First Posted: 5/8/2013
In March, Pittston Area girls track and field coach Joe Struckus knew he had a good team. It turned out to be better than he thought. “Yes, they exceeded all expectations,” he said. Hazleton and Dallas were seen as the teams to beat and they were the teams to beat for the Lady Patriots.
They defeated Tunkhannock earlier in the season and Dallas, 85-65, on Tuesday to finish the regular season at 7-0 and as WVC Division 1 champions. When 2013 goes on the girls track championship banner in the gymnasium, it will be the first addition in 25 years.
Struckus said the team clinched the meet, the undefeated season and division title, when Emily Waleski, Tiffany Tubioli, and Olivia Lanza swept the 300 hurdles.
There was a lot of joy after the meet but no big celebration. “They were excited and happy, but treated it like any other meet, becasue they have one more to go.”
He’s referring to the District 2 championships on Tuesday at Scranton Memorial Stadium starting at 3 p.m. The WVC title is an accomplishment, but winning a WVC D2 team tile would sweet icing.
Catherine Lombardo and Madison Mimnaugh are tied for the no. 1 seed in the 800 run at 2:20. Mimnaugh is no. 5 in the 1600. Olivia Giambra is no. 1 in the long jump and no. 3 in the triple.
Lombardo, Mimnaugh, Tara Johnson and Samantha Mayers are no. 2 in the 4 x 800 relay and Lombardo, Mimnaugh, Johnson and Allie Barber are no. 2 in the 4 x 400 relay.
The 400 relay team is a top five seed. Emily Waleski and Tiffany Tuboloi are top eight in the 300 hurdles
“We’re going to pretty good,” Stuckus said. “The toughest opponents are Abington, Dallas and Hazleton.”
In the win over Dallas Mimnaugh ran the 1600-meter run in 5 minutes and 4 seconds to set a school record and Lombardo lowered the 800 record running 2:20.2
Mimnaugh ran a leg of the 1600 relay team. Pittston Area swept the relays.
Also winning for PA were: Lombardo, Katilynn Kuchta, Tara Johnson and Samantha Mayers in the 3200 relay; Olivia Lanza, 100 hurdles; Mayers, 400; Jamie Chisdock, Barber, Sierra Williams and Taylor Powers, 400 relay; Waleski, 300 hurdles; Lauren Senese, pole vault; Giambra, long jump; Lombardo, 800; Waleski, Mayers, Barber and Mimnaugh, 1600 relay.
Scoring for PA were Tubioli, Abby Sheerer, Siera Williams, Eastin Ashby, Allison Parrent and Celes Owens.
Wyoming Area 105,
Meyers 43
Samantha Acacio won the triple jump for the Warriors. Haley Stackhouse won the 100 hurdles and long jump, as the Lady Warriors won their final meet to finish 3-4. Also winning for WA were: Audrey Hiedacavage, Marcyssa Brown, Malloy, Emily Shemanski, Katelyn Kraynak, Gabrielle Alberigi and Danielle Stillarty, Alexa Malloy, Danielle Bulger and Maya Custer, 1600 relay.
Scoring for WA were Maddy Ambruso, Carrie Poziac, Val Bott, Melissa Kazmerick and McKenzie Bilbow.
For the District championships Haley Stackhouse is seeded no. 1 in the high jump and no. 2 in the 100 hurdles and long jump. Emily Shemanski is top 10 in the 300 hurdles.
Marcyssa Brown, who is tied for the fourth seed in the high jump, could be a sleeper in the triple jump.
BOYS
Pittston Area 75,
Dallas 75
Jayson Crawford (high jump, long jump) and Ronnie D’Eliseo (110 hurdles, 300 hurdle) finished first in two events for the Patriots in the tie with the Mountaineers. It was the second tie for the Patriots this season. They finished 1-4-2.
Also winning for PA were Mike Harth, Austin Naples and Naples, D’Eliseo, Joshua John, and Harth, 1660 relay.
For The District 2 championships D’Eliseo is no. 1 in both hurdle events, by a full second in the 110s at 14.5. In the 300s he is seeded at 38.40. He’s the only hurdler in the field below 40.00. The meet record is 38.25.
Wyoming Area 76,
Meyers 74
The Warriors used sweeps in the 3200 run and javelin to edge the Mohawks by two points. Zachery LaNunziata took first in the triple jump and long jump for Wyoming Area. Michael Lumley earned first with a pole vault of 9 feet. The Warriors finished 6-1, one point behind Northwest 7-0. Northwest beat WA back in week one. No excuses offered but the Warriors were weakened by injuries and suspensions that week.
Also winning for WA were: Condry, 100 hurdles, O’Brien, 100; Vasquez, 1600; Lumley, pole valut; Burton, discus; Filipak, 3200; Trent Grove, javelin.
Grove came over from the baseball team to throw the jav because O’Brien has an injured shoulder and Grove won it, throwing a top 10 distance for districts.
O’Brien is seeded no. 1 in the 100 at 10.8 and in the javelin. He’s no. 2 in the 200. He’s been resting the shoulder and is expected to give it a throw on Tuesday.
Burton is 7th in the discus and Schmitz is seventh in the long jump. The 4 x 100 teams from both WA and PA are in the top eight.