WHITEHALL –Jake Martinez knows it’s all about peaking at the right time.

The Palmerton senior enjoyed a stellar postseason a year ago, one that was capped with his first state medal.

After arguably the most dominant performance of his career Wednesday, Martinez showed that he’s once again hitting his stride when it matters most.

For the second straight season, Martinez swept the Colonial League 800 and 1600, this time doing it with near record times.

“Honestly, we’re just on a completely different level,” Martinez beamed afterward. “This has been a culmination of four years of a lot of work, a lot of miles, and for it to pay off on this stage, and for me to run, in my opinion, the two best races of my life, there’s no better feeling.

“I ran the second fastest time in league history in that 800. To be right behind my future teammate, Joe Espinal (of Wilson), is really exciting. And to break my own school record again, there’s no better feeling than doing it on this stage.”

Martinez will join Espinal at Lehigh next season on what will surely be a formidable distance team. But he left no doubt Wednesday as to who was the class of the field in his final run at the league meet.

His 1:56.34 was just off the 1:55.94 Espinal set in the 800 in 2015. Martinez won the 1600 in 4:24.85, again behind Espinal’s mark of 4:19.39 set in 2015.

With previous bests of 1:57.50 in the 800 and 4:33.19 in the 1600 this season, Martinez showed that he still has another gear with his performances at Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex.

Martinez, who also won district titles in the 800 and 1600 last season, knew he was on pace for the record in the 800, a position he’s worked hard to put himself in.

“We came through the first lap right where we wanted to be at 58 seconds,” he said. “And I love to kick early, because it puts people in position that’s really uncomfortable early in the race. And I just trusted my training, trusted the strength work we did, and coming down the stretch I knew it would be close. I saw the clock and I was like I know I’m right there. I gave it everything I had.

“The past few years have been hard. It’s been hard with the training we do. It’s a very intense plan that requires a lot of sacrifice. I work hard so I can have days like today. It doesn’t matter how many days are alone, how many miles you do. Moments like this, not just a win, but to run well, there’s nothing that can replace it.”

After watching teammate Chris Fredericks win the Colonial League javelin title with a league record throw on Tuesday, Martinez was happy to keep the program’s momentum going.

“Chris is one of my best friends, and for him to be ranked so high in the nation is incredible,” Martinez said. “I knew that he set the standard high (Tuesday) and I just wanted to contribute to the team as well, because he believes in me, and I believe in him, so it’s a great relationship.

“I’m so proud of my teammates today. They push me to work harder every single day. My coaches have believed in me since Day 1, and I just want to make them proud, and show them that all the work they put into me have been given back to the track so we can have some success.”

Martinez was one of three Palmerton athletes to win gold Wednesday. Jordan Nelson breezed to a first-place finish in the 110 hurdles for the second year in a row, while Aaron Stasko won the 100.

Nelson’s time of 15.13 was a significant drop from his 15.66 in Tuesday’s prelims.

“Going over the hurdles was the same as always, but I was a little iffy on the start, trying not to DQ,” said Nelson. “But other than that, it was just a race.

“I don’t really put any pressure on myself. I just try to push myself to do the best that I can every race.”

Nelson is hoping he can find a little more speed next week at districts.

“I was pretty happy,” said Nelson, who was also second in the triple jump Wednesday. “I think my fastest time all year is about a 15.2 FAT, so it’s pretty exciting to break that. I’m hoping for districts, just to break 15.0.”

Stasko ran an 11.40 to just edge Salisbury’s Delano McKenzie (11.42) for the gold.

“I have a lot of respect for my competitors, and I know that they’re all very good,” said Satsko, who was fourth in the 200. “It’s track, anyone can run anything at anytime, so my goal was just to come in here and run the best that I can, and whatever happens, happens.

“In the last half of the race, that’s definitely been my weakest part, and focusing on my lean as well. I never really had a great lean, but it definitely helped me out today.”

While pleased with the result, Stasko knows he still has work to do ahead of next week’s district meet.

“I was definitely hoping to get a little lower in the 11s, 11.3 was my goal today,” he said. “So I didn’t quite hit it, but I’m definitely happy with the outcome of the race.

“It helps out a lot with the confidence, but it’s also a reminder that I need to keep my head small and focus on the bigger picture, and just keep my head down and run the best that I can.”

Northern Lehigh’s Reagan Pender captured her second Colonial League gold medal in as many days, winning the 1600 with a time of 5:14.64 after placing first in the 3200 on Tuesday.

“I’m ecstatic. I was so nervous for today, running against Maddie (Consuelos of Northwestern) and Kylie (Reifenstahl of Saucon Valley), they’re both fantastic girls, and I know they’re good, and I knew I had to stay with them,” said Pender. “And yesterday was challenging, with the humidity, and I just didn’t feel well yesterday. It was tough.”

“I guess I was just more conscious of watching my pace early. I talked to my coach today, and he was like ‘you got to stay with the core group, then on Lap 3, if you feel good, go.’ So. I just listened to him and went, and it worked well.”

Reifenstahl was second (5:16.69), and Consuelos was third (5:16.83).

“Definitely at 300 meters is when I start to listen more for footprints,” said Pender, who finished third in the 800 later in the day. “But once I get to 200, if they’re not around me, I start to go. And then once I get to 100 meters to go and hear everyone yelling, I don’t know where they are, so I’m just going to go even faster.”

Pender handled the pressure with poise to secure the win.

“I’m definitely going to focus on the two mile, but my mile time today, I PR’d by almost 10 seconds,” she said. “With this mile race, I definitely know I can do it. And I know I can go even faster than this, because I didn’t feel like I was going that fast, so I know I can go faster.”

In the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference meet, Pleasant Valley’s Armani Dunkley edged Pocono Mountain West’s Juanita Wiggins for the gold. Dunkley won with a time of 25.86, just ahead of Wiggins (25.87).

“It’s better that there is someone I have to compete with because she pushes me to get better times,” said Dunkley. “At the end, it was kind of difficult to tell, as we’re right next to each other, neck and neck. But I just pushed myself in order to get to first place.”

Dunkley was also third in the 400, and fifth in the high jump.

“It’s good, senior year, being able to finish it off with a medal,” Dunkley added.

COMING HOME … New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley was in attendance at his alma mater Wednesday to watch his sister, Aliyah, run. Barkley spent time with athletes as he made his way around the meet. Look for more on Barkley’s visit in Friday’s Times News.

TEAM TITLES … Southern Lehigh won both the Colonial League boys and girls team championships. The Northwestern girls and Palmerton boys were both third. Easton won the EPC girls crown, while Liberty captured the boys team title.

RECORD SETTER ... Saucon Valley’s Talitha Diggs ran the first sub 12-second 100-meter dash in Colonial League history Wednesday, winning the event with a time of 11.92.

COLONIAL LEAGUE TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

DAY TWO RESULTS

At Whitehall High School Sporting Complex

(Top four; other local finishers)

LEGEND

: Bangor (Bang), Catasauqua (Cat), Northern Lehigh (NL), Northwestern (NW), Notre Dame of Green Pond (NDGP), Palisades (Pali), Palmerton (Palm), Pen Argyl (PA), Salisbury (Sal), Saucon Valley (SV), Southern Lehigh (SL), Wilson (Wil).

BOYS

100

- 1. Aaron Stasko (Palm) 11.40, 2. Delano McKenzie (Sal) 11.42, 3. Tyrek Scipio (Bang) 11.48, 4. Damon Simpson (Wil) 11.51.

200

- 1. Tyrek Scipio (Bang) 22.55, 2. Brendan Miller (SL) 23.11, 3. Tristan Altenbach (Wil) 23.12, 4. Aaron Stasko (Palm) 23.15.

400

- 1. Quadir Collier (Wil) 51.20, 2. Marino Bubba (Bang) 51.40, 3. Dorian Singleton (SL) 51.43, 4. Beau Lantosh (Wil) 52.12, 8. Samuel Seyfried (NW) 52.88, 9. Richard Hrusovsky (Palm) 52.94, 15. Kory Marlatt (Palm) 54.43, 17. Joshua Heilman (NW) 55.19, 22. Dominic Kintz (Palm) 56.58.

800

- 1. Jacob Martinez (Palm) 1:56.34, 2. Marino Bubba (Bang) 1:59.32, 3. Alex Di Cesare (SL) 1:59.57, 4. Alex Fillman (SL) 1:59.92, 9. Preston Kemery (NL) 2:04.43, 14. Michael Rebert (NW) 2:07.37, 23. Richard Hrusovsky (Palm) 2:17.64.

1600

- 1. Jacob Martinez (Palm) 4:24.85, 2. Shane Artis (Sal) 4:29.35, 3. John Koons (NDGP) 4:30.70, 4. Morgan O’Brien (Bang) 4:31.33, 12. Jared Thomason (NL) 4:58.36, 14. Cole Chukoskie (NW) 4:58.43, 18. Joseph Pleban (NW) 5:05.63.

110H

- 1. Jordan Nelson (Palm) 15.13, 2. Nate Owens (Bang) 15.65, 3. Eric Lobb (PA) 15.71, 4. Jevon Pennix (Bang) 15.82, 5. Jonathan Perloni (Palm) 16.79.

400 relay

- 1. Wilson 43.12, 2. Southern Lehigh 43.77, 3. Bangor 44.09, 4. Palmerton 44.93; 6. Northwestern 45.57.

1600 relay

- 1. Wilson 3:27.28, 2. Southern Lehigh 3:30.93, 3. Palisades 3:31.85, 4. Bangor 3:36.92, 5. Northwestern 3:37.80, 8. Palmerton 3:42.95.

Shot put

- 1. Tom Kitchell (NDGP) 53-9 1/2, 2. Seth Diorio (Bang) 45-11 1/4, 3. Patrick Patterson-Zuber (SV) 44-9 3/4, 4. Chris Fredericks (Palm) 43-1, 5. Matt Lalik (Palm) 42-5 1/2, 7. Braden Gower (Palm) 40-7 1/2, 9. Josh Fritchman (NL) 39-10 1/4, 10. Josh Mooney (Palm) 39-6 1/4.

Triple jump

- 1. Josh Volak (Pali) 43-3 1/2, 2. Jordan Nelson (Palm) 43-3, 3. Ryan Domzaiski (NDGP) 41-7 1/2, 4. Zachary Moyer (NL) 41-7, 6. Cody Waterhouse (Palm) 41-4 1/4, 11. Michael Quinn (Palm) 39-2 1/4, 13. Evan Zambo (NL) 39-1, 17. Devin Thomas (NW) 37-5.

Pole vault

- 1. Derek Lasher (Bang) 14-3, 2. Tadd Barr (PA) 13-3, 3. Nathan Orr (SV) 13-3, 4. John Woehr (Pali) 11-9, 8. Rhys George (NW) 10-3.

GIRLS

100

- 1. Talitha Diggs (SV) 11.92, 2. Lydia Bottelier (Pali) 12.37, 3. Madison Trout (SL) 12.80, 4. Marley Chase (SL) 12.95, 6. Kristen Guelcher (NL) 13.19.

200

- 1. Lydia Bottelier (Pali) 25.73, 2. Madison Trout (SL) 26.77, 3. Marley Chase (SL) 26.93, 4. Alexis DiSora (NDGP) 27.42.

400

- 1. Talitha Diggs (SV) 55.47, 2. Lydia Bottelier (Pali) 58.78, 3. Dorothy Curtin (Pali) 1:00.00, 4. Alexis DiSora (NDGP) 1:00.77; 12. Jakayla Holmes (NW) 1:04.26, 18. Lauren Hinks (NW) 1:05.97, 23. Madison Balliet (Palm) 1:08.78.

800

- 1. Dorothy Curtin (Pali) 2:24.31, 2. Amy Farese (Pali) 2:25.05, 3. Regan Pender (NL) 2:25.39, 4. Alyssa Zack (NW) 2:27.05, 5. Sarah Supplee (NW) 2:28.48, 9. Allison Costa (NW) 2:32.35, 12. Madeline Consuelos (NW) 2:34.66, 18. Molly McGorry (NW) 2:38.27.

1600

- 1. Reagan Pender (NL) 5:14.64, 2. Kiele Riefenstahl (SV) 5:16.69, 3. Madeline Consuelos (NW) 5:16.83, 4. Allison Costa (NW) 5:19.65; 13. Molly McGorry (NW) 5:50.24, 16. Kristen Brown (NW) 5:55.66, 17. Katie Guelcher (NL) 5:56.68.

100H

- 1. Sierra Williams (SL) 15.70, 2. Skye Porter (Pali) 16.95, 3. Almond Goodman (Wil) 17.04, 4. Kerrigan Fenstermaker (SL) 17.26, 6. Emma Fogal (NW) 17.74, 7. Allyson Hinks (NW) 17.96.

400 relay

- 1. Southern Lehigh (Imani Hollie, Madison Trout, Amelia Cassaday, Sierra Williams) 50.49, 2. Bangor 51.37, 3. Wilson 52.57, 4. Northwestern 53.39, 6. Palmerton 53.89, 9. Northern Lehigh 54.46.

1600 relay

- 1. Southern Lehigh 4:07.55, 2. Saucon Valley 4:09.76, 3. Palisades 4:13.50, 4. Northwestern 4:18.13, 8. Palmerton 4:36.38.

Shot put

- 1. Autumn Carr (Pali) 36-2 1/4, 2. Brooke Baker (Bang) 34-7 1/4, 3. Elizabeth Cassell (SL) 33-8 1/4, 4. Abigail Everett (Palm) 32-11 3/4, 5. Hailey Evans (NL) 32-8 1/4, 7. Sage Christopher (NW) 30-3.

Triple jump

- 1. Trinity Williams (Pali) 35-11 1/4, 2. Amelia Cassaday (SL) 34-7 1/2, 3. Victoria Adams (SL) 34-1 1/4, 4. Caroline Fogal (NW) 22-11, 7. Sayler Burke (Palm) 32-10, 8. Emma Christman (Palm) 32-7, 10. Maddison Beahm (Palm) 32-2, 12. Kirsten Mauer (NW) 32-1 1/4, 17. Chloe Oldt (Palm) 29-11 1/2.

Pole vault - 1. Hannah Frankenfield (Bang) 11-0, 2. Sara Altonen (Wil) 11-0, 3. Sydney Derr (NW) 10-3, 4. Megan Guthrie (PA) 9-3, 6. Maggie Morgan (Palm) 8-3, 11. Jessica Wertman (NW) 7-9, 15. Abby Merkle 7-3.

EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONFERENCE TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

DAY TWO RESULTS

At Whitehall High School Sporting Complex

(Top four; other local finishers)

Legend

: Allen (All), Allentown Central Catholic (ACC), Bethlehem Catholic (BC), Dieruff (Die), Easton (East), Emmaus (Emm), East Stroudsburg North (ESN), East Stroudsburg South (ESS), Freedom (Free), Liberty (Lib), Nazareth (Naz), Northampton (Nor), Parkland (Park), Pleasant Valley (PV), Pocono Mountain East (PME), Pocono Mountain West (PMW), Stroudsburg (Str), Whitehall (Whi).

BOYS

100

- 1. Maurice Whittle (PMW) 11.17, 2. Javonte Haynes (Lib) 11.20, 3. Kenson Thomas (PMW) 11.21, 4. Marcus Williams (East) 11.32.

200

- 1. Kenson Thomas (PMW) 22.57, 2. Marcus Williams (East) 22.74, 3. Lubens Myers (Emm) 22.86, 4. Tahir Thompson (PME) 23.17.

400

- 1. Mustapha Salau (Park) 49.22, 2. Christian Tackett (Lib) 50.39, 3. Terrence Jones (All) 51.06, 4. Jakob Smolinsky (Emm) 51.31, 15. Jack Stephens (PV) 53.71, 17. Ryan Bonser (PV) 54.07.

800

- 1. Dalton Domchek (Nor) 1:58.79, 2. Ryan Wycherly (Lib) 1:59.11, 3. Paul Petre (Emm) 2:00.41, 4. Darlyn Fermin (Lib) 2:00.79, 11. Tyler Akob (PV) 2:03.15.

1600

- 1. Riley Williamson (Park) 4:24.84, 2. Darlyn Fermin (Lib) 4:26.93, 3. Alexander Heidemann (Free) 4:30.43, 4. Joseph Ozgar (East) 4:30.59, 24. Connor Covart (PV) 4:50.57.

110H

- 1. Christian Tackett (Lib) 14.82, 2. Terrence Jones (All) 14.98, 3. Evan Harris (East) 15.01, 4. Powell Posten (ESS) 15.12, 8. Xavier Garmony (PV) 16.40.

400 relay

- 1. Pocono Mountain West 42.89, 2. Parkland 43.63, 3. Liberty 43.95, 4. Freedom 44.00.

1600 relay

- 1. Allen 3:27.75, 2. Liberty 3:29.43, 3. Stroudsburg 3:29.97, 4. Emmaus 3:30.72, 6. Pleasant Valley 3:36.58.

Discus

- 1. Collin Burkhart (Naz) 151-10, 2. Trevor Harris (Lib) 146-4, 3. Messiah Johnson (Lib) 131-8, 4. Izak Bright (Whi) 128-10, 14. Mason Powlus (PV) 106-0, 20. Ahmad Wyatt (PV) 98-0.

Javelin

- 1. Andrew Altemose (PME) 193-10, 2. Collin Burkhart (Naz) 188-1, 3. Lucas Souders (Whi) 180-9, 4. Nolan Beagell (Lib) 173-6.

Long jump

- 1. Maurice Whittle (PMW) 23-4 1/2, 2. Anthony Harris (Naz) 22-4 3/4, 3. Daniel Damon (Lib) 21-8 3/4, 4. Javonte Haynes (Lib) 21-6.

High jump

- 1. Junior Karyea (Naz) 6-3, 2. Trey Rolle III (Park) 6-1, 3. Keyon Carroll-Herring (Emm) 6-1, 4. Matt Stianche (BC) 5-11, 9. Elijah Lopez (PV) 5-9.

Pole vault - 1. Tyler Slomiak (Str) 13-9, 2. Powell Posten (ESS) 13-9, 3. Andrew Warren (East) 12-9, 4. Alex Roan (Lib) 12-9, 10. Patrick Conklin (PV) 11-3, 12. Steffan Ghin (PV) 10-9

GIRLS

100

- 1. Gabriella Taylor (ESS) 12.76, 2. Alanna Smith (Emm) 12.80, 3. Abigail Radcliffe (Naz) 12.90, 4. Asia Murray (Str) 12.95.

200

- 1. Armani Dunkley (PV) 25.86, 2. Juanita Wiggins (PMW) 25.87, 3. Kate Willshaw (East) 26.21, 4. Alanna Smith (Emm) 26.29.

400

- 1. Alexis Doherty (Naz) 58.52, 2. Abigail Radcliffe (Naz) 58.67, 3. Armani Dunkley (PV) 1:00.45, 4. Rachel Byrne (Lib) 1:01.07, 13. Nyia Moon (PV) 1:02.60.

800

- 1. Greta Stuckey (Lib) 2:21.02, 2. Emily Banashefski (Str) 2:21.47, 3. Anita Vera (Naz) 2:22.66, 4. Abby Heilenman (Emm) 2:22.70, 21. Cameron Caffrey (PV) 2:35.19.

1600

- 1. Ciara Conboy (Str) 5:15.64, 2. Amy Conboy (Str) 5:15.93, 3. Caitlin Voloshen (Naz) 5:16.82, 4. Madison Zaun (Park) 5:18.22.

100H

- 1. Gabriella Taylor (ESS) 15.04, 2. Tayrn Silvernale (Str) 15.31, 3. Kate Whillshaw (East) 15.65, 4. Shayna Dover (East) 15.87.

400 relay

- 1. Whitehall 49.63, 2. Emmaus 50.28, 3. East Stroudsburg South 50.31, 4. Nazareth 50.34.

1600 relay

- 1. Liberty 4:03.13, 2. Nazareth 4:04.23, 3. Emmaus 4:06.78, 4. Northampton 4:15.73.

Discus

- 1. Jaiden Mertellucci (East) 128-1, 2. Madeline Wickel (BC) 111-9, 3. Shelby Staib (Park) 105-6, 4. Tiera Hudson (PMW) 104-8.

Javelin

- 1. Kelly Leszcynski (Naz) 121-3, 2. Shelby Staib (Park) 119-0, 3. Brylee Tereska (Lib) 116-1, 4. Zoey Reifinger (Lib) 105-3, 11. Madison Wilson (PV) 94-1.

Long jump

- 1. Juanita Wiggins (PMW) 17-7, 2. Liz Lieb (BC) 17-6 1/2, 3. Brooke Rockovits (Nor) 17-0 3/4, 4. Catherine Kelly (Lib) 17-0, 10. Jade Kautzsch (PV) 16-1 1/2.

High jump

- 1. Kate Whillshaw (East) 5-5, 2. Isabella Horvath (PME) 5-3, 3. Kristen Karavitch (Naz), 3T. Celine Boychuck (Park) 5-1, 5. Armani Dunkley (PV) 5-1.