It’s a competitive spirit that drives the Palmerton track and field program.

One that was front and center Tuesday in a pair of victories over Catasauqua – and setbacks against unbeaten Southern Lehigh.

“I can’t question any of our kids’ work ethic, by any means,” said Bombers head coach Mike Gombert. “They don’t shy away or back down from any opponent in meets.

“We understood what was coming in today with Southern Lehigh’s undefeated boys and girls teams. I said, ‘Look, we have a lot of athletes right here on our team, and we have athletes that are better than some of their athletes in certain events.’ And I wanted them to understand that they can compete against an undefeated team, and perform quite well.”

Palmerton’s boys posted a 134-15 win over Catty, while the girls picked up a 101-46 victory.

The Spartans downed the Bombers 86-64 in the boys’ meet, and 95-55 in the girls’ competition.

Harrison Dailey (pole vault, javelin) had a pair of victories for the Palmerton boys, while Bryson Walters (300H), Jeremy Salvaggio (high jump) and Zack Anthony (shot put) also recorded first-place finishes.

Walters entered the week with the No. 1 time in the Colonial League in the 300 hurdles at 42.10. He ran a 42.9 Tuesday.

“I think I’ve really improved,” said the sophomore, who was also third in the 110 hurdles. “I think last year I was running in the high 49s, and I’ve been able to drop down several seconds this season.

“It’s definitely a confidence booster. My dad (Bryan) was a hurdler for Pleasant Valley, so when I run a good time, it makes me feel good, because I get to share that (with him).”

Dailey cleared 12-3 to match a season best in the pole vault, and threw a personal record 134-5 in the javelin. He was also second in the long jump.

Anthony, in his first season competing in track and field, has been a staple in the throwing events. His mark of 41-5 was the best in the shot put on Tuesday – and a personal record.

“I’m really happy with how I did in the shot put,” said Anthony, who was also second in the discus. “The motions of how I threw, it just felt all natural. To feel that power, and to see that shot put go ... I mean, it weighs like 12 pounds. It’s just so awesome to see that personal record, and to be able to win. It was the best throw I’ve had so far, and hopefully I can keep getting better.

“I’ve always wanted to throw really far in shot put, and I’m working my way there. But it would be nice to throw really far in both shot put and discus at the same time, and try to continue to do well in both.”

Salvaggio cleared 5-8 in the high jump to take first.

Palmerton’s boys also posted a victory in the 1600 relay, finishing with a time of 3:39.0.

In the girls’ meet, Abigail Fredericks posted victories in the discus and javelin, while Ana Recker (pole vault), Nataly Walters (triple jump), Jessica Heydt (shot put) and Emma Snyder (high jump) also delivered first-place finishes.

Fredericks had throws of 91-9 in the javelin and 90-5 in the discus, and also placed second in the shot put behind Heydt (31-10) to give the Bombers a 1-2 result.

“I’ve been pretty consistent lately, so I’m ready to get a big one out there,” said Fredericks. “I’m happy I’m back in the 90s (in discus), because it took me awhile to get back there, and I’m finally throwing 30 (feet) in shot, and then I finally threw 91 in javelin today again as well.

“I usually work with Zack Anthony (at practice). We throw discus and stuff at the same time, so we can correct each other. And then shot put we do together as well.”

Freshman Nataly Walters turned in a personal best and eye-opening jump of 36-2 to win the triple jump. The mark would have placed her on the podium in seventh at last year’s state meet in Class 2A.

“It feels really good, and it really boosts my confidence going into leagues and districts, because that’s like a state-qualifying jump,” said Walters, who hit the mark on her final attempt. “It really boosts my confidence.”

Walters also placed second in the 100, 200 and long jump. She also owns a league-best 17-4 in the long jump this season.

“Long jump and triple jump are both pretty even. I’m a jumper,” said Walters of her events. “But my triple jump today was crazy. I was even shocked with myself.”

Walters entered the week as the top triple jumper in the Colonial League with a mark of 35-3.

“My steps were on the board (today); usually I’m a little bit behind the board, but today, they were on the board,” said Walters. “And Coach (Jim) Hay practiced a drill with us the other day, and it really worked on opening our last phase, and I feel like that really helped today.”

Snyder won the high jump, clearing 4-11.

Recker, the top pole vaulter in the Colonial League with a mark of 10-6, cleared 9-9 to win Tuesday.

“This is my only event, so I definitely just try and focus on this, and you have to prepare yourself mentally because it’s just so different from anything else,” said Recker, who was also the Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Field Hockey Player of the Year in the fall. “So it’s really hard transitioning from everyday life to even this; it’s a big challenge.

“And even from last year, I feel like there is more pressure on me, just because of how last season went. But it’s my senior year, and I’m just trying to have fun, and do my best.”

The senior won a district title and qualified for states in the event last spring.

Former Palmerton pole vaulter turned coach Darris Rodrigues has helped Recker and others on the squad both embrace and find tremendous success in the event.

“Ana, Harrison, everyone, it’s a great group of people,” said Rodrigues, who is in his second full season. “They’re doing really well, and each meet they seem to be getting personal bests and progressing and breaking records. It’s awesome to see.”

RECORDS

... Southern Lehigh’s boys and girls both improved to 9-0. Palmerton’s boys now sit at 7-2, while the girls are 6-3.

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

... Next week marks the last set of regular season league meets. Palmerton will host Pen Argyl and Northwestern on Tuesday in the regular season finale. The league meet is set for May 10-11 at Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex.

BUT FIRST

... Palmerton will compete at the East Stroudsburg South Invite this Friday.

BOYS Southern Lehigh 86, Palmerton 64

Palmerton 134, Catasauqua 15

100 - 1. Aiden Tobin (SL) 11.2, 2. Wyatt Younes (C), 3. Mitchell Andrejko (SL); 200 - 1. Aiden Tobin (SL) 22.8, 2. Dominic Kintz (P), 3. Lucas Heydt (P); 400 - 1. Chase Hensinger (SL) 51.2, 2. Jacob Dove (C), 3. Brance Fronheiser (P); 800 - 1. Chase Hensinger (SL) 2:06.2, 2. Dominik Lisicky (SL), 3. Alexander Kane (SL); 1600 - 1. Dominik Lisicky (SL) 4:34.7, 2. Alexander Kane (SL), 3. Owen Hibell (P); 3200 - 1. Alexander Kane (SL) 10:07.1, 2. Owen Hibell (P), 3. Peter Jones (SL); 110H - 1. Jack Inglis (SL) 15.3, 2. Robert Allen (SL) 3. Bryson Walters (P); 300H - 1. Bryson Walters (P) 42.9, 2. Justin Herrmann (P), 3. Reilly Burke (P); 400 Relay - 1. Southern Lehigh 45.0; 1600 Relay - 1. Palmerton 3:39.0; 3200 Relay - 1. Southern Lehigh 9:33.1; High jump - 1. Jeremy Salvaggio (P) 5-8, 2. Robert Allen (SL), 3. Jack Johnson (SL); Pole vault - 1. Harrison Dailey (P) 12-3, 2. Jackson Stein (P), 3. Anthony Lorio (SL); Long jump - 1. Jack Inglis (SL) 19-11, 2. Harrison Dailey (P), 3. Stephen Jones (P); Triple jump - 1. Jack Inglis (SL) 40-5, 2. Stephen Jones (P), 3. Harrison Dailey (P); Shot put - 1. Zack Anthony (P) 41-5, 2. Noah Denton (SL), 3. Jacob Gergar (P); Discus - 1. Benjamin Maund (SL) 103-3, 2. Zack Anthony (P), 3. Ryan Burkett (P); Javelin

- 1. Harrison Dailey (P) 134-5, 2. Charles Probst (SL), 3. Lucas Heydt (P).

GIRLS

Southern Lehigh 95, Palmerton 55

Palmerton 101, Catasauqua 46

100 - 1. Madison Trout (SL) 12.5, 2. Nataly Walters (P), 3. Marley Chase (SL); 200 - 1. Alexandra Lea (SL) 26.3, 2. Nataly Walters (P), 3. Emma Christman (P); 400 - 1. Lillia Lesniak (SL) 1:04.0, 2. Elizabeth Yazdanyar (SL), 3. Faith VandeBunte (SL); 800 - 1. Autumn Garges (SL), 2. Emily Stock (SL), 3. Emma Martinez (P); 1600 - 1. Emily Stock (SL) 5:28.5, 2. Lauren Meinhold (SL), 3. Alivia Bear (C); 100H - 1. Emma McKee (SL) 16.6, 2. Elizabeth Maund (SL), 3. Faith Schiffer (SL); 300H - 1. Faith Schiffer (SL) 51.9, 2. Samantha Perloni (P), 3. Emma Snyder (P); 400 Relay - 1. Southern Lehigh 50.7; 1600 Relay - 1. Southern Lehigh 4:27.8; 3200 Relay - 1. Southern Lehigh 11:29.8; High jump - 1. Emma Snyder (P) 4-11, 2. Felicity Parrish (SL), 3. Mairi Hagstrom (SL); Pole vault - 1. Ana Recker (P) 9-9, 2. Ella Sarnitsky (SL), 3. Maddy Bennyhoff (P); Long jump - 1. Madison Trout (SL) 17-4, 2. Nataly Walters (P), 3. Emma Christman (P); Triple jump - 1. Nataly Walters (P) 36-2, 2. Emma Christman (P), 3. Kyra Jackson (C); Shot put - 1. Jessica Heydt (P) 31-10, 2. Abigail Fredericks (P), 3. Lauren DeLong (C); Discus - 1. Abigail Fredericks (P) 90-5, 2. Aidan Gerhard (C), 3. Elizabeth Maund (SL); Javelin

- 1. Abigail Fredericks (P) 91-9, 2. Raquelle Riggins (SL), 3. Jessica Heydt (P).