After what seemed to be one of the longest winters in recent memory, the spring track season is finally under way.

Jim Thorpe and Marian started off their dual meet schedule in exciting fashion, with the deciding factor in both the boys and girls meets coming down to the final event of the day. That event was the 1600 relay, which most track enthusiasts will agree is one of the most exciting races.The scenario certainly created a great atmosphere.When the races were run the outcome was a split, as the Marian boys took home the 1600 relay with a time of 3:41.14, winning the meet by a score of 76-74. On the girls side, Jim Thorpe was able to take home the victory with a time of 4:28.64, winning the meet 79-70.For the Marian boys, Nico Agosti got his junior season off to a great start. Agosti won the 400, 800, and anchored the 1600 relay team that sealed the victory for the Colts."It was definitely nice to get off to a good start," said Agosti. "This weather isn't great to run in, but the fact that I did pretty well out there today is a confidence builder for me moving forward. I knew my team was going to need me to perform well in order to get the win, so I'm glad I was able to help. We have a lot of high expectations this year, we want to win the division again this year like we have the past two years."For the Jim Thorpe girls, junior Devon Matz was also able to get off to great start. Matz is a hurdling specialist and she showed that on Thursday. Matz brought home first in the 100 high hurdles and the 300 intermediate hurdles and also helped the 1600 relay gain a victory at the end of the meet."We put in a lot of hard work this offseason," said Matz. "We did a lot of strength training and we ran some indoor events that I think have really helped us get off to this strong start. I was able to get a second and a third in the two hurdles events at Palisades last week and I just really wanted to build off that. My goal this year, though, is to break our school record in the 300 IH, which is a 48.78. I also want to make some noise in the postseason as well."When it was all said and done both coaches had a positive outlook on the meet and both were happy with their team's performance, despite the cold weather."Anytime we can come down to Jim Thorpe and get a win that's great for us," said Marian coach John Boyle. "They always have quality athletes here and it's always a great test for us at the start of the season. I'm proud the way our girls battled and with our guys we expected them to do well. Our goal with the guys team is to compete with the best teams in the Schuylkill League day in and day out."Jim Thorpe coach Frank Miller was also very pleased with his team's efforts, especially from some underclassmen."I'm happy with how we competed today," said Miller. "We ran hard, and that's all you can ask for. We really had some girls step up and do well today. Devon Matz was fantastic for us, Courtney Capper was her usual consistent self, Amber Castillo ran well, and a freshman with a lot of potential in Robyn Lloyd won the 400 for us. We just have to work harder in practice and build off today."Capper took first in both the 800 and 1600. Mike Malatak also garnered two first place finishes in the 300 IH and triple jump.For Marian, Lukas Damian finished first in both the shot put and the discus.BOYSMarian 76, Jim Thorpe 74100 - 1. Chris Bruno (M) 11.69, 2. Sam Tomlin (M) 11.81, 3. Khaaliq Lynch (JT) 12.01; 200 - 1. Sam Tomlin (M) 23.76, 2. Chris Bruno (M) 23.84, 3. Khaaliq Lynch (JT) 24.47; 400 - 1. Nico Agosti (M) 52.26, 2. Sam Gilkes (JT) 56.33, 3. Zach Nase (M) 56.47; 800 - 1. Nico Agosti (M) 2:10.85, 2. Jake Saxon (JT)

2.11.06, 3. Michael Grega (M)

2.11.06; 1600 - 1. Jake McGeehan (JT) 5:05.14, 2. Jake Saxon (JT) 5:15, 3. Jian Xu Gentile 5:16; 3200 - 1. Jake Saxon (JT) 11:18, 2. John Condly (JT) 11:19, 3. Christian Fields (JT) 11:40; 110HH - 1. Nick Sully (M) 18.28, 2. Mike Malatak (JT) 18.45, 3. James Kolbush (M) 19.75; 300 IH - 1. Mike Malatak (JT) 45.42, 2. James Kolbush (M) 47.15, 3. Nick Sully (M) 47.42; 400 relay - Marian 46.88; 1600 relay - Marian 3:41.14; 3200 relay - Marian 8:48; Shot put - 1. Lukas Damian (M) 38-8, 2. Joe Damian (M) 34-5, 3. Hunter Gibson (JT) 33-3.5; Discus - 1. Lukas Damian (M) 119-1, 2. Joe Damian (M) 99-4, 3. Hunter Gibson (JT) 92-10; Javelin - 1. Deonte St. Hill (JT) 145-7, 2. Sam Budusky (M) 131-2, 3. Lukas Damian (M) 112-5; Long jump - 1. Khaaliq Lynch (JT) 19-2, 2. Sam Gilkes (M) 17-11, 3. Deonte St. Hill (JT) 17-3; Triple jump - 1. Mike Malatak (JT) 40-5, 2. Mark Buchinsky (M) 39-0, 3. Deonte St. Hill (JT) 38-8.75; High jump - 1. Rayan Green (JT) 6-0, 2. Deonte St. Hill (JT) NA, 3. Nick Sully (M) NA; Pole vault - 1. Ali Copobianco (JT) NA, 2. Brandon Bell (JT) NA, 3. Cameron Condly (JT) NA.GIRLSJim Thorpe 79, Marian 70100 - 1. Grace Boyle (M) 13.94, 2. Sadie Kosar (M) 14.10, 3. Colleen Hoffman (JT) 14.54; 200 - 1. Amber Castillo (JT) 29.27, 2. Emily Pulski (M) 30.05, 3. Sadie Kosar (M) 30.08; 400 - 1. Robbyn Lloyd (JT) 1:07.48, 2. Emily Pulaski (M) 1:08.03, 3. Amber Castillo (JT) 1:09.89; 800 - 1. Courtney Capper (JT) 2:42.13, 2. Emily Sofranko (M) 2:51.36, 3. Emily Reinohl (M) 2:53.55; 1600 - 1. Courtney Capper (JT) 5:53.2, 2. Emily Sofranko (M) 6:13, 3. Lindsey Capper (JT) 6:33; 3200 - 1. Emily Sofranko (M) 13:52, 2. Lindsey Capper (JT) 13:58, 3. Victoria Asbrock (JT) 14:23; 100HH - 1. Devon Matz (JT) 17.81, 2. Christy Digiandomenico (M) 18.65, 3. Rachael Caputo (19.32); 300IH - 1. Devon Matz (JT) 50.54, 2. Christy Digiandomenico (M) 53.46, 3. Rachel Caputo (JT) 57.23; 400 relay - Jim Thorpe 54.66; 1600 relay - Jim Thorpe 4:28.64; 3200 relay - Jim Thorpe 11:17; Shot put - 1. Kaylee Ceci (M) 28-5, 2. Monica Baranko (M) 28-3.5, 3. Erica Holman (M) 27-; Discus - 1. Monica Baranko (M) 86-3, 2. Brenna Karnish (M) 85-9, 3. Emily Pilla (M) 79-9; Javelin - 1. Emily Pilla (M) 104-0, 2. Brooke Cope (JT) 88-7, 3. Monica Baranko (M) 86-2; Long jump - 1. Autumn Cope (JT) 14-1/2, 2. Maria Donati (JT) 13-6.5, 3. Rebecca Cressman 12-9.75; Triple jump - 1. Grace Boyle (M) 30-11, 2. Maria Donati (JT) 30-2.5, 3. Autumn Cope (JT) 28-11; Pole Vault - 1. Colleen Hoffman (JT) NA, 2. Ruina Gentile (JT) NA.