Banged-up Aiden Tacker well represented host Whitehall

Aiden Tacker built up a good sweat Wednesday at the EPC Track & Field Championship meet, and it had nothing to do with the warm weather.

The Whitehall senior was feeling the residual effects of a broken foot during football season. His shin splints were flaring up.

So, too, was the competition. Top-seeded Anthony Liguori of Stroudsburg and fellow Mountaineer Aiden Raub both threw 136 feet, 7 inches in the boys discus.

Suddenly, Tacker’s personal best of 138-8 was within reach.

“All I was kind of hoping for was nobody beating me,” Tacker said. “Second place was getting close at the end. I was just trying to hold on.”

Tacker held on to give host Whitehall its only gold medal (boys or girls) at the league meet. His best throw, which came on his first attempt Wednesday, was 6 feet, 1 inch better than any throw he had this season.

“I slipped, too,” he admitted. “I couldn’t believe it. I loved the energy. I grew up here. There is a good group people behind Whitehall, very supportive.

“I don’t know if you could tell but there were a lot of people who knew my name [calling out to me on the medal stand]. I don’t know what that’s about, but it kind of happens at small schools. It’s very humbling.”

The stars shined brightest at the simultaneously competed EPC/ Colonial League meet: Southern Lehigh’s Madison Trout, Northampton’s Ben Henry, Northwestern’s Faith Yost, Wilson’s Damon Simpson, Freedom’s Alex Heidemann and Parkland’s Naeema Salau.

It makes fans appreciate those surprise winners, none more eye-opening than Tacker. He is hoping his body holds up for another week.

“I’m pushing through, hoping everything stays together,” Tacker said. “I guess for an athlete I’m getting old. But I’m not that old.”

Twice as nice

Two Parkland girls relays teams set school records Wednesday. The foursome of Ivy Dais, Hailey Sammarco, Melanie Lowe and Naeema Salau ran a 49.69 to win EPC gold. The previous program record was 50.10 last year with Dais, Lowe and Salau part of that group.

Cierra Valley, Gracie Trexler, Addison Shevlin and Lucy Tobia ran a 4:03.61 in the 1,600 relay to break the previous school mark set in 1993 (4:04.6 by Kim Andrews, Abbe Pitera, Kristie Butala and Cheryl Lutz).

Salau also won 100 and 200 gold Wednesday. Tobia also captured 400 gold.

Records: Colonial League

Damon Simpson set two league meet marks. The Wilson senior

won the 200 in 21.99, beating Northwestern’s Cam Richardson (22.21 in 2014).

He then teamed with brother Damian Simpson, Zack Gillen and Zakai Hendricks to take 400 relay gold in 41.96, the Warriors’ mark in 2019. Damon Simpson was a part of that relay team, too.

Palisades’ Thomas Smigo took down a 23-year-old record in the 3,200, running a 9:27.89 to take first. Palmerton’s Jeff Dobias had the mark (9:34.34 in 1999).

Southern Lehigh’s Chase Hensinger broke Joe Espinal’s 7-year-old mark in the 800 with a 1:55.28 to beat Smigo, who also won 1,600 gold.

Hensinger and Freedom’s Alex Heidemann should be a great District 11 Class 3A race. Heidemann ran an EPC meet record 1:54.77 to take one of his three gold medals (1,600 and 3,200 were the others).

Southern Lehigh girls Alexandra Lea, Madison Trout, Taylor Graver and Marley Chase ran a CL meet record 49.50 to win 400 relay gold. It surpassed Palisades’ mark in 2015 (50.00) and beat the school mark (49.57 in 2021). Trout, Graver and Chase were part of last year’s record-setting run.

Southern Lehigh, Blue Mountain (49.53 in Schuylkill League final) and Parkland (49.69 in EPC final) should make a great District 11 3A race.

Records: EPC

Nazareth’s Kelly Leszcynski extended her school record and set the league meet mark in the girls javelin with a throw of 145 feet, 3 inches to take the gold medal.

Heidemann’s time in the 800 surpassed the mark set by Whitehall’s Calvin Schneck (1:55.35) in 2016.

Records: Schuylkill League

Blue Mountain’s foursome of Kate Walasavage, Abby Beam, Victoria Wagner and Danika Bolinsky ran a 49.53 to set the meet and all-time league record in the 400 relay. Pottsville (50.63 in 2008) and Jim Thorpe (49.74 in 2010) were the previous meet and league marks, respectively.

Blue Mountain’s Olivia Hass broke the 22-year-old 800 meet record with a 2:15.20. Tamaqua’s Liz Manness (2:17.83) was the previous record holder. Haas also surpassed the all-time league mark of 2:15.37 set by Pine Grove’s McKayla Lally in 2017.

Jim Thorpe’s Katrin Cavanaugh cleared 10 feet, 9 inches to break the league meet mark of 10-6 by Pottsville’s Lindsey Runkle in 2005.

Schuylkill League recap

Jim Thorpe’s Kaila O’Connor set a school record and District 11 best time in the 300 hurdles, winning in 45.91. She also won the 100 in 12.53.

Fellow Olympians Laura Clarke (116-5 in the discus) and Cavanaugh (10-9 in the pole vault) also won league gold and set personal bests. Clarke also added an inch to the District 11-best toss of 36-6 in the shot put. Cavanaugh increased her top performance by a foot.

Jim Thorpe (100 points) was second to Blue Mountain in the girls team standings. The Olympians boys (131) finished ahead of Blue Mountain (94.5).

Marian Catholic’s Michael Fellin won the 100 and anchored the winning 400 relay team. He was DQ’d from the 200.

Lehighton’s David Richards won the high jump and 300 hurdles. Teammate Joe Roth set a personal best by nearly 16 feet to win the javelin (154-6).

New District 11 top performances (not previously mentioned)

The league meets and comfortable weather brought out many standout efforts:

— Liberty’s Josh Farrell used another stellar kick to win EPC 400 gold in 49.46, which beat his previous best of 50.41.

— Easton’s duo of Sam Chedester (45-3.75 in the triple jump) and Odin Ferency (52.3-5 in the shot put) established new District 11 season bests.

— Easton’s mile and 2-mile girls relays are the fastest groups.