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Lehighton girls remain unbeaten

Another week, another win.

The Lehighton girls track and field team moved one step closer to an undefeated season - and a Schuylkill League Division 1 title - Wednesday with a 100-49 victory over Jim Thorpe.With the win, the Indians improved to 5-0 and remained the only undefeated team in the division. Lehighton's final regular season dual meet is set for next Wednesday at Pottsville (3-1).The depth that has keyed the Indians' success this season was again evident Wednesday. Lehighton won 11 events, and swept the top three spots in the 1600, 3200 and 100 hurdles, while also winning the 400, 1600 and 3200 relays."Last year, we had the same girls that are seniors now," said Indians head coach Jim Blakeslee. "But we would reach a point where we couldn't find anymore points."Now, we've got this freshmen class in, like Kaia Slaw, like Rhylee Sherwood. And I think that's the difference."Slaw captured the long jump with a leap of 16-5 and won the triple jump with a mark of 34-5, while Sherwood placed second in the shot put (31-0.5).Senior Jada Whiteman continued her strong season, winning the 100 with a personal best time of 12.90. Whiteman also placed first in the 400 (1:00.30) and collected a runner-up finish in the 200 (27.60).After setting a school record in the 400 (58.1) last week against Blue Mountain, Whiteman acknowledged the event is one she looks forward to the most."Even though that's the toughest race," Whiteman said of the 400. "It's like a love-hate relationship towards it. I still like the race because you're sprinting the whole thing."Cera Gaston handled the distance events, winning the 1600 (5:42.30) and 3200 (12:21.00) as the Indians went 1-2-3 in both races to collect maximum points.Alexis Barndt picked up a victory in the 100 hurdles (16.7), and Grace Shanton (17.4) and Karissa Hough (18.0) helped Lehighton claim the top-three spots. Barndt, Shanton and Hough, along with Rajah Quinones won the 400-meter relay (54.00).Brooke Cope won the javelin (131-2) and shot put (34-5) for the Olympians.As Lehighton showcased its depth in the girls meet, Jim Thorpe did so in the boys event, securing a 79.67-70.33 victory.The Olympians swept the top three spots in the shot put and discus. Jonathon Fikentscher placed first in the shot put with a mark of 46-6.5, while Derek Scott won the discus with a heave of 137-5.William Munson gave Jim Thorpe a victory in the javelin with a throw of 135-8.Those strong performances continued on the track for the Olympians. Joseph Schwartz won the 110 hurdles with a personal best time of 15.20 and also placed first in the 300 hurdles (43.20)."It's huge to have confidence," said Schwartz. "If you don't have the confidence, you're never going to improve. You'll never get anywhere, especially in this, because the hurdles - you have eight obstacles, eight times you have to be confident in yourself."Thomas Layden placed second in both hurdle races to give Jim Thorpe key points in both events. Layden was also a member of the winning 400 and 1600 meter relay teams.Tanner Haydt had a huge day for the Indians, winning the 100 (11.20), 200 (23.20) and 400 (53.70).Shae Blasiak won the high jump for Lehighton, clearing a personal best 6-3. Blasiak also won the triple jump (39-3.5), though he admitted the high jump, where teammate Damian Mele was second (6-0), provided a little more excitement."I'm pumped," said Blasiak. "My teammates were cheering me on and it helped a lot."It's competition, but it's fun. We push each other."SENIOR NIGHT... Lehighton recognized its seniors on the boys and girls teams before its final home meet of the season.BOYSJim Thorpe 79.67, Lehighton 70.33100- 1. Tanner Haydt (L) 11.20, 2. Shawn O'Toole (JT), 3. Antonio Madera (JT);200- 1. Tanner Haydt (L) 23.30, 2. Nujai Walcott (JT), 3. Shawn O'Toole (JT);400- 1. Tanner Haydt (L) 53.70, 2. Joseph Petit-Clair (L), 3. Jeffrey Gorman (JT);800- 1. Ben Saxon (JT) 2:11.90, 2. James Schwartz (JT), 3. Joseph Petit-Clair (L);1600- 1. Samuel Hydro (JT) 4:49.40, 2. Anthony Tavella (L), 3. Michael Blacketter (L);3200- 1. Michael Blacketter (L) 11:01.60, 2. Samuel Hydro (JT), 3. Noah Rodgers (JT);110 H- 1. Joseph Schwartz (JT) 15.20, 2. Thomas Layden (JT), 3. Matthew Strubinger (L);300 H- 1. Joseph Schwartz (JT) 43.20, 2. Thomas Layden (JT), 3. Matthew Strubinger (L);400 relay- 1. Jim Thorpe (Antonio Madera, Thomas Layden, Shawn O'Toole, Nujai Walcott) 45.90, 2. Lehighton;1600 relay- 1. Jim Thorpe A (Thomas Layden, Ben Saxon, Nujai Walcott, Shawn O'Toole) 3:37.70, 2. Lehighton, 3. Jim Thorpe B;3200 relay- 1. Lehighton (Nathan Lucykanish, Anthony Tavella, Caine Carpenter, Joseph Petit-Clair) 8:47.80, 2. Jim Thorpe;Shot put- 1. Jonathon Fikentscher (JT) 46-6.5, 2. William Munson (JT), 3. Derek Scott (JT);Discus- 1. Derek Scott (JT) 137-05, 2. Jonathon Fikentscher (JT), 3. William Munson (JT);Javelin- 1. William Munson (JT) 135-08, 2. Michael Mayernik (L), 3. Jackson Schaeffer (L);Long jump- 1. Caine Carpenter (L) 19-5.0, 2. Isaiah Wetzel (L), 3. Shae Blasiak (L);Triple jump- 1. Shae Blasiak (L) 39-3.5, 2. Isaiah Wetzel (L), 3. Dylan Dailey (JT);High jump- 1. Shae Blasiak (L) 6-3, 2. Damian Mele (L), 3. Chris Micciche (JT);Pole vault- 1. Aaron Bowman (L) 13-0, 2. Trevor Keefer (JT), 3. Alexander Karpowicz (L).GIRLSLehighton 100, Jim Thorpe 49100- 1. Jada Whiteman (L) 12.90, 2. Emma Dunbar (JT), 3. Rajah Quinones (L);200- 1. Emma Dunbar (JT) 27.40, 2. Jada Whiteman (L), 3. Rajah Quinones (L);400- 1. Jada Whiteman (L) 1:00.30, 2. Tinaya Klotz (L), 3. Camille Principe (JT);800- 1. Alexandra McGinley (JT) 2:39.70, 2. Amanda Mathisen (L), 3. Madison Cressley (L);1600- 1. Cera Gaston (L) 5:42.30, 2. Madison Cressley (L), 3. Alyssa Williams (L);3200- 1. Cera Gaston (L) 12:21.00, 2. Sarah Laible (L), 3. Alyssa Williams (L);100 LH- 1. Alexis Barndt (L) 16.7, 2. Grace Shanton (L), 3. Karissa Hough (L);300 H- 1. Kylee Dulski (JT) 53.10, 2. Alexis Barndt (L), 3. Grace Shanton (L);400 relay- 1. Lehighton (Rajah Quinones, Karissa Hough, Alexis Barndt, Grace Shanton 54.00, 2. Jim Thorpe;1600 relay- 1. Lehighton (Tinaya Klotz, Madison Cressley, Katie Aaron, Jada Whiteman) 4:35.50, 2. Jim Thorpe;3200 relay- 1. Lehighton (Katie Aaron, Cera Gaston, Tinya Klotz, Amanda Mathisen) 11:19.0, 2. Jim Thorpe;Shot put- 1. Brooke Cope (JT) 34-5, 2. Rhylee Sherwood (L), 3. Devon Lignore (JT);Discus- 1. Isabelle Meckes (L) 119-2, 2. Brooke Cope (JT), 3. Devon Lignore (JT);Javelin- 1. Brooke Cope (JT) 131-2, 2. Grace Lienhard (L), 3. Emily Miller (L);Long jump- 1. Kaia Slaw (L) 16-5.0, 2. Jordan Waselus (JT), 3. Debbie Loyd (JT);Triple jump- 1. Kaia Slaw (L) 34-5, 2. Grace Shanton (L), 3. Jillian Peterson (JT);High jump- 1. Noelle Fasolino (JT) 4-10, 2. Katie Aaron (L), 3. Gabriela Szozda (L);Pole vault- 1. Debbie Loyd (JT) 6-6, 2. Angelina West (L).

Lehighton's Jada Whiteman, in lane 4, finishes first in the 100-meter dash. Jim Thorpe's Emma Dunbar, in lane 3, took second. MIKE FEIFEL/TIMES NEWS
Alexis Barndt of Lehighton clears a hurdle during Wednesday's meet. Barndt won the 100 hurdles in a time of 16.7. MIKE FEIFEL/TIMES NEWS
Jim Thorpe's Jon Fikentscher throws the shot put during Wednesday's meet. Fikentscher won the event. MIKE FEIFEL/TIMES NEWS