Lehighton and Pleasant Valley have traditionally had two of the stronger track and field programs in the Mountain Valley Conference since the league's inception in the mid-90's.

Both schools have traditionally been near the top of the table with their boys or girls teams in recent years, with each producing several record-setting individual athletes along the way.It came as no surprise when the two charter members of the soon-to-be defunct league met for the last time on Wednesday afternoon that both proud programs kept that competitive tradition alive.With designs on one final MVC championship, the Pleasant Valley boys kept their title hopes intact with a convincing 105-45 win, while the Lady Indians also stayed in the hunt for a league title by earning a narrow 81-69 victory.Acknowledging the significance of the meet, Lehighton coach Jim Blakeslee had praise for the Pleasant Valley boys, who won 10 events and swept all three relays."This is the last time we'll compete like this with all the Mountain Valley (Conference) people," the coach said. "And the competition, specifically for the boys, is very difficult because they're (Pleasant Valley) so strong and we just don't have the depth."The star for the Bears was Nyiem Nevarez, who claimed two individual event victories (200, 300H) and also helped the 400- and 1600-meter relay teams cruise to easy wins.While Nevarez's performance was certainly impressive, what Pleasant Valley accomplished as a team was even more spectacular.The Bears claimed 1-2-3 finishes in six events, and took two of the top three spots in four others, flexing their muscle both on the track and in the field.Pleasant Valley coach Michelle Piontkowski was more than pleased with the well-rounded effort of her squad."We have some very good sprinters on the boys' side and today our jumpers really came to life, too," she said. "We were able to set a number of personal bests today, some of which may have been wind-aided. But the kids just performed really well today."Lehighton's Kyle Whiteman continued his strong season in the throwing events, picking up wins in both the shot put and discus.The action was more balanced on the girls' side, where Lehighton used its depth to overcome three 1-2-3 Pleasant Valley finishes.The Lady Indians were able to offset those losses by taking at least two of the top three spots in seven events, while the Lady Bears managed only four such finishes.Lehighton's Christina Green played a key role in the team's success, winning the 100- and 200-meter runs, while also helping the Lady Indians capture the 400-meter relay.Despite the fact that she set personal bests in both of her individual wins, Green was more focused on what she could do better moving forward."My starts could definitely be better, and I could probably improve how I prepare," she said. "But overall, I'm happy with how I was able to do today."Teammate Maris Stern, who set a personal best in the 300-meter hurdles, also was delighted with her performance in the victory."I'm very pleased," said Stern. "I actually wasn't expecting to get a [personal record] in the 300. I kind of surprised myself, since I don't feel that good today."The ability to perform in less-than-ideal conditions gives the senior confidence heading into tomorrow's Allentown School District Invitational, one of the biggest meets of the regular season."I definitely love running (at the ASD Invitational) because you're always getting pushed, with fast girls all around you," she said. "So hopefully I'll be able to PR in both of my events there."Lehighton's Riley Durishin did well in the field events, scoring victories in the long jump and high jump.While disappointed with the split, Piontkowski will make sure her team regroups quickly with the postseason on the horizon."Obviously, we came out here thinking we could get this one from them," she said of the girls' meet. "But we're just going to keep working at it and work towards leagues and districts now."BOYSPleasant Valley 105, Lehighton 45100 - 1. Matt Sheehan (PV) 11.48, 2. Danny Hunter (PV) 11.52, 3. Austyn Borre (PV) 11.52; 200 - 1. Nyiem Nevarez (PV) 23.22, 2. Austyn Borre (PV) 23.78, 3. Matt Sheehan (PV) 23.81; 400 - 1. Benjamin Estrella (PV) 54.78, 2. Glen Walker (PV) 56.15, 3. Nicholas Newton (L) 57.12; 800 - 1. Khai Samuels (PV) 2:07, 2. Johnny Schmid (PV) 2:14, 3. Michael Sucic (PV) 2:18; 1600 - 1. Seth Slavin (PV) 4:53.90, 2. Pat Rimple (PV) 4:58.68, 3. Tom Ciaccio (PV) 5:02.90 ; *3200 - 1. Michael Blacketter (L) 12:27, 2. Billy Milburn (PV) 12:30, 3. Luke Fisher (L) 12:43; 110 HH - 1. Mathew Strubinger (L) 17.52, 2. Nicholas Shanin (PV) 18.48, 3. Giani Ruiz (PV) 18.81; 300 H - 1. Nyiem Nevarez (PV) 44.33, 2. Sean Patterson (L) 47.50, 3. Mathew Strubinger (L) 47.88; 400 relay - 1. Pleasant Valley (Austyn Borre, Michael Morris, Nyiem Nevarez, Matt Sheehan) 49.66; 1600 relay - 1. Pleasant Valley (Benjamin Estrella, Nyiem Nevarez, Johnny Schmid, Michael Sucic) 3:59.47; 3200 relay - 1. Pleasant Valley (Mattjew Schafer, Johnny Schmid, Ben Conklin, Billy Milburn) 9:33; Shot put - 1. Kyle Whiteman (L) 45-7.25, 2. Trent Thomas (PV) 40-10.5, Bailey Vincent (L) 38-3.5; Discus - 1. Kyle Whiteman (L) 125-9, 2. Joseph Blauch (L) 112-2, 3. Brandon Leap (PV) 99-6; Javelin - 1. Brandon Leap (PV) 135-6, 2. Brandon Kuehner (PV) 124-0, 3. Ryan Klapatch (PV) 121-5; Long jump - 1. Kevin Cruz (PV) 21-1, 2. Demetrius Green (PV) 20-10, 3. Danny Hunter (PV) 20-4; Triple jump - 1. Max Orsot (PV) 41-7.5, 2. Austin Schlosser (L) 39-5, 3. Nicholas Shanin (PV) 36-8.5; High jump - 1. Nicholas Shanin (PV) 5-8, 2. Gavin Zehner (L) 5-0, 3. Maurice Wright (PV) 5-0; Pole vault - 1. Nathan Kroboth (L) 10-0, 2. Dominik Mystkowski (L) 9-6, 3. Aaron Bowman (L) 8-6.GIRLSLehighton 81, Pleasant Valley 69100 - 1. Christina Green (L) 13.30, 2. Ann-Marie Butchkowski (PV) 13.43, 3. Madie Brandt (PV) 13.78; 200 - 1. Christina Green (L) 27.31, 2. Rajah Quinones (L) 28.25, 3. Ann-Marie Butchkowski (PV) 28.81 ; 400 - 1. Kaitlyn Smith (PV) 1:03.47, 2. Shelbi Jones (PV) 1:06.25, 3. Celina Fital (L) 1:07.47; 800 - 1. Stephanie Palmer (PV) 2:37.0, 2. Samantha Young (PV) 2:38.0, 3. Jamie Masullo (PV) 2:39.0; 1600 - 1. Jennifer Mickens (PV) 5:50.02, 2. Elizabeth Eberhardt (PV) 5:52.59, 3. Kristen Eberhardt (PV) 5:55.31; 3200 - 1. Kristen Eberhardt (PV) 12:39, 2. Cassandra Rehnert (L) 13:03, 3. Dana McAllister (PV) 13:30; 100 HH - 1. Maris Stern (L) 17.27, 2. Harley Dejesus-Carrero (PV) 17.70, 3. Grace Shanton (L) 18.96; 300 H - 1. Maris Stern (L) 51.29, 2. Grace Shanton (L) 51.83, 3. Roxanne Miranda (PV) 54.01; 400 relay - 1. Lehighton (Christina Green, Rajah Quinones, Tia Brownmiller, Jada Whiteman) 54.21; 1600 relay - 1. Lehighton (Celina Fital, Tia Brownmiller, Grace Shanton, Mya Wagner) 4:45.61; 3200 relay - 1. Pleasant Valley (Megan Braddock, Abigail Leach, Abigail Kaspszyk, Jamie Masullo) 11:37; Shot put - 1. Gwen Remaley (L) 38-11, 2. Rebecca Strohl (L) 31-1, 3. Holly Bollinger (L) 29-2.75 ; Discus - 1. Holly Bollinger (L) 73-5, 2. Cecily Coney (PV) 63-4, 3. Abigail Obert (L) 63-2; Javelin - 1. Megan McCullion (L) 92-8, 2. Katie Frinzi (PV) 83-0, 3. Brittany Gonzalez (PV) 67-0; Long jump - 1. Riley Durishin (L) 16-2, 2. Maddie Brandt (PV) 15-6.5, 3. Kamara Litchauer (L) 14-4.5; Triple jump - 1. Jessica Ann-Lewis (PV) 32-1.5, 2. Maddie Brandt (PV) 31-6.5, 3. Harley Dejesus-Carrero (PV) 31-2; High jump - 1. Riley Durishin (L) 4-10, 2. Celina Fital (L) 4-8, 3. Bridget Lozier (PV) 4-8; Pole vault - 1. Mallory Dorward (L) 7-0, 2. Darby Reiss (PV) 6-6, 3. Riley Durishin (L) 6-0.* - 3600 meters timed in the boys' race.