So how good are the Jim Thorpe and Lehighton track teams?

To be sure, both have quality athletes, and both are capable of making an impact in the Schuylkill Boys and Girls Track Leagues.

And if Wednesday was any indication, big things could be in store by the time May Day rolls around.

The Olympians can run to daylight on the boy’s side, and did so often scoring a knockout over the Indians, 114-35.

On the reverse side, the Lady Indians were sweet in breezing to the finish line, at times uncontested, scoring impressively 135-14.

For sure, Jim Blakeslee was inspired and impressed with the way his Lehighton team rocked and rolled, with a strong cast of veterans and depth, too.

“What (today) proved to me is we’ve got a lot of strong point scorers,” said the veteran Lehighton coach.

Jim Thorpe’s boys surely will make a run for another league championship, and Frank Miller can see things slowly coming together, even though it’s late March and the drums aren’t beating loudly just yet.

“We thrive on the competition,” said Miller. “We’re very excited to compete against a local school rival… we’re happy where we are right now, but not where we need to be.”

The Olympians’ gifted speed didn’t falter. They won the 110 hurdles in a sweep, led by Justin Ellis in 17.6, and found Noah Rodgers breaking off a win in the 1600 with a time of 5:08.90, just edging Lehighton’s Evan Beers (5:09.70). Ellis scored a double victory with a win in the 300 hurdles with a strong 45.9 time.

And toss in the swift 400 relay team of Chris Strika, Dylan Dailey, Chris Selby and Jarrin Geisinger, hitting the yellow tape in a time of 45.5 - and this is just the start of the young season. And Geisinger added a first-place win in the 200 meter dash with a time of 22.6, fending off Lehighton’s Tahmir Spencer, who raced home in a time of 23.20.

“We had a lot of kids step up,” said Miller. “We’ve been dealing with a lot of nagging (injuries), which kind of limited some of the training.”

Veteran Sam Hydro had a big outing as well, as he sprinted to first-place wins in the 800 and the 400.

In the field events, Lehighton’s Isaiah Wetzel claimed the top spot in the triple jump at 38-11, just nicking Selby’s jump of 38-10. Meanwhile, veteran shot putter Billy Munson captured the event for the Olympians with a throw of 48-10.

Blakeslee has a real gem in Kaia Slaw that is just starting to shine after a year of qualifying at the PIAA State event last May in the triple jump. Slaw is back for the Indians, and scored a victory impressively with a leap of 34-10 in the event, while teammate Megan Aaron posted a mark of 32-10 for a runner-up finish. Slaw, who had a bombastic afternoon, is competing in the high jump for her team, adding more depth, and came out flying in the opener with a 4-10 in the event for a win. Teammate Madison Brown added a second place for the Indians. In addition, Slaw picked up a third win in the long jump at 16-08.

Another state returnee for Lehighton is Isabelle Meckes, who picked up a first place in the discus with a toss of 123-08, while her sister, freshman Abigail Meckes, added a second place, and then turned around and picked up a first place in the shot put event with a throw of 29-02 in her varsity debut. In the javelin throw, Lehighton picked up a first and third, led by Grace Leinhard’s toss of 111-11, besting Thorpe’s Kristen Scott.

The swift feet of Kira Hartman led Lehighton to a win in the 100. Hartman nudged teammate Karissa Hough with a winning time of 13.8, with Hough just a tad behind at 13.9.

The speedy Indians relay teams won the 3200 and 400 events. Riding the legs of Madison Cressley, Kelsey Gaston, Tinaya Klotz and Amada Mathisen, that foursome won the 3200 relay in a time of 12:50.6, and then the Indians raced home in a time of 56.10 to claim the 400 relay event. The team of Isabella Baka, Abigail Buffinngton, Hough and Lillian Brown led the way to victory.

Blakeslee isn’t resting his hat on just this win, and knows that the league will be tough.

“We’ve got to go up against some strong Schuylkill League teams,” said the Indians’ coach. “There’s Pottsville, Blue Mountain, North Schuylkill, they’re all fine teams that are very, very good… and Tamaqua as well, they’re always very good.”

Lydia Wallace picked up a first place for the Olympians in the 400 with a time of 1:03.2.

BOYS

Jim Thorpe 114 Lehighton 35

100 1. Spencer (L) 11.1; 2. Geisinger (JT) 3. Daily (JT), Selby (JT); 110 hurdles - 1. Justin Ellis (JT) 17.60; 2. Schriner (JT); 3. Richards (JT); 300 hurdles - 1. Justin Ellis (JT) 45.9; 2. Schriner (JT); 3. Layden JT. 400 - 1. Samuel Hydro (JT) 55.10; 2. Lawrence (JT); 3. Jusino (JT); 1600: 1. Noah Rodgers (JT) 5:08.90; 2. Beers (L); 3. Kilmer (JT); 3200 relay: 1. Jim Thorpe (Blake Kilmer, Chris Condly, James Schwartz, Samuel Hydro) 9:08.0. 2. Jim Thorpe; 400 relay: 1. Jim Thorpe (Chris Strika, Dylan Dailey, Chris Selby, Jarrin Geisinger) 45.40. 2. Jim Thorpe; 1600 relay - 1. Jim Thorpe (Preston Lawrence, Chris Condly, James Schwartz, Sam Hydro) 3:53.9; 2. Jim Thorpe; 3. Lehighton. 800: 1. Sam Hydro (JT) 2:18.80; 2. Schwartz (JT); 3. Yturrino (L); 200: 1. Jarrn Geisinger (JT) 22.6; 2. Spencer (L); 3. Strika (JT); 3200: 1. Noah Rodgers (JT) 11:25.50; 2. Beers (L); 3. Kilmer (JT); Javelin: 1. Bill Munson (JT) 151-11; 2. Schatz (L); 3. Kocher (L); Discus: 1. Bill Munson (JT) 141-04; 2. Zeingenfuss (L); 3. Sehnok (JT); Long Jump: 1. Jarrin Gesinger (JT) 20-11; 2. Selby (JT); 3. Wetzel (L); Shot Put: 1. William Munson (JT) 48-10; 2. Bailor (JT); 3. Heister (L); Triple Jump: 1. Isiah Wetzel (L) 38-11; 2. Selby (JT); 3. Dailey (JT); Pole Vault: 1. Jason Walck (JT) 11-0; 2. Bevilacqua (JT); 3. Clements (JT); High Jump

: 1. Jayvon McDowell (L) 5-10; 2. Richards (JT); 3. Deem (L).

Girls

Lehighton 135, Jim Thorpe 14

100 hurdles - 1. Kylee Dulski (JT) 17.1; 2. Hartman (L); 3. Gentry (JT); 300 hurdles - 1. Kylee Dulski (JT) 54.7; 2. Hartman (L); 3. Gentry (JT); 400 - 1. Lydia Wallace (JT) 1:03.2; 2. Mease (L); 3. Bevliacqua (JT); 800 - 1. Lydia Wallace (JT); 2. McGinley (JT); 3. Mathisen (L); 200 - 1. Karissa Hough (L) 28.8; 2. Lewis (JT); 3. Beger (JT); 100: 1. Kira Hartan (L) 13.8; 2. Hough (L); 3. Lewis (JT); 1600: 1. Kelsey Gaston (L) 6:07.20; 2. Rosahac (JT); 3. Wehr (L); 3200 relay: 1. Lehighton (Madison Cressley, Kelsey Gaston, Tinaya Klotz, Amanda Mathisen); 400 relay: 1. Lehighton (Isabella Baka, Abigail Buffington, Karissa Hough, Lillian Brown); 3200: 1. Kelsey Gaston (L) 13.33.70; 2. Wehr (L); 3. Rosahac; Triple Jump: 1. Kaia Slaw (L) 34-10; 2. Aaron (L); 3. Lynch (JT); Long Jump: 1. Kaia Slaw (L) 16-08. 2. Aaron (L); 3. I. Baka (L); Discus: 1. Isabella Meckes (L) 123-08; 2. A. Meckes (L); 3. Clarke (JT); Pole Vault: 1. Isabella Baka (L) 9-0; 2. Laible (L); 3. Bevilacqua (JT); High Jump - 1. Kaia Slaw (L) 4-10; 2. Brown (L); 3. Lynch (JT); Shot Put: 1. Abigail Meckes (L) 29.02; 2. Clarke (JT); 3. Wejton (L); Javelin

: 1. Grace Leinhard (L) 111-11; 2. Scott (JT); 3. Wensel (L).