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DALLAS — Less than a month ago, Abby Zolner was speeding past most everyone on her way to making her third straight trip to the state swimming championships.

It seems no matter what race she performs in, the Dallas junior is pretty hard to catch.

Zolner captured both hurdles events Tuesday and ran the first leg for the winning 1,600-meter relay team as the defending Wyoming Valley Conference champion Dallas girls shot out of the gates. They earned an 83.5-66.5 victory over Wyoming Area in the Mountaineers’ first track and field meet that wasn’t postponed by inclement weather.

“It was nerve-wracking,” Zolner said. “Wyoming Area’a a good team to have, opening up. They have a lot of great runners. It’s good to get the first one under our belts.”

The Dallas boys got one, too.

Christian Roberts won twice in the short distances and four-time winner Jack Zardecki took care of the long runs, as the Mountaineers edged Wyoming Area, 73.5-72.5.

“I think it’s great for our individual performers getting ready for district to see,” said Wyoming Area coach Joe Pizano, whose team opened last week by beating Crestwood in both boys and girls events. “It’s also an eye-opener for a lot of people who just take everything for granted. They see how much they have to work.”

It didn’t take long for Zolner, a key cog in Dallas’ powerful girls swimming program, to work off the rust after spending some 10 months away from the track.

Zolner captured the 100 hurdles in her fastest time, a run of 16.5 seconds that edged Wyoming Area’s Shelby Stackhouse by three-tenths of a second. Then Zolner won the 300 hurdles in 50.5, then led off for the winning 1,600 relay team that finished in a time of 4:25 to clinch the meet for the Mountaineers.

“My 100s felt pretty good,” Zolner said. “That was my personal best. My coach wanted me to do a little better in the 300s, but it was good. I’m happy with it.”

Zolner’s performance helped Dallas overcome the graduation of three-time state medalist high jumper Katie Kravitsky and regular District 2 distance gold medalist Allie Rome. They were just two of the key components that fueled two straight unbeaten regular seasons and led the Mountaineers to gold and silver District 2 team medals the past two years.

“I look to her for leadership,” Dallas co-coach Ed Radzinski said. “She’s pretty strong-minded in that way. She’s only a couple of weeks off swimming. She’s still getting her legs under her.”

The transition from the pool to the track apparently didn’t take long for Zolner, who helped the Mountaineers open this season with the same success she’s known while making a mark in swimming and in track.

“It’s completely opposite,” Zolner said of the two sports. “It’s completely different muscles you’re using. Once I start jumping over the hurdles, it all comes back.

“We did lose a lot of talent,” Zolner, a junior, continued. “But we have a ton of new freshmen, and even our sophomores coming back from last year to help us. Emily Fleming in the hurdles, for example, she was much better today than last year. They’re ready to step up and replace what we lost.”

Madison Baloga stepped into the long-distance spot for Dallas vacated by Rome, and kept the points coming on the part of a Mountaineers team that’s traditionally overpowering. Baloga captured the 1,600 run in 6:14 and the 3,200 in 13:28.

“I don’t think there’s any replacing of Allie,” Dallas co-coach Matt Samuel said. “But the group we have, they’re kind of eager. We’re just kind of finding our way.”

The Dallas boys found a way to pull out victory over a Warriors team that moved up from Division 2 this season and was missing star javelin thrower Marc Minichello — who also plays baseball and was pulled away by that sport.

Zardecki won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 runs and fueled the winning 3,200 relay and Roberts won the 100 and 400 dashes as the Mountaineers nosed to a nail-biting victory.

“Wyoning Area came up from the other conference, they’ve been one of the top teams there,” Radzinski said. “Pretty tough meet.”

BOYS

Wyoming Valley West 78,

Crestwood 72

Ray Richard captured the 400-meter dash and keyed the winning 1600 relay as the Spartans cracked the win column and evened their record at 1-1.

Richard finished the 400 in 50.2 seconds while teammate Mitchell Forgash, who also ran on the winning 1,600 relay, placed second in the 400.

Clay Kimsal won the 1,600 and 3,200 runs for Crestwood.

Coughlin 87,

Pittston Area 63

Vincent Todd was a four-time winner and Ron Sepkoski won in three events as the Crusaders evened their record and joined Pittston Area at 1-1 in the WVC Division 1 standings.

Todd won the 100 and 200 dashes and ran on the winning 400 and 1,600 relay teams.

Sepkoski was first to the finish in both hurdles events and also ran on the 1,600 relay.

Paul Moska won the high jump and triple jump for the Patriots.

GIRLS

Wyoming Valley West 92,

Crestwood 57

Elizabeth Burkhardt and Foto Tsioles were triple winners and Nina Dellarte and Ashley Blannard both won twice to spark the 1-1 Spartans to their first win of the season.

Burkhardt captured the discus, javelin and shot put to seal the victory. Tsioles took the 800 and 1,600 runs and also ran on the winning 3,200 relay team. Dellarte won the 100 and 200 dashes and Blannard won the triple jump and long jump.

Andrea Shipton finished first in the pole vault and high jump for the Comets.

Pittston Area 113,

Coughlin 37

Abby Norwillo and Nicole Zambetti were triple winners and Arianna Boccardi captured both distance races as the Patriots improved to 2-0 in WVC action.

Norwillo won the 200 dash and ran on the winning 400 meter and 1,600 meter relay teams. Zambetti placed first in the 400 dash and the 800 run and was part of the wininng 3,200 relay. Boccardi won the 1,600 in 5:48 and the 3,200 in 12:34.

Le’June Berry won the high jump and 100 dash for Coughlin.

Boys

Dallas 73.5, Wyoming Area 72.5

3,200 relay — 1. Dal (Adam Borton, Jason Culp, Josh Wyandt, Jack Zardecki), 9:43. 110 hurdles — 1. Dal, Dan Schnable, 18.5; 2. WA, Trilla; 3. WA, Kogulski. 100 — 1. Dal, Christian Roberts, 11.4; 2. WA, Tony Siatta; 3. WA, Williams. 1,600 — 1. Dal, Zardecki, 4:58; 2. Dal, Wyandt; 3. Dal, Steven Postupak. 400 — 1. Dal, Roberts, 52.9; 2. WA, Alex Chronowski; 3. Dal, Culp. 400 relay — 1. WA (Williams, Williamson, Siatta, Casey Orlando), 46.6. 300 hurdles — 1. Dal, Julien Jopp, 46.7; 2. Dal, Schnable; 3. WA, Trilla. 800 — 1. Dal, Zardecki, 2:14; 2. Dal, Borton; 3. Dal, Culp. 200 — 1. WA, Burton, 23.3; 2. WA, Williams; 3. WA, Williamson and Dal, Solano. 3,200 — 1. Dal, Zardecki, 6:35; 2. Dal, Mitchell Rome; 3. Dal, Wyandt. 1,600 relay — 1. Dal (Solano, Borton, Culp, Jopp), 3:42.

High jump — 1. Dal, Paul Zablotney, 5-6. Pole vault — 1. Dal, Nate Maransky, 10-0; 2. WA, Kragulsky; 3. WA, Wolf. Long jump — 1. WA, Angeli, 18-11.5; 2. WA, Burton; 3. Dal, Paul Zablotney. Triple jump — 1. WA, P.J. Angeli, 36-7; 2. WA, Robert Burton; 3. Dal, Zablotney. Shot put — 1. WA, Kyle Carr, 39-3; 2. WA, Buddy Blannett; 3. WA, Tristan Sokash-Minnich. Discus — 1. WA, Carr, 126-8; 2. WA, Sokash-Minnich; 3. WA, Blannett. Javelin — 1. WA, T. Sokash-Minnich, 141-10; 2. WA, Carr; 3. WA, Sokash-Minnich .

Girls

Dallas 83.5, Wyoming Area 66.5

3,200 relay — 1. Dal (Riley Oremus, Grace Jarden, Megan Borton, Yagloski), 13.25. 100 hurdles — 1. Dal, Abby Zolner, 16.5; 2. WA, Shelby Stackhouse; 3. Dal, Emily Fleming. 100 — 1. WA, Jalen Rhodes, 12.4; 2. Dal, Samantha Mazula; 3. Nocchi. 1,600 — 1. Dal, Madison Baloga, 6:14; 2. Dal, Rebecca Balara; 3. Dal, Kapitula. 400 — 1. WA, Shedlock, 58.7; 2. Dal, Kaylee; 3. WA, Nocchi. 400 relay — 1. Dal (Gabrielle Vanhorn, Ramicrez, Annalise Cheshire, Mazula), 53.1. 300 hurdles — 1. Dal, Zolner, 50.5; 2. WA, Olivia Astolfi; 3. Dal, Fleming.; 800 — 1. Dal, Oremus, 2:41; 2. Dal, Borton; 3. Dal, Jarden. 200 — 1. WA, Shedlock, 16-8.75; 2. Dal, Mazula; 3. WA, Gerchak. 3,200 — 1. Dal, Baloga, 13:28; 2. Dal, Balara; 3. Dal, Kapitula. 1,600 relay — 1. Dal (Fleming, Zolner, Farrell, Yagloski), 4:25.

High jump — 1. WA, Stackhouse, 5-0; 2. WA, Carr; 3. WA, Gerchak. Pole vault — 1. WA, Stackhouse, 8-3; 2. Dal, Megan Miller; 3. WA, Licata and Dal, Shaver. Long jump — 1. 2. 3. ; Triple jump — 1. WA, Vanessa Shedlock, 35-10; 2. WA, Valerie Gerchak; 3. Dal, Zolner. Shot put — 1. WA, Madelyn Resciniti, 34-6; 2. Dal, Alicia Langan; 3. Dal, Krokos. Discus — 1. Dal, Krokus, 93-10; 2. Dal, Langan; 3. WA, Resciniti. Javelin — 1. WA, Alexis Crossley, 95-2; 2. WA, Coolbaugh; 3. Dal, Farrell.

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Junior P.J. Angeli of Wyoming Area lands his long jump with a distance of 18.11 1/2.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_ttl041217track-1.jpg.optimal.jpgJunior P.J. Angeli of Wyoming Area lands his long jump with a distance of 18.11 1/2. Amanda Hrycyna|For Times Leader

Freshman Madison Baloga of Dallas won the girls 1600 meter run with a time of 6.14.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_ttl041217track-2.jpg.optimal.jpgFreshman Madison Baloga of Dallas won the girls 1600 meter run with a time of 6.14. Amanda Hrycyna|For Times Leader

Dallas Junior and exchange student Julian Jupp won the boys 300 meter hurdles with a time of 46.7.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_ttl041217track-3.jpg.optimal.jpgDallas Junior and exchange student Julian Jupp won the boys 300 meter hurdles with a time of 46.7. Amanda Hrycyna|For Times Leader
Mounts survive tough season-opening test

By Paul Sokoloski

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