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YATESVILLE — After losing a couple key pieces from an undefeated championship team, the Coughlin Crusaders figured they’d be hard-pressed to repeat the performance.

Thanks to some hard work, they’re well on their way.

Nick Carman was a four-time winner Wednesday, Franco Balbuena won in three events and Jacob Khalife won twice in the field as Coughlin’s boys team clinched at least a tie for its second straight Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 title by putting away Pittston Area, 114-35 at Charley Trippi Stadium.

“A lot of my teammates started to feel doubtful, that we weren’t going to do as well this year,” Balbuena said of the key pieces who departed from last season’s 7-0 WVC title team. “I felt I needed to step up.”

Taryn Ashby stepped into the forefront for the Pittston Area girls.

The daughter of former major league pitcher Andy Ashby set a school record by winning the javelin with a throw of 135 feet, adding excitement to Pittston Area’s 125-25 victory over Coughlin that kept the 5-0 Patriots tied with Dallas at the top of the WVC Division 1.

“It’s really cool,” Ashby, a junior and second-year javelin thrower, said. “When I threw it, it felt really nice. It was definitely a goal of mine. But it wasn’t like I went into every meet trying to throw this number. I wasn’t expecting it. When my coach told me, I was like, ‘Oh, wow!’ “

Tara Johnson wowed the Patriots by winning three times, taking the 1,600 and 3,200 and running on the 3,200 relay team. Madison Mimnaugh added victories in the 400-meter dash and on two relay teams for the Patriots and Sam Mayers finished first three times by running two relays and winning the 800.

Abby Sheerer added victories in the triple jump and high jump and Abby Norwillo also broke a school record by clearing 11 feet to finish second in the pole vault as Pittston Area stayed right in the chase for its third league title in four years.

That kept the Patriots even with defending league and District 2 champion Dallas at the top of the girls standings with one meet to go before the two square off May 9 at Pittston Area.

“That’s going to be, for the seniors, their fourth shot at the league title,” said Pittston Area coach Joe Struckus, whose team will battle 3-1 Berwick in another key girls meet next week. “We’re starting to get people in the places we need them to be.”

Ashby, who also plays softball this season, can help. She hit the new school standard before zipping off to softball practice Wednesday, after making the Class 3A state championship field in javelin as a sophomore last season.

“Helping a team out that’s going for a division title and conference championiship, hopefully, it’s a good feeling,” Ashby said. “It’s really good to get the points for this team.”

The Coughlin boys piled up points from everywhere in another dominating victory, dropping Pittston Area to 2-3 and out of title contention.

Carman won the 100 and 200 and helped two relay teams post victory. Balbuena took the 800 and 1,600 and won on the 3,200 relay and Khalife captured the shot put and discus throws.

“It feels great,” Khalife said. “We developed a winning attitude and we’re keeping it up. We’ve got a well-rounded team. It shows what good coaching our team has and shows how much dedication we have. We worked a lot in the winter — 20 guys worked in indoors (meets). Being 5-0, it’s really showing.”

The victory ran the Coughlin boys’ wininng streak to 12 consecutive meets over the past two seasons, and the Crusaders can lock up their second straight outright division title with a victory against either Wyoming Valley West on Tuesday or against Berwick on May 9. Both meets will be held at Coughlin’s home track at Solomon-Plains.

“It makes these guys feel real good,” Coughlin coach Paul McGrane said. “Kids will celebrate this, we’ll go and re-focus. We’re looking forward to the Valley West meet. You win that one, then you win it. Then we’re going to go from there.”

Boys

Wyoming Area 104, Northwest 46

Marvin, Ethan Crake, Joe Buczynski and Tristan Sokach-Minnick all won two individual events as the Warriors cruised to victory.

Marvin captured the 1,600 and 3,200, while Crake won both hurdles events. Buczynski took the 800 and the high jump, while Sokach-Minnich won the discus and javelin throws.

Tyler Kennedy won three times for the Rangers, in the 100 and 200 and the triple jump.

Meyers 105, Lake-Lehman 45

Meyers’ Raheem Twyman posted the top spot in four events as the Mohawks moved to 5-0 and remained in a first-place tie with Hanover Area at the top of the WVC Divison 2 boys standings.

Twyman earned first in the 100 hurdles (14.7), 300 hurdles (39.4 seconds), 200 dash (23.1) and high jump (5-10) to spark the Mohawks.

Mark Robinson won the triple jump with a distance of 40-9 3/4 and anchored the winning 1,600-meter relay team.

Lake-Lehman’s Nick Eury beat out Robinson by a nose in a tight finish in the 100 dash. His Lehman teammate Dominic Hockenberry registered the top WVC time in the 800, winning in 2:01.

Girls

Wyoming Area 102, Northwest 40

Bree Bednarski was a four-time winner and Shelby Stackhouse and Vanessa Shedlock both won three times as the Warriors moved to 5-0 and moved into a first-place tie with Holy Redeemer at the top of the WVC Division 2.

Bednarski captured the 100 and 200, won the javelin throw and ran on the winning 400 meter relay team.

Stackhouse won the pole vault by matching her school record of 9-6 for the second straight meet and also won the high jump and the 100 hurdles. Shedlock won the triple jump and the long jump and teamed on the winning 400 relay team in her return to the lineup after a layoff with illness.

Lake-Lehman 95, Meyers 55

Jade Fry crossed the finish in first in the 1,600 for the Black Knights and Haley Kubiski took a pair of firsts in the 400 and 800 as the 4-1 Black Knights won their fourth consecutive meet and moved to 4-1 to remain in second place in the WVC Division 2.

Meyers’ Nalasjia Harris-Johnson was the top finisher in the 100 and 200.

Boys

Coughlin 114, Pittston Area 35

3,200 relay — 1. Cou (Brown, Koury, Miller, Balbuena) 8:57. 110 hurdles — 1. Cou, Sepkowski 15.1; 2. PA, Tracey; 3. Cou, Kozerski. 100 — 1. Cou, Carman 11.2; 2. Cou, Todd; 3. PA, Davis. 1,600 — 1. Cou, Balbuena 4:52; 2. Cou, Serfoss; 3. PA, Fisher. 400 — 1. Cou, Austin 55.7; 2. PA, Miktish. 400 relay — 1. Cou (Brown, Horan, Todd, Carman) 44.3. 300 hurdles — 1. PA, Tracey 40.8; 2. Cou, Sepkowski; 3. Cou, Kozerski. 800 — 1. Cou, Balbuena 2:10; 2. Cou, Brown; 3. Cou, Koury. 200 — 1. Cou, Carman 22.5; 2. Cou, Todd; 3. PA, Wallace. 3,200 — 1. Cou, Serfoss 11:42; 2. Cou, Flores; 3. PA, Deboard. 1,600 relay — 1. Cou (Carman, Todd, Austin, Sepkowski) 3:39.

High jump — 1. PA, Moska 6-0; 2. PA, Ambrose; 3. Cou, Kozerski. Pole vault — 1. Cou, Schwab 11-0; 2. Cou, Popple; 3. Cou, Clark. Long jump — 1. PA, Ambrose 19-11; 2. Cou, Horan; 3. Cou, Robinson. Triple jump — 1. Cou, Horan 41-4; 2. Cou, Brown; 3. Cou, Robinson. Shot put — 1. Cou, Khalife 48-0; 2. Cou, Krokos; 3. PA, Mitchell. Discus — 1. Cou, Khalife 149-0; 2. Cou, Malenovitch; 3. Cou, Krokos. Javelin — 1. PA, Coles 146-10; 2. Cou, Cinti; 3. PA, Elko.

Wyoming Area 104, Northwest 46

3,200 relay — 1. NW (Gallopo, Klock, Roche, Whitenight) 9:01. 110 hurdles — 1. WA, Crake 15.7; 2. NW, Anderson; 3. WA, Shaver. 100 — 1. NW, Kennedy 11.0; 2. WA, Miles; 3. NW, Judge. 1,600 — 1. WA, Marvin 5:03; 2. WA, Alder; 3. NW, Klock. 400 — 1. WA, Chronowski 53.9; 2. NW, Whitenight; 3. WA, Lee. 400 relay — 1. WA (M. Muprhy, R. Murphy, Miles, O’Boyle) 45.4. 300 hurdles — 1. WA, Crake 43.1; 2. NW, Anderson; 3. NW, Albertston. 800 — 1. WA, Buczynski 2:16; 2. NW, Klock; 3. WA, Saitta. 200 — 1. NW, Kennedy 22.7; 2. WA, Chronowski; 3. WA, Giordano. 3,200 — 1. WA, Marvin 11:50; 2. WA, Alder; 3. NW, Roche. 1,600 relay — 1. WA (R. Murphy, Buczynski, Chronowski, M. Murphy) 3:40.

High jump — 1. WA, Buczynski 5-6; 2. WA, Murray; 3. WA, Klaproth. Pole vault — 1. NW, Krouse 13-6-; 2. WA, Klaproth; 3. WA, Lagrue. Long jump — 1. WA, Murray 19-6; 2. WA, Angeli; 3. NW, Judge. Triple jump — 1. NW, Kennedy 4:09; 2. WA, Murphy; 3. WA, Acacio. Shot put — 1. WA, Yurek 40-9; 2. WA, Carr; 3. NW, Pavell. Discus — 1. WA, Sokach-Minnick 111-0; 2. NW, Levandowski; 3. WA, Blannet. Javelin — 1. WA, Sokach-Minnick 140-7; 2. WA, Acacio; 3. WA, Higley.

Meyers 105, Lake-Lehman 45

3,200 relay — 1. Mey (Snyder, Kristeller, Murphy, Rivera) 11:41. 100 hurdles — 1. Mey, Robinson 9.75; 2. Mey, Hood; 3. Mey, McClair. 100 — 1. LL, Eury 11.5; 2. Mey Robinson; 3. Mey, Biggs. 1,600 — 1. LL, Hockenberry 4:38, 2. LL Sabol, 3. LL Newman; 400 — 1. MEY Snyder 52.1, 2. MEY Biggs, 3. LL Weaver; 400 relay — 1. LL (Borger, Eury, Oulajahadamed, Billotti) 45.6; 2. MEY; 300 hurdles — 1. MEY Twyman 39.4, 2. MEY Wilborn, 3. MEY Dunnell; 800 —1. MEY Hockenbury 2:01, 2. MEY Rivera, 3. Magnot; 200 — 1. MEY Twyman 23.1, 2. LL Eury, 3. MEY Martinez; 3,200 — 1. LL Sabol 10:55, 2. MEY Kristeller, 3. LL Senwak; 1,600 relay — 1. MEY (Snyder, Schiowitz, Biggs, Robinson) 3:46

High jump — 1. MEY Twyman 5-10, 2. LL Radel, 3. LL Show; Pole vault — 1. LL Chaga 11’, 2. MEY Schiowitz, 3. MEY Nyguen; Long jump — 1. MEY McClair 23-4, 2. MEY Hood, 3. MEY Robinson; Triple jump — 1. MEY Twyman 40-9.75, 2. MEY Wilborn, 3. MEY Dunnell ; Shot put — 1. MEY Murphy 40-7.5, 2. MEY Brown, 3. MEY Telesco ; Discus — 1. MEY Telesco, 2. MEY Murphy, 3. LL Kristoller; Javelin — 1. MEY Schiowitz 141-9, 2. MEY Murphy, 3. LL Kienny

Girls

Pittston Area 125, Coughlin 25

3,200 relay — 1. PA (Boccardi, Johnson, Mayers, Mimnaugh) 11:12. 100 hurdles — 1. PA, Tubioli 17.1; 2. PA, Maurizi; 3. PA, Ruby. 100 — 1. PA, Singer 13.5; 2. Cou, Berry; 3. PA, Smith. 1,600 — 1. PA, Johnson 5:49; 2. PA, Boccardi; 3. Cou, Fortune. 400 — 1. PA, Mimnaugh 62.3; 2. PA, Barbieri; 3. Cou, Bourdeau. 400 relay — 1. PA (Smith, Tighe, Chisdock, Singer) 51.1. 300 hurdles — 1. Cou, Tona 49.0; 2. PA, Ruby; 3. PA, Tubioli. 800 — 1. PA, Mayers 2:31; 2. PA, Walker; 3. PA, Silinskie. 200 — 1. PA, Chisdock 27.5; 2. PA, Tighe; 3. PA, Galli. 3,200 — 1. PA, Johnson 13:55; 2. PA, Greco; 3. PA, Carol. 1,600 relay — 1. PA (Mimnaugh, Barbieri, Mayers, Durling) 4:18.

High jump — 1. PA, Sheerer 5-0; 2. Cou, Berry; 3. PA, Ashby. Pole vault — 1. Cou, Hawkins 11-6; 2. PA, Norwillo; 3. Cou, Kowalski. Long jump — 1. PA, Singer 16-2; 2. Cou, Panattieri; 3. PA, Sheerer. Triple jump — 1. PA, Sheerer 33-5; 2. PA, Ashby; 3. Cou, Panattieri. Shot put — 1. PA, Davis 31-5; 2. PA, O’Brien; 3. PA, Nickas. Discus — 1. PA, O’Brien 92-3; 2. PA, Miller; 3. Cou, McCreary. Javelin — 1. PA, Ashby 135-0; 2. PA, O’Brien; 3. Cou, Tolbert.

Wyoming Area 102, Northwest 48

3,200 relay — 1. NW (Jones, Wilkin, Everett, Weber) 11:01. 100 hurdles — 1. WA, Stackhouse 15.7; 2. NW, Zultevicz; 3. WA, Spak. 100 — 1. WA, Bednarski 12.2; 2. WA, Rhodes; 3. NW, Jones. 1,600 — 1. WA, Heinzelmeier 5:53; 2. NW, Jones; 3. WA, Kranson. 400 — 1. WA, Solano 67.3; 2. NW, Tomassacci; 3. WA, Kasisky. 400 relay — 1. WA (Rhodes, Spak, Shedlock, Bednarski) 49.7. 300 hurdles — 1. WA, Spak 48.9; 2. WA, Astolfi; 3. NW, Zultevicz. 800 — 1. NW, Everett 2:44; 2. WA, Goncha; 3. WA, Kranson. 200 — 1. WA, Bednarski 25.9; 2. WA, Rhodes; 3. NW, Wyllie. 3,200 — 1. NW, Jones 13:41; 2. WA, Heinzelmeier; 3. NW, Bowman. 1,600 relay — 1. WA (Solano, Rhodes, Gerchak, Pettit) 4:33.

High jump — 1. WA, Stackhouse 5-6; 2. NW, Zultevicz; 3. NW, Sherrick. Pole vault — 1. WA, Stackhouse 9-6; 2. NW, Weber; 3. WA, Dow. Long jump — 1. WA,Shedlock 15-6; 2. WA, Stackhouse; 3. WA, Gerchak. Triple jump — 1. WA, Shedlock 33-6; 2. WA, Gerchak; 3. WA, Pettit. Shot put — 1. WA, Rescinti 29-8; 2. WA, Crossley; 3. NW, Noss. Discus — 1. NW, MacLean 42-11; 2. NW, Stavitski; 3. WA, Baylor. Javelin — 1. WA, Bednarski 121-4; 2. NW, MacLean; 3. WA, Wright.

Lake-Lehman 95, Meyers 55

3,200 relay — 1. LL (Sutton, Luckavitch, Sabol, Pembleton) 13:09; 100 hurdles — 1. MEY Adams 17.3, 2. LL Chago, 3. LL Verkoliz; 100 — 1. MEY Harris-Johnson 12.3, 2. LL Supey, 3. LL Fleeger; 1,600 — 1. LL Fry 5:52, 2. LL Hutsko, 3. LL Pembleton; 400 — 1. LL Kubiski 1:03.8, 2. LL Garnick, 3. LL Vasey; 400 relay — 1. MEY (Monroe, Howard, Adams, Harris-Johnson) 52.4; 2. LL; 300 hurdles — 1. MEY Adams 53.3, 2. LL Klopp, 3. LL Johns; 800 —1. LL Kubiski 24.3, 2. LL Gornick, 3. LL Fry; 200 — 1. MEY Harris-Johnson 27.1, 2. LL Fleeger, 3. LL Supey; 3,200 — 1. LL Hutsko 13.17, 2. LL Maltin, 3. LL Pembleton; 1,600 relay — 1. LL (Gregory, Voren, Fleeger, Pembleton) 6:04; High jump — 1. MEY Darbow 4-6, 2. MEY Moore, 3. LL Barker; Pole vault — 1. MEY Moore 8’; 2. LL Luckavitch, 3. MEY Formola; Long jump — 1. MEY Harris-Johnson 16-1, 2. LL Sabalaski, 3. MEY Howard; Triple jump — 1. LL Marchakitas 30-5.5, 2. LL Malak, 3. LL Barker;Shot put — 1. LL Stanbaugh 26-11.5, 2. MEY Kwok, 3. MEY Glover; Discus — 1. MEY Kwok 82-1, 2. LL Stanbaugh, 3. LL Bartkus; Javelin — 1. LL Stanbaugh 75-3, 2. LL Lesinski, 3. MEY Kwok.

Pittston Area’s Taryn Ashby set a new school record in the javelin with a toss of 135 feet to help the Patriots remain unbeaten at 5-0 and tied with Dallas at the top of the WVC Division 1 standings.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_PA-Coughlin-Track-TL-1.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area’s Taryn Ashby set a new school record in the javelin with a toss of 135 feet to help the Patriots remain unbeaten at 5-0 and tied with Dallas at the top of the WVC Division 1 standings. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Coughlin’s Jacob Khalife took first place in the discus with a throw of 149 feet, then won the shot put event as the Crusaders moved to 5-0 and clinched at least a tie for their second straight WVC Division 1 boys title with a victory over Pittston Area at Charley Trippi Stadium.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_PA-Coughlin-Track-TL-2.jpg.optimal.jpgCoughlin’s Jacob Khalife took first place in the discus with a throw of 149 feet, then won the shot put event as the Crusaders moved to 5-0 and clinched at least a tie for their second straight WVC Division 1 boys title with a victory over Pittston Area at Charley Trippi Stadium. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Melvin Robinson’s very first attempt at triple jump was good enough for third place for Coughlin.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_PA-Coughlin-Track-TL-3.jpg.optimal.jpgMelvin Robinson’s very first attempt at triple jump was good enough for third place for Coughlin. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader

Le’June Berry hands off the baton to Mary Tona for Coughlin in the 400 meter relay.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_PA-Coughlin-Track-TL-4.jpg.optimal.jpgLe’June Berry hands off the baton to Mary Tona for Coughlin in the 400 meter relay. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Coughlin boys lock up first-place finish, while Ashby sets record for Pittston Area girls

By Paul Sokoloski

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Reach Paul Sokoloski at 570-991-6392 or on Twitter @TLPaulSokoloski