Spencer, Capparell shine at Tamaqua Invite

A statement.

And maybe even a surprise – or two.

Lehighton’s Tahmir Spencer and Marian’s Tina Capparell put a stamp on the 8th Annual Blue Raider Invitational Friday night with dazzling performances.

Spencer won the 100 and 200 in dramatic fashion, while Capparell continued to show the form that made her a state champion last fall during the cross county season by claiming the 800 and the 1600.

While both expected solid results, the duo were in wonder of their feats afterward.

“Honestly, I just PR’d in the 800, and in the 1600, I’m one second off where I was at states (last year),” said Capparell. “So I’m really excited to be running like this this early in the season.”

Capparell won the 1600 in 5:06.66, and came back to win the 800 with a time of 2:20.57. She placed sixth in the Class 2A 1600 a year ago with a time of 5:05.94.

“I feel really good,” Capparell said. “I never would have thought I’d be where I was. Just my training, I amped it up a lot. Coming off a strong indoor season, I think that really helped, too.

“This past winter, I came off a stress fracture, and I just kind of went right into the indoor season. I went to indoor states, and I got sixth in the mile there. And just coming off that, I feel like it really propelled me into what I’m running this year.”

Spencer has shown great form early on this season, and it was on display once again Friday.

A late lean helped Spencer (11.38) edge Jim Thorpe’s Jarrin Geisinger (11.39) to win the 100. He did it again in the 200, crossing the line in 23.19, just ahead of North Schuylkill’s Scott Grigas (23.20).

“It feels incredible,” said Spencer. “It was hard. I had to push through it; leaning through it.

“My start wasn’t that good, so I had to push through it. I had to do what I had to do.”

Spencer knew it wouldn’t be easy beating quality opponents like Grigas and Geisigner, who placed seventh in the Class 2A 100 a year ago at states.

“It feels good,” said Spencer. “It brings my confidence up a lot more, and just helps me get ready for the next meet.

“I just have to work harder, on sprint-endurance. That’s pretty much my main focus. And block-work. I’m just happy. It’s great experience, I know that.”

Lehighton’s Jake Petit-Clair had a solid night, winning the 400 in 52.44.

“It feels good tonight to come out and get a good win,” said Petit-Clair. “With the conditions, lately with the wind, it’s been hard to run fast times. But to come out here tonight and run a good time felt really good.

“I feel good. My top speed feels good. But my sprint-endurance can get better throughout the season.”

Lehighton’s Kaia Slaw won the long jump with a leap of 16-8, a PR for the season. She was third in the triple jump, fifth in the high jump.

“It means a lot because there was some pretty tough competition,” said Slaw. “I’m glad I pulled through.

“I was hoping to try to get over 17-0, but I got pretty close to that, so it was all right. It was a pretty good night. I think it’s better when you have that competition; it definitely pushes you more. And you feel better when you win.”

Palmerton’s Chris Fredericks pulled out a big throw when he needed it, winning the javelin with a heave of 186-11.

“My first couple throws were all right, they were PRs for the season, but they weren’t a lifetime PR,’” said Fredericks. “But on the last throw, I just relaxed a lot and I just let my training take over.

Sitting in third prior to his final throw, Fredericks found what he was looking for when he needed it most.

“I just said to myself, I know what I can do,” said Fredericks. “I just had to let everything build up to what I did.”

Jim Thorpe’s Jason Scott won the discus with a heave of 125-1.

“It means a lot,” said Scott. “I’ve been practicing hard to get to this point. It feels really great.”

Like Fredericks, Scott won it on his last attempt.

“I got my mark on my fourth throw, my last one,” he said. “It was coming down to that last throw, and I was just so happy when I heard them say what it was.”

Tamaqua’s Khalid Holland won the pole vault, clearing 12-0.

“I was kind of hoping for 13-0, but I knew I just wanted to get first,” said Holland. “That’s good, but I just think I can get higher, so I have to work on it.”

WINNERS … Other winners from around the area: Palmerton’s Jacob Martinez won the 800 going away in 2:00.08. Jim Thorpe’s Sam Hydro won the 1600 with a time of 4:42.55. Jim Thorpe’s Lydia Wallace won the 400 in 1:01.90.

RELAY SUCCESS … The Jim Thorpe team of Kylee Dulski, Debbie Loyd, Emma Dunbar and Lydia Wallace won the 400 relay in 52.61. The Tamaqua team of Brad Clemson, Derian Stianche, Christopher Osenbach and Barron Stauffenberg won the 3200 relay in 8:34.11. The Blue Raiders team of Clemson, Dair Miller, John Franko and Matt Kistler (3:37.05) also won the 1600 relay.

TEAM SCORES … Blue Mountain won the boys team title with 87 points. Lehighton (71), Jim Thorpe (65), North Schuylkill (63) and Palmerton (61) rounded out the top five. North Schuylkill won the girls title with 82 points. Tamaqua (64), Blue Mountain (55), Hazleton (55) and Jim Thorpe (48.5) made up the top five.

8th Annual Blue Raider Invite Results

(Times News area finishers in the top-6; top three get medals, 4-6 get ribbons)

GIRLS

100 hurdles - 3. Kylee Dulski (Jim Thorpe) 17.28, 4. Madison Martinez (Palmerton) 17.33; 100 - 2. Emily Zoscin (Weatherly) 12.87, 4. Emma Dunbar (Jim Thorpe) 13.09; 3200 relay - 2. Tamaqua (Frances Kabana, April Gerber, Sarah Maue, Brianna Dumond) 10:17.28; 200 - N/A; 1600 - 1. Tina Capparell (Marian) 5:06.66, 3. Sarah Maue (Tamaqua) 5:40.85, 5. Frances Kabana (Tamaqua) 5:52.58; 400 relay - 1. Jim Thorpe (Kylee Dulski, Debbie Loyd, Emma Dunbar, Lydia Wallace) 52.61, 3. Tamaqua 52.93, 6. Palmerton 53.62; 400 - 1. Lydia Wallace (Jim Thorpe) 1:01.90, 2. Abigail Hernandez (Weatherly) 1:02.36; 300 hurdles - 5. Madison Martinez (Palmerton) 50.84; 800 - 1. Tina Capparell (Marian) 2:20.57, 5. Frances Kabana (Tamaqua) 2:35.03, 6. Brianna Brennan (Palmerton) 2:35.16; 3200 - 2. Sarah Maue (Tamaqua) 12:49.84, 3. Kailee Carroll (Tamaqua) 12:59.75, 5. Kelsey Gaston (Lehighton) 13:34.46; 1600 relay - 3. Jim Thorpe (Kylee Dulski, Emma Dunbar, Giovanna Cellini, Lydia Wallace) 4:24.99, 5. Tamaqua 4:27.54, 6. Marian 4:30.28; High jump - 4. Chloe Oldt (Palmerton) 4-10, 5. Kaia Slaw (Lehighton) 4-10; Pole vault - 2. Debbie Loyd (Jim Thorpe) 9-6, 3. Shanna Brinkworth (Tamaqua) 9-0, 4. Sophia Boyle (Tamaqua) 8-6, 5. Isabella Baka (Lehighton) 8-0, 6. Anna Shigo (Jim Thorpe) 7-6; Long jump - 1. Kaia Slaw (Lehighton) 16-8, 5. Shanna Brinkworth (Tamaqua) 15-2.5, 6. Destiny Mokshefski (Palmerton) 15-1.75; Triple jump - 3. Kaia Slaw (Lehighton) 34-7.75, 5. Debbie Loyd (Jim Thorpe) 32-8.75; Discus - 3. Isabelle Meckes (Lehighton) 113-8, 6. Emma McClafferty (Marian) 99-11; Javelin - 2. Alyssa Campomizzi (Tamaqua) 111-11, 4. Emily Titus (Tamaqua) 107-7; Shot put - 5. Devon Lignore (Jim Thorpe) 32-6.75, 6. Emma McClafferty (Marian) 31-2.25.

BOYS

110 hurdles - 2. Jordan Nelson (Palmerton) 15.58, 6. Jonathan Perloni (Palmerton) 17.47; 100 - 1. Tahmir Spencer (Lehighton) 11.38, 2. Jarrin Geissinger (Jim Thorpe) 11.39, 4. Aaron Stasko (Palmerton) 11.74, 6. John Franko (Tamaqua) 11.95; 3200 relay - 1. Tamaqua (Brad Clemson, Derian Stianche, Christopher Osenbach, Barron Stauffenberg) 8:34.11, 2. Lehighton 8:36.14; 200 - 1. Tahmir Spencer (Lehighton) 23.19, 4. Jeffrey Gorman (Jim Thorpe) 24.24, 5. Matt Kistler (Tamaqua) 24.27; 1600 - 1. Samuel Hydro (Jim Thorpe) 4:42.55; 400 relay - 2. Palmerton 44.77, 3. Lehighton 45.56; 400 - 1. Jake Petit-Clair (Lehighton) 52.44, 4. Jeffrey Gorman (Jim Thorpe) 53.66, 6. Ean Chelak (Marian) 54.07; 300 hurdles - 4. Jordan Nelson (Palmerton) 44.42; 800 - 1. Jacob Martinez (Palmerton) 2:00.08, 3. Brad Clemson (Tamaqua) 2:04.59, 4. Chris Valdez (Jim Thorpe) 2:06.57; 3200 - 6. Samuel Hydro (Jim Thorpe) 10:54.19; 1600 relay - 1. Tamaqua (Brad Clemson, Dair Miller, John Franko, Matt Kistler) 3:37.05, 2. Lehigthon 3:37.70, 4. Jim Thorpe 3:39.63; High jump - 2. Shae Blasiak (Lehighton) 6-2; Long jump - 3. Michael Eckhart (Palmerton) 20-8, 4. Cody Scherer (Lehighton) 20-8, 5. Jordan Nelson (Palmerton) 20-5, 6. John Franko (Tamaqua) 19-10.75; Triple jump - 2. Michael Eckhart (Palmerton) 43-1.75, 3. Justin St. Hlil (Jim Thorpe) 41-8, 5. John Franko (Tamaqua) 41-2.5, 6. Shae Blasiak (Lehighton) 40-11.5; Discus - 1. Jason Scott (Jim Thorpe) 125-1, 3. William Munson (Jim Thorpe) 122-9, 5. Seth Berk (Panther Valley) 115-10, 6. Tyler Disbrow (Tamaqua) 113-9; Javelin - 1. Chris Fredericks (Palmerton) 186-11, 6. Carson Schoener (Tamaqua) 153-4; Pole vault - 1. Khalid Holland (Tamaqua) 12-0, 3. Pierce Demetriades (Tamaqua) 11-0; Shot put - 2. William Munson (Jim Thorpe) 45-3.25, 3. Dakota Hiester (Lehighton) 41-4, 4. Tyler Disbrow (Tamaqua) 41-2.5.