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YATESVILLE — Since he was launching from a solid and pretty safe base, Pat Mitchell didn’t have much trouble tossing the shot put and discus around.

To his Pittston Area teammates, other soggy areas surrounding Charley Trippi Stadium posed a bit more of a problem.

But the Patriots patiently overcame some recent inactivity and wet weather, sliding past Wyoming Valley West 93-57 in the boys competition and 106-40 in girls events on a 2017 track and field opening day that was pushed back a week by the remnants of Winter Storm Stella and put in jeopardy by scattered showers earlier Tuesday.

“We’ve been inside a lot of the time, had a little bad weather at first (on Tuesday),” Mitchell, a senior thrower, said. “But the sun came out and we got to compete.”

The Patriots, who have big plans for this season, leaned on three-time winner Naseem Guillaume on the track and Mitchell’s wins in the shot put and discus throws to handle Valley West and spoil the debut of new Spartans coach Brandon Hampton.

“It’s off to a good start,” Pittston Area boys coach Jason Mills said. “Just a good team win. Valley West is a good program. I was happy with our throwers, I was really impressed with them. We out-scored them (the Spartans) 48-6.

“We’re thrilled.”

The girls team was just as dominant, as returning state javelin medalist Abby Norwillo cleared 11 feet in the vault and also captured the long jump to join freshman Nicole Zambetti as a two-time winner in individual events. Pittston Area’s two-time state javelin stalwart Taryn Ashby captured that event with a throw of 117-11, while her sister Ashton Ashby finished third in javelin and captured the high jump.

“Ashton Ashby started throwing this year, finished third in the javelin and that was big for her,” Pittston Area girls coach Joe Struckus said. “She did great today. It started off rainy. It was nice to get it in. We’re running out of time now.”

On the track, nobody had much trouble running.

Guillaume won the boys 110 and 300 hurdles and was part of the winning 400 relay team as the Pittston Area boys piled up points early.

“Traction was great,” Guillaume, a junior, said. “Our 4-by-1 is going to be pretty good. We’re fighters. I think it showed we can have a good year.

“It was kind of drizzling throughout the day,” Guillaume continued. “I just kept my hopes up (about the meet remaining a go). It was our first meet. I felt good.”

For others, the going was a little more difficult.

“Not so much in the shot put and discus, because we throw off concrete,” said Mitchell, who hit personal bests with throws of 41-9 in the shot put and 128-7 in discus. “But javelin today was having a real hard time. Kids couldn’t plant.”

Just ask Norwillo, a junior who finished fifth in the PIAA Class 3A pole vault last season.

“It was difficult at first, especially during warmups,” Norwillo said. “My poles were soaked, my hands were soaked, my uniform was soaked. The weather isn’t too good. But I had a lot of help drying off for the actual start of the vaults. The only thing was, I was sliding down the pole.”

Credit Pittston Area trainer Amanda Lippincott with an assist.

“At the end, the trainer actually brought out sweat pants and tried to dry off the poles,” Norwillo said. said. “Yeah, it was quite the opening day.”

Still, the Patriots girls opened with some strong performances while serving notice they plan to make a play this season in the WVC Division 1 race.

Zambetti, making her high school debut, captured the 800 and 1600 runs and was also part of the winning 3200 relay team. And with Taryn Ashby in javelin, fellow senior Jennifer Nickas in shot put and freshman Leah Hodick in discus, Pittston Area swept the throwing events.

“Our whole team practices hard,” Norwillo said. “We have some new girls in the lineup, they’re all helping out, they’re just doing outstanding. I think we always have a great shot.”

And at least at the start, the Pittston Area boys have some hopes of joining a league title race.

“We’ve been together a lot of years,” Mitchell said. “This is the first year all the people who came in as freshmen are seniors. And they’re just ready to contribute.”

BOYS

Crestwood 77, Wyoming Area 73

Clay Kimsal captured the 1600 and 3200 runs and anchored the 3200 relay, sparking the Comets to a season-opening victory over the Warriors.

GIRLS

Wyoming Area 107, Crestwood 49

Vanessa Shedlock won four individual events as the Warriors cruised to a victory in the season opener for both.

Shedlock won the triple jump with a distance of 35-3, the 400 dash in 59.4 seconds, the 200 dash in 15.4 and the long jump with a distance of 27-2.

Pittston Area pole vaulter and returning state medalist Abby Norwillo fought off some slick conditions to win the event by clearing 11 feet in an opening win against Wyoming Valley West.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_track2_faa-1.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area pole vaulter and returning state medalist Abby Norwillo fought off some slick conditions to win the event by clearing 11 feet in an opening win against Wyoming Valley West. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

James Pliska won the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.8 seconds in the season opening meet with Wyoming Valley West at Pittston Area High School’s Charley Trippi Stadium.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_track3_faa-1.jpg.optimal.jpgJames Pliska won the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.8 seconds in the season opening meet with Wyoming Valley West at Pittston Area High School’s Charley Trippi Stadium. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Jillian Scanlon, representing Pittston Area on opening day, jumped 28 feet, 10 inches in the triple jump Tuesday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_track4_faa-1.jpg.optimal.jpgJillian Scanlon, representing Pittston Area on opening day, jumped 28 feet, 10 inches in the triple jump Tuesday. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Pittston Area hurdler Naseem Guillaume was a triple winner Tuesday — capturing the 110 and 300-meter hurdles events while also anchoring the winning 400 relay team — as the Patriots opened the track season by beating Wyoming Valley West.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_track1_faa-1.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area hurdler Naseem Guillaume was a triple winner Tuesday — capturing the 110 and 300-meter hurdles events while also anchoring the winning 400 relay team — as the Patriots opened the track season by beating Wyoming Valley West. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

By Paul Sokoloski

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