autumn Snyder (Jim Thorpe) 4-6.

Javelin – 1. Kaitlyn Cavallaro (Palisades) 121-3, 2. Alyssa Campomizzi (Tamaqua) 109-1, 3. Alli Butler (Pine Grove) 102-8, 5. Emily Titus (Tamaqua) 99-2, 9. Kristen Scott (Jim Thorpe) 90-10, 12. Jacqueline Kokinda (Panther Vy.) 89-0, 13. Katie Ziegler (No. Lehigh) 88-8.

Long Jump – 1. Lydia Bottelier (Palisades) 17-2 ¾, 2. Kenzie Bradley (Catasauqua) 17-2 ¼, 3. Sarah Wagner (No. Schuylkill) 17-1 ½, 4. Jillian Olewine (No. Lehigh) 16-7, 8. Megan Rolko (Tamaqua) 15-0, 9. Marnea Wise (Jim Thorpe) 14-11 ¾, 10. Destiny Mokshefski (Palmerton) 14-9 ½, 14. Abigail McGinley (Jim Thorpe) 13-7 ½.

Top 2 plus others who meet PIAA standard qualify for states

CLASS 3A

GIRLS

PRELIMINARIES

(Top qualifier; other locals)

100 – 1. Kylie Kutz (Blue Mtn.) 12.65*, 8. Jalurah Moore (Pleasant Vy.) 13.05*

100H Preliminaries – 1. Gabriella Taylor (ES South) 15.51*, 22. Nicole Brooks-Miller (Pleasant Vy.).

200 Preliminaries – 1. Talitha Diggs (Saucon Vy.) 25.50*, 4. Jalurah Moore (Pleasant Vy.) 26.76*, 9. Armani Dunkley (Pleasant Vy.) 27.51, 19. Kate Betz (Northwestern) 28.65.

* — Qualified for Finals

FINALS

(Top 3; other locals)

3200 Relay – 1. Stroudsburg (Jasmine Douglas-Grant, Avery Francis, Emily Banashefski, Ciara Conboy) 9:46.02, 2. Easton 9:49.67, 3. Emmaus 9:50.12, 4. Northwestern 9:52.93, 6. Pleasant Valley 10:09.33, 14. Lehighton 11:03.68.

300H – 1. Jacey Miller (Blue Mtn.) 47.28, 2. Sierra Williams (So. Lehigh) 48.49, 3. Yamilet Ferrufino (Liberty) 48.55, 10. Sarah Supplee (Northwestern) 50.96, 22. Nicole Brooks-Miller (Pleasant Vy.) 57.11.

3200 – 1. Emily Deschler (Allentown Central Catholic) 11:04.59, 2. Abigail Dalton (Emmaus) 11:08.85, 3. Madison Zaun (Parkland) 11:25.42, 11. Molly Tarvin (Northwestern) 11:59.94.

Shot Put – 1. Kasey Thomas (Easton) 37-7 ¼, 2. Julia LaPorta (So. Lehigh) 35-3 ¼, 3. Tiera Hudson (PM East) 35-1, 11. Rhylee Sherwood (Lehighton) 30-3 ¼, 15. Sage Christopher (Northwestern) 29-7 ¾.

Triple Jump – 1. Ayanna Burrell (Stroudsburg) 40-0 ¾, 2. Liz Lieb (Bethlehem Catholic) 38-0, 3. Kaia Slaw (Lehighton) 37-3, 11. Caroline Fogal (Northwestern) 33-11 ½, 15. Jordan Lowthert (Northwestern) 32-4 1/4.

Top 2 plus others who meet PIAA standard qualify for states