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Thorpe's Green wins double gold

WHITEHALL Jim Thorpe's Rayan Green has no problem multitasking.

Throughout much of the season, Green has regularly competed in and won four complex events without missing a beat.The junior proved his versatility at last week's Schuylkill League championships, taking first in the 110 and 300 hurdles as well as the triple jump.Despite all the success, Green had plenty of motivation heading into Tuesday's District 11 Track and Field Championships after not recording a height in the high jump at the Schuylkill League meet, an event he was the top seed in.Any disappointment Green had from a week ago was quickly washed away on the first day of competition at Whitehall High School, as he won the Class AAA triple jump (47-9) and high jump (6-3) almost simultaneously."I'm really happy with how I performed today," said Green, who also advanced to today's 110-meter hurdle final.With his triple jump and high jump events taking place at almost the same time, one might think it would have been hard for Green to maintain the focus necessary to compete at such a high level. But, much like he has throughout the season, Green balanced his events with aplomb."On the sideline, I was practicing my triple jump steps, and when I was high jumping I was practicing my high jump steps before I went," Green said of his approach. "It just clicks."After not clearing the bar in the high jump on any of his attempts last week, Green got 6-3 on his first try yesterday.Palmerton's Spencer Hay won the Class AA high jump with a personal best height of 6-4, a mark he's been striving for all season."I always knew I was capable of getting 6-4, but I just couldn't get there," he said. "I was so close on so many attempts. It was just nerve-racking. I got it on my second attempt today, and it just felt wonderful."It feels amazing, especially since last week at league's I only made 6-2 and my competitors all had a terrific day. To come here and win districts, it's huge and a great feeling."Hay wasn't the only Blue Bomber soaring high, as teammate Logan Blasiak took gold in the AA pole vault, clearing 12-6.On a blustery day that proved to make several of the jumping events difficult for many of the competitors, Blasiak admitted he wasn't sure how the conditions would affect him."It moves you around a little bit up there," Blasiak said of the wind. "But overall, it was a good day."After Palmerton's Darris Rodrigues took the top spot at districts last year by clearing 13-6, Blasiak was happy to continue the tradition but is also looking forward to having the opportunity to create his own legacy in his first state meet."I would be very happy to just not no height. If I could just clear the bar, that would be awesome," Blasiak joked. "But I'd love to hit my PR out there. As a junior, it'll be awesome to see the competition in the area."The third Blue Bomber to took home a gold medal and advance to the state meet was Sean Doherty, who won the 300 hurdles with a time of 40.51.It was by no means an easy win for Doherty, who was pushed by Northern Lehigh's Nate Troxell until the end. Troxell took second with a time of 41.10.Doherty knew he would be pushed, but felt confident that he would be able to finish strong to secure the win."The homestretch is where I feel my strongest," said Doherty, who pulled away in the last 100 meters. "The race was really close coming around the last turn, but I knew I had the stamina to finish the race and that's where it really paid off."It definitely helps psychologically. I've got to have confidence in myself to know that I can place in this race, and this definitely boosts my confidence coming away with a championship."Pleasant Valley used a strong final leg from Khai Samuels to win the Class AAA 3200 relay in 8:11.98.Thomas Ciaccio, Seth Slavin and Sean McGinley battled the likes of Bangor, Easton and Emmaus before handing the baton to Samuels, who made his move with 300 meters to go and held on for the win.Samuels was quick to deflect any praise to his teammates afterwards."I'm telling you right now, these are the three hardest working guys on the team," he said."But he's the hardest working among us," added Slavin. "We may work as a team, but he's incredible."And having Samuels to key off of is something the group feels has made them better."He pushes us," said Ciaccio. "We definitely all work together and feed off of each other.""He always gives us something to strive for," said McGinley.Pleasant Valley's Mike Mitchell qualified for states in the triple jump with a third-place leap of 44-9.5, better than the AAA qualifying standard of 44-6.Lehighton's Joe Blauch advanced to Shippensburg with a second place finish in the AAA discus (138-0).

bob ford/times news Jim Thorpe's Rayan Green won the gold medal in the Class AAA triple jump with a leap of 47-9.