CLEAN SWEEP
Parkland defeats Emmaus for boys, girls wins
Dylan Simon entered the 2022 season looking to break 11 seconds in the 100-meter dash.
The Parkland sprinter left Tuesday’s EPC showdown with host Emmaus a lot closer to 10 seconds.
Simon ran a personal-best 10.30 to blow away the field. He also blitzed his personal best in the 200, winning in 21.84, and ran a leg on the victorious 400-meter relay team as the Trojans claimed the league title with a 98-52 victory.
“Surprised,” Simon said. “I was definitely not expecting a 10.3 and 21.84. I’ll take it.
“I felt good. I loosened up more than I usually do. And it’s against our biggest rival, so I had to go out and show up.”
A slew of Simon’s teammates showed up, too.
Madeleine Battista jumped for her joy with five teammates after clearing 5 feet, 5 inches to win the high jump. That was a personal best and one inch shy of the school record.
“It was a great day to jump,” Battista said. “My coaches and, honestly, my teammates have helped. I’ve learned to watch my teammates, so I know what to look for to help them. And I can apply that to myself.
“And I’m a dancer so I know what my body looks like so I can translate that into what I want to look like in the air.”
Naeema Salau later orchestrated a group dance routine on the infield after she ran away from the field in the 100 and 200 and anchored the winning 400 relay team in a school-record time of 49.68.
Her performance helped the Parkland girls to a 99-51 victory to claim the league title.
Coral Shivok broke her school record again in the pole vault, clearing 12-1, and Madison Bowman swept the two hurdles.
“It’s great just seeing them push one another,” Trojans coach Stephen Ott said.
Emmaus had highlights, too, but none bigger than Aiden Hurlburt delaying Senior Night by extending his school record in the pole vault by a whopping eight inches. He cleared 15 feet on his first try in the event’s final competition. His previous best of 14-4 on April 14 broke the previous school record.
Hailey Reinhard overcame a significant deficit on the last leg to lead the Green Hornets a win in the 3,200 relay. She also won the 3,200.
Molly Lineberger won the shot put and discus for Emmaus and Summer Lorincz had a season best to win the long jump.
Other standout performances for the Trojans included freshman Lucy Tobia breaking the 1-minute mark to win the 400 in 59.38.
Teammate Lana Hurwitz won the 800 (season-best and 2:26.75) and 1,600.
On the boys’ side, Tyler Hoysan and Andrew Beers each set PRs to win the 110 and 300 hurdles, respectively, for Parkland.
Brady Hoffman won the 800 and ran legs on the 1,600- and 3,200 relays.
Oscar Felegy won the 1,600 with a PR of 4:35.02. Kyle Moore established new season bests to win the long jump (22-0.25) and triple jump (44-9).
Both teams are off until the EPC meet, which is next Tuesday and Wedneday at Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex.