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SCRANTON — Really, their spot in the middle of the medal stand was pretty secure.

But Kayla Merkel wanted to take things a little farther.

Madisyn Hawkins tried to reach new heights.

And on one golden, record-setting day, both of them became champions for the ages.

Coughlin’s Hawkins established the new District 2 standard in the pole vault Tuesday with a jump of 12-6, just after Hazleton Area’s Merkel broke the girls javelin mark with a throw of 147-01 to highlight the district’s Class 3A Girls Track & Field Championships at Scranton Memorial Stadium.

“That was my goal, yeah,” Hawkins said. “My (personal record) during indoor (season) was 12-8, two inches higher than the district mark. I knew I could get it, because I jumped it before. It was my last districts. I wanted to make a mark.

“I definitely left my mark on districts.”

So did Merkel, who fought off early challenges from silver medalist Taryn Ashby, of Pittston Area, and Gabbie D’Amore, of Honesdale, to bag her third district gold medal in the event by unleashing a javelin throw that reached a distance nobody has ever hit before.

“My coach always says throw with heart,” Merkel said. “That’s where (the record) came from. Heart.”

Plenty of other girls from the Wyoming Valley Conference showed it, too.

Nanticoke Area sophomore Amiah Lukowski used a surprise victory in the triple jump to finish as the only girls double winner from the Wyoming Valley Conference. Lukowski, who also won the 200-meter dash, found nearly three more inches from her season-best distance and came from a No. 5 seed to best Wyoming Area’s Vanessa Shedlock and Wyoming Valley West’s Ashley Blannard with a gold medal leap of 37-03.75.

“My best jump this season was (just over) 34 feet,” Lukowski said. “It was a shock to everyone.”

Her second victory was hardly a stunner.

Lukowski, who set the District 2 Class 2A District 2 record in the 200-meter dash as a freshman last season, won that event in Triple-A after Nanticoke Area was moved up a class in track and field. She turned on the jets down the homestretch and passed Scranton’s Kyahni Harbin to win in 26.01.

“The competition was a little harder this year,” said Lukowski, who also finished with a silver medal in the 100 dash. “I sacrificed the 100 to concentrate more on the 200. I’m happy I won. I definitely ran faster toward the end of the race. My times this year weren’t as good as last year. But I still medaled.”

So did Wyoming Area sprinter Jalen Rhodes, a No. 4 seed, also raised eyebrows when she raced to victory in the 100 dash with a time of 12.70. She edged Lukowski, who ran a 12.85 to earn a silver medal. Allyson Derry, of Abington Heights, will represent District 2 at the PIAA Class 3A meet, after Rhodes scratched out of states — which conflict with Wyoming Area’s prom, according to Warriors coach Joe Pizzano. Derry finished third.

Berwick’s Payden Montana, who fouled out of the finals of a discus event she was favored to win, made up for it by finding gold in the shot put by hitting 44-09, while Wyoming Valley West’s Ashley Blannard struck gold in the long jump. And Wyoming Area’s Shedlock took home a gold medal with a winning time of 58.06 in the 400-meter dash, helping the Warriors finish second to Abington Heights in the District 2 team standings.

Hawkins timed everything right while defending her district pole vault title.

She entered the competition when the bar was set at 11 feet, by-passing the first five heights, and easily cleared that mark, then 11-6, then 12 feet without missing an attempt. When Norwillo made both of those latter two heights after missing her first try on both, the bar was raised to a district record height.

Hawkins cleared the bar on her second attempt, and Norwillo couldn’t quite reach that mark.

“I had some competition,” Hawkins said. “Abby, from Pittston, she’s a really good jumper, too. It’s always nice to have a friendly competition. I had to give it my best.

“I really wanted to win.”

So did Merkel, who faced some formidable competition, as Ashby and D’Amore both hit marks that also qualified them for state competition.

But Merkel’s second throw of the preliminary round set the district mark and sent her home with a second straight District 2 javelin title.

“It felt decent,” Merkel, who also won district gold in her freshman year, said of her record-breaking toss, “but my feet skidded on the runway. My second throw by better (than any of her others) by four feet. I was excited about today. I knew I had to stay calm. That was kind of more on my mind than me throwing. Everybody was throwing great today, especially Taryn and Gabby. But I’ve been here. I knew what to expect.”

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Abington Heights (AH) 115; 2. Wyoming Area (WA) 65; 3. Hazleton Area (Haz) 52; 4. Wallenpaupack (Wal) 50.16; 5. Scranton Prep (Prep) 46.50; 6. Scranton (Scr) 46; 7. Pittston Area (PA) 42.5; 8. Dallas (Dal) 40,16; T-9. Wyoming Valley West (WVW) 31; T-9 Honesdale (Hon) 31; 11. Valley View (VV) 29; T-12. Delaware Valley (DV) 28; T-12 Nanticoke Area (Nan) 28; T-14 Berwick (Ber) 27.16; T-14 North Pocono (NP) 27.16; 16. Coughlin (Cou) 20.33; 17. West Scranton (WScr) 11; 18. Tunkhannock (Tun) 7; 19. Crestwood (Cre) 4.

EVENT RESULTS

3,200 relay — 1. AH (Bianca Calvo, Celia Davis, Annie Wesolowski, Katie Grammer), 9:51.81; 2. DV (Sarah McDougall, Denali Hutzelmann, Vanessa Paolella, Laina Bogusta); 3. Hon (Isabella Frigoletto, Tedra Harrison, Mackenzie LaMorte, Dana Pratt); 4. Dal (Missy Leonard, Grace Jarden, Riley Oremus, Kaylee Yagloski); 5. PA (Nicole Zambetti, Charity McLeod, Jada Sharp, Mary Silinskie); 6. Prep (Abby Bowen, Lucy Doherty, Allison Walsh, Kate Welby); 7. VV (Santina Burak, Tori Duffy, Charisse Mulherin, Olivia Pisarski); 8. WVW (Nadia Costigan, Mercedes Jasterzenski, Jujlia Kobusky, Foto Tsioles). 100 hurdles — 1. Calista Marzolino (AH), 15.98; 2. Abby Pidgeon (VV); 3. Kaitlin McGrath (Prep); 4. Shelby Stackhouse (WA); 5. Natalie Reed (AH); 6. Abby Zolner (Dal); 7. Paige Vennie (Wal). 100 — 1. Jalen Rhodes (WA), 12.70; 2. Amiah Lukowski (Nan); 3. Allyson Derry (AH); 4. Kyahni Harbin (Scr); 5. Sam Mazula (Dal); 6. Nina Dellarte (WVW); 7. Demi Burley (Scr); 8. Jillian Buchman (Haz). 1,600 — 1. Katie Dammer (AH), 4:55.35; 2. Alex Scheuermann (AH); 3. Vanessa Paolella (DV); 4. Adiya Golden (Prep); 5. Megan Borton (Dal); 6. Nicole Zambetti (PA); 7. Sam Dyer (Ber); 8. Anna Brier (Prep). 400 — 1. Vanessa Shedlock (WA), 58.06; 2. Megan Reed (Haz); 3. Maryam Hamidi (Scr); 4. Kiara Mayers (Hon); 5. Lila Gaughan (NP); 6. Dani Beamish (AH); 7. Kara Campbell (Wal); 8. Charity McLeod (PA). 400 relay — 1. Wal (Maddie Nakielny, Trisha Gibbons, Mackenzie Turner, Erika Hansen), 49.65; 2. Scr (Demi Burley, Cierra Chandler, Samara Haigler, Kyahni Harbin); 3. WVW (Ashley Blannard, Nina Dellarte, Karaline Stelma, Irelynd Sullivan); 4. AH (Natalie Reed, Allyson Derry, Erin Albright, Danielle Heime); 5. WA (Jalen Rhodes, Shelby Stackhouse, Olivia Astolfi, Mackenzie Nocchi); 6. Dal (Annalise Cheshire, Hollie Holthaus, Sam Mazula, Gabrielle Vanhorn); 7. PA (Mia Barbieri, Angelica Singer, Jenna Smith, Jessica Tighe); 8. Haz (Diamond Truluck, Kaitlyn Beiler, Jaycie Jennings, Jillian Buchman). 300 hurdles — 1. Mackenzie Turner (Wal), 47.12; 2. Abby Zolner, Dal; 3. Abby Pidgeon (VV); 4. Awnshae Smith (Scr); 5. Anna Marchetta (AH); 6. Juliana Deninger (Scr); 7. Allison Zumar (Haz); 8. Celia Davis (AH). 800 — 1. Sam Killianey (Wal), 2:21.37; 2. Grace Hamilton (NP); 3. Mackenzie LaMorte (Hon); 4. Vanessa Paolella (DV); 5. Abby Bowen (Prep); 6. Sarah McDougall (DV); 7. Santina Burak (VV); 8. Melissa Leonard (Dal). 200 — 1. Amiah Lukowski (Nan), 26.01; 2. Kyahni Harbin (Scr); 3. Jalen Rhodes (WA); 4. Nina Dellarte (WVW); 5. Vanessa Shedlock (WA); 6. Demi Burley (Scr); 7. Erika Hansen (Wal); 8. Sam Mazula (Dal). 3,200 — 1. Alex Scheuermann (AH), 11:23.62; 2. Madison Baloga (Dal); 3. Sam Dyer (Ber); 4. Laina Bogusta (DV); 5. Adihya Golden (Prep); 6. Anna Brier (Prep); 7. Taylor Kryzan (Wal); 7. Emma Marion (AH). 1,600 relay — 1. Wal (Mackenzie Turner, Megan Guerrieri, Trisha Gibbons, Sam Killianey), 4:04.97; 2. AH (Erin Albright, Celia Davis, Dani Beamish, Hannah Hughes); 3. Haz (Jillian Buchman, Josie Middleton, Jaycie Jennings, Megan Reed); 4. VV (Julie Maddage, Abby Pidgeon, Emmy Fryal, Nicole Welsch); 5. Scr (Juliana Deninger, Samara Haigler, Maryam Hamidi, Adan Meeker); 6. Dal (Emily Farrell, Emily Fleming, Missy Leonard, Sam Mazula); 7. PA (Mia Barbieri, Charity McLeod, Jenna Smith, Nicole Zambetti); 8. DV (Brittany Brockman, Kara Gearhart, Reilly Henry, Denali Hutzelmann).

High jump — 1. Calista Marzolino (AH), 5-03; 2. Shelby Stackhouse (WA); 3. Kendra Pfeil (Haz); 4. Le’June Berry (Cou); 5. Ashton Ashby (PA) and Madison Ziobro (Prep); 7. Olivia Burke (Prep); 8. Megan Llewellyn). Pole vault — 1. Madisyn Hawkins (Cou), *12-06; 2. Abby Norwillo (PA), 12-00 (SQ); 3. Danielle Heine (AH), 11-06 (SQ); 4. Victoria Atkinson (Prep), 11-0 (SQ); 5. Andrea Shipton (Cre); 6. Maddy Swartout (VV); 7. Amber Koshinski (Ber); 8. Dani McGrane (Cou). Long jump — 1. Ashley Blannard (WVW), 17-09.75; 2. Abby Norwillo (PA); 3. Allyson Derry (AH); 4. Lila Gaughan (NP); 5. Skyler Panattieri (Cou); 6. Victoria Atkinson (Prep); 7. Angelica Singer (PA); 8. Megan Dalo (Ber). Triple jump — 1. Amiah Lukowski (Nan), 37-03.75; 2. Vanessa Shedlock (WA), 37-03.50 (SQ); 3. Ashley Blannard (WVW), 35-10.50 (SQ); 4. Allyson Derry (AH); 5. Kaitlin McGrath (Prep); 6. Brenna Klaproth (Prep); 7. Kara Campbell (Wal); 8. Skyler Panattieri (Cou). Shot put — 1. Payden Montana (Ber), 44-09; 2. Madelyn Resciniti (WA); 3. Tania Grissom (WScr); 4. Kayla Merkel (Haz); 5. Rebecca Avery (Tun); 6. Faith Turner (Tun); 7. Nijah Dickerson (Scr); 8. Taryn Ashby (PA). Discus — 1. Jessica Slagus (NP), 124-10; 2. JoAnna DiBenidetto (Hon); 3. Kayla Merkel (Haz); 4. Makayla Force (Ber); 5. Jill Bird (AH); 6. Brianna Pallo (VV); 7. Maddy Vinskofski (WScr); 8. Maddie Isenberg (Ber). Javelin — 1. Kayla Merkel (Haz), *147-01; 2. Taryn Ashby (PA), 138-10 (SQ); 3.Gabbie D’Amore (Hon), 128-03 (SQ); 4. Paige Bonin (Haz), 124-02 (SQ); 5. Megan Healey (AH); 6. Maddy Vinskofski (WScr); 7. Morgan Coolbaugh (WA); 8. Virginia Yurchak (Haz).

SQ – State Qualifier.

Note: District 2 champion automatically qualifies for PIAA championships.

* – District 2 record.

Coughlin’s Madisyn Hawkins clears the bar en route to setting a District 2 Class 3A record in the girls pole vault with a height of 12 feet, 6 inches at the District 2 Class 3A Track & Field Championships at Scranton Memorial Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL051717D2Track3A_1.jpg.optimal.jpgCoughlin’s Madisyn Hawkins clears the bar en route to setting a District 2 Class 3A record in the girls pole vault with a height of 12 feet, 6 inches at the District 2 Class 3A Track & Field Championships at Scranton Memorial Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Berwick’s Payden Montana prepares to throw the discus. Montana, the favorite in the event, was tagged with two fouls and finished 12th, but rebounded to win the shot put.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL051717D2Track3A_3.jpg.optimal.jpgBerwick’s Payden Montana prepares to throw the discus. Montana, the favorite in the event, was tagged with two fouls and finished 12th, but rebounded to win the shot put. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Wyoming Area’s Shelby Stackhouse clears the bar in the high jump. She finished second in the event and helped the Warriors finish second to Abington Heights in the team standings.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL051717D2Track3A_5.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area’s Shelby Stackhouse clears the bar in the high jump. She finished second in the event and helped the Warriors finish second to Abington Heights in the team standings. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Wyoming Area’s Jalen Rhodes was a suprise winner in the 100-meter dash, helping the Warriors to a second-place team finish. She later scratched out of the event for PIAA competition next weekend.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL051717D2Track3A_6.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area’s Jalen Rhodes was a suprise winner in the 100-meter dash, helping the Warriors to a second-place team finish. She later scratched out of the event for PIAA competition next weekend. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader
Hawkins, Merkel set District 2 track and field records

By Paul Sokoloski

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