(EDITOR’S NOTE: Since May of 1999, the Times News Sports Department has featured an On This Date practically every day, highlighting an event that happened in the past. With the coronavirus putting a halt to sports locally and nationally, the On This Dates have been expanded to the stories that actually ran in the next day’s newspaper. Today’s On This Date story is from May 1, 1996).

By Joe Plasko

TIMES NEWS Staff

Tamaqua’s Katie MacDonald is a versatile performer, capable of running and winning both sprints and distance races.

The Lady Raider sophomore pulled off an important double Wednesday, winning both the 100 and 800 meters as Tamaqua clinched at least a tie for the Schuylkill Division I title with a 94-47 triumph over visiting Shamokin.

Tamaqua (8-0 overall, 4-0) gained a piece of its first girls Division I crown since 1994, when it was involved in a three-way tie for the top spot. The Raiders can capture it outright with a win at Pottsville Tuesday.

The Indians (2-2 league) were hampered by a hamstring injury to top sprinter Jill Poplaski, who only competed in the long jump.

With Poplaski limited, Tamaqua targeted Shamokin soph distance star Terrah Ryan, who split against Raider junior Monica Johnson in two head-to-head races; Johnson won the 3200 meters and Ryan the 1600. MacDonald upheld her end by besting Ryan with a season’s best two minutes, 29.4 seconds in the 800.

“Our girls did a tremendous job on the track,” said Tamaqua coach Phil Houm of his squad’s 65-22 edge in the running events. “We could have had Katie in the 4x400 at the end, but we wanted her to go against Ryan. Monica also did a good job against her.”

Leah Williams added a double win in the triple and high jump for Tamaqua, which also got individual firsts from Jill Knoblauch in the 200 ( 29.6), Cara Griffin in the 400 (1:05.5), Amy Putalavage in the 100 meter hurdles ( 17.5), Ann Linkevich in the 300 meter hurdles ( 51.8), Kelly Naylor in the shot put (31-5 3/4) and Heather Miller in the discus (92-3).

“Our girls performed well all around,” added Houm. “Kelly hit 31 feet in the shot, and Heather had one of her best throws in the discus. We had three girls jump 4-8 in the high jump.”

The Raider boys fell to 6-2 overall (2-2 league) with a 91-59 setback to the Indians, who won 11 of 18 events.

Steve Kropp (triple jump, high jump) was a double winner for Tamaqua, as was Alex Yearick (shot put, discus). Kropp now has 351 career points, moving him into fourth place on the all-time Raider list ahead of George Krell (TAHS ‘86), who had 347 3/4 points.