WHITEHALL - Faith Yost’s roar reverberated across Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex.

And she wasn’t alone.

The celebration was shared with teammates Norah Silfies, Naomi Glassberg and Jakayla Holmes, who helped Northwestern win the 1600 relay at the Colonial League Track and Field Championships Wednesday.

“I think it means a lot to everybody,” said Silfies.

“We PR’d by a lot as a team, so it was very impressive,” added Yost.

So was Yost.

The win secured Yost’s fourth gold medal overall at the two-day event, which saw several standout performances by area athletes in both the Colonial League and Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.

In addition to Yost, Palmerton’s Nataly Walters, Jessica Heydt and Ana Recker also collected Colonial League titles Wednesday, while Pleasant Valley’s De’Nair Drew earned gold in EPC competition.

Walters placed first in the triple jump with a record-setting performance to capture her second gold of the event.

“Better than I could imagine,” said Walters, who finished with four medals total. “I’m super happy with all the things that I’ve accomplished.”

Drew rebounded from a difficult result Tuesday to stand on top of the podium for the Bears.

“It’s really exciting,” said Drew. “It’s good to know that I worked so hard throughout the season to get here and be where I’m at. And I’m glad for my teammates. We worked hard throughout the season and we deserve to be here in this type of competition.”

COLONIAL LEAGUE

The event-ending 1600 relay came down to the wire for the Tigers.

Holmes held off a hard-charging Palisades’ surge during the final leg to give her team the win with a time of 4:14.59.

“I could kind of hear everyone in the crowd being like,’Oh, she’s right there,’” said Holmes, who was nearly stride-for-stride with the Pirates’ anchor into the final 50 meters. “So I knew I just had to kick it in.”

Palisades finished second with a time of 4:15.53.

“When she got in the last 100, the three of (us) went over and started screaming,” said Yost, who ran first. “It was nerve-racking, and I know it was nerve-racking for her, too.”

Northwestern led throughout and shattered its seed time of 4:25.90.

“We weren’t really expecting that,” said Glassberg. “So to come away with such a huge PR is really exciting.”

“I’m just really proud of all of us,” added Yost.

The junior started the day with her third gold medal of the Colonial League Track and Field Championships, repeating as the 100 hurdle champion.

She won the high jump and 300 hurdles on Tuesday.

“My time today was better than my prelim time yesterday so I am happy with that,” said Yost. “It’s still not quite a PR but I am OK with that considering that these hurdles are pretty cruel.”

The junior ran a 15.88 in the finals to repeat as champion after running a 16.31 in the prelims Tuesday. Yost is primed for a big district meet, and hopefully a trip to states for the first time.

“I’m very excited,” said Yost. “I believe I can definitely keep up with some of the girls in districts. I’m looking at least for high jump to get 5-3 at districts so I can qualify for states, if not place top two.”

Walters captured her second gold medal of the event by winning the triple jump with a leap of 37-8.75, breaking a school record of 37-2.25 set by Casey Ord in 2008.

“I’m ecstatic about it,” said Walters. “I’m really happy. All my phases were big, and it was my first jump, so I was really surprised.”

The freshman was seeded first with a mark of 36-8.

“Coming into today, I was really just focusing on getting a PR,” said Walters. “I did that, and I did beat my school record. So I’m ecstatic about that.

“I’m really glad that I did have big jumps in the league meet, and I think that boosts my confidence, knowing that I can hit the mark and I can do it. But I do know I’m going to have some really big competition going into districts, so I’m just going to try to stay calm and practice hard this coming week.”

Not only did Walters win the long jump Tuesday, she also ran in the 100 and 200 finals Wednesday, placing fourth in both.

“Both my jumps help my sprints and vice versa, my sprints helps my jumps,” said Walters. “Especially for long and triple jump; you need speed, and I think my sprinting really helps my jumps.”

Heydt won the shot put with a mark of 32-8.5.

“I’m just happy that I can be here,” said Heydt, who was the top seed. “Last year, I was the last seed they took so this is crazy for me. It’s awesome.

“I think it boils down to being in the weight room. I was lifting for other sports, and I’ve been really active throughout the season. So it comes down to that, and also coaching. I really want to thank my coaches, because without them, I wouldn’t be here.”

Teammate Abigail Fredericks was third (31-3.25) in the event.

“It’s that you can have somebody that you can be close to with your throws,” Heydt said of Fredericks. “Being really close in distance is a great feeling because you can push each other and it’s like, ‘She threw this, I’m going to throw this.’

“Obviously you have that feeling where you want to beat your teammate, but you’re also happy for them regardless of what they throw. So it’s great to have somebody close with you.”

Her brother, Lucas, also won the javelin on Tuesday.

“I’m really happy for him,” said an emotional Jessica. “We are honors students, we’re both good athletes, and it’s nice to have that competition and to know that I can walk in his footsteps.”

Jessica has put in the work to necessary to compete at such a high level in the event, something she hopes will continue next week at districts.

“My PR last season was 28-5, so I’ve added five feet to my throw, which is incredible,” said Jessica. “It’s a great feeling.

“I’m really excited for next week, because I’m seeded second so I have the ability, as long as I can match that throw or just stay up there, I can go to states. And to do that as a sophomore, with my brother, who has the potential to go as well. And we also have a really close family friend in the pole vault, in Ana, who also went to state before and has the potential to go again. It’s great. We have some really great athletes and I’m really looking forward to what everybody can do, and it would be amazing to share the experience with a ton of them.”

A state qualifier and district champion a year ago, Ana Recker won the pole vault for the Bombers, clearing 10-3.

“Last year, I was only jumping in the 9s, so now I’m in the 10s and it feels really good,” said Recker. “I have the same competition as last year, just minus Southern Lehigh girls, But we’re all pushing each other really hard, and we were really close today. It just goes to show just never give up and jump as high as you can.”

Northern Lehigh’s Emily Moyer was second in the event, also clearing 10-3.

Recker was a runner-up at the Colonial League meet last year.

“I definitely wanted to stay consistent,” said Recker. “I’ve been jumping in the 10s and I PR’d with 10-6, but today I got 10-3 and that’s totally OK with me. As long as I’m in that range, I’m happy with it. I’m my biggest competition, that’s what I always tell myself. I just try not to be hard on myself. Every day is a new day.”

The Bombers have enjoyed tremendous success as a team, something Recker is happy to share in. The Palmerton boys and girls finished second overall in the team standings.

“Three of us went to states last year, so we always talk and say, ‘It’s our year.’ It’s senior year for most of us. And we have a really good chance to all go to states and we really push each other even though we’re in totally different events. I’m not a thrower, Jess (Heydt) isn’t a pole vaulter. But we all really push each other. We’re really close, even though we’re a very small team, we’re very close-knit.”

EASTERN

PENNSYLVANIA CONFERENCE

Drew bounced back from a fall in Tuesday’s 300 hurdles to win the 100s with a time of 15.70.

“It felt pretty good, because after my fall yesterday I kind of got in my head a little bit,” said Drew. “I messed up and I was working so hard, and messed the whole thing up. Today, I knew I just needed to work hard, run and do my best.

“While I was warming up, I realized my leg was still a little bit sore from yesterday, so it was throwing me off a little bit. But I didn’t want to let that get in my head, and tried to just run to the best of my ability.”

Drew was leading the 300 hurdle final on Tuesday when she clipped the second-to-last hurdle with her foot, and eventually fell after hitting the final hurdle.

“After I landed yesterday, I saw everyone go past me and thought, ‘I can’t do anything about it now,” Drew said. “I talked to my teammates and they told me not to worry about it, not to stress about it. We still have districts next week. Tried to just focus on the future, not the past.”

Drew made amends with a big performance in the 100 hurdles Wednesday to claim a gold medal.

She has been strong in both throughout the spring.

“I’ve always kind of gone back and forth between the two,” said Drew. “Some seasons I do better in the 300s, some I do better in the 100s; sometimes it’s even. This year, I was kind of better in the 100s, but after I ran yesterday, I felt like that’s the best I’ve ever done (in the 300s) throughout the whole season. So I think maybe it’s balancing out. I feel like I have a good balance between the two.”

Drew has enjoyed a record-setting season for the Bears.

“I broke my school record for the second time this year with a time of 15.2 in the 100 hurdles,” said Drew. “That was exciting. I’m just happy that I have continued to improve.”

Nemani Moon placed third in the 400 with a personal best time of 1:00.01, a time she ran with a heavy heart.

“I feel like I exceeded my expectations today,” said Moon. “Today didn’t start off so good; my dog died this morning. So I was really just running this race for my dog. I really wanted this from the beginning of the track season, and I think that really pushed me today,”

Despite the passing of her dog Max, Moon’s accomplishment was another milestone in highly successful spring.

“At districts I want to place, it doesn’t matter where I place,” said Moon. “I just want to place. I’m just really excited to go now because I know that I can get my time down to 1:00. I’m so happy that I was able to PR today.

“I was so nervous today. But I just tried to pace myself and really push in the final 100.”

SOARING

... Walters’ winning mark in the triple jump would have landed her second in the event in Class 2A at last year’s state meet. A pair of freshmen took the top two spots a year ago at states, with Alison Watts of Bermudian Springs winning with a leap of 38-4.5, while Bloomsburg’s Charly Schlauch placed second (37-2.5).

UP NEXT

... The District 11 Track and Field Championships will take place next Tuesday and Wednesday at Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex, with the state meet set for the following weekend in Shippensburg.

COLONIAL LEAGUE MEET

BOYS

Team scores and legend

1. Southern Lehigh (SL) 132, 2. Palmerton (Palm) 94, 3. Wilson (Wil) 81, 4. Palisades (Pali) 80.33, 5. Salisbury (Sal) 63.5, 6. Notre Dame GP (NDGP) 56.33, 7. Northwestern (NW) 56, 8. Pen Argyl (PA) 48, 9. Catasauqua (Cat) 30.33, 10. Saucon Valley (SV) 25.50, 11. Northern Lehigh (NL) 20, 12. Bangor (Ban) 14.

Individual results (top 3 plus other locals in top 10)

110H - 1. Jack Inglis (SL) 15.68, 2. Joseph Phillips (NDGP) 15.96, 3. Bryson Walters (Palm) 16.58, 8. Justin Herrmann (Palm) 17.51, 9. Reilly Burke (Palm) 17.57; 100 - 1. Damon Simpson (Wil) 10.81, 2. Damian Simpson (Wil) 10.88, 3. Aiden Tobin (SL) 11.31, 6. Trevor Amorim (NL) 11.50, 7. Brett Misera (NL) 11.73, 8. Evan Anderson (NW) 11.78, 9. Joshua Heilman (NW) 11.90; 1600 - 1. Thomas Smigo (Pali) 4:24.55, 2. Dominik Lisicky (SL) 4:27.53, 3. Alexander Kane (SL) 4:28.92, 4. Owen Hibell (Palm) 4:35.71, 6. Samuel Bower (NW) 4:45.42, 6. Cole Chukoskie (NW) 4:45.72; 400 relay - 1. Wilson 41.96, 2. Southern Lehigh 44.55, 3. Palmerton 44.72, 4. Northern Lehigh 44.87, 6. Northwestern 45.95; Triple jump - 1. Taylor LaBarre (PA) 44-8.25, 2. Kyle Artis (Sal) 43-1.75, 3. Chase Fenstermaker (Sal) 41-7.50, 4. Stephen Jones (Palm) 41-2.25, 5. Harrison Dailey (Palm) 40-5.0; 400 - 1. Tarif Muhammad (NDGP) 50.83, 2. Jacob Dove (Cat) 51.86, 3. Joshua Heilman (NW) 52.05, 4. Brance Fronheiser (Palm) 52.28, 10. Jackson Moyes (NW) 53.95; 800 - 1. Chase Hensinger (SL) 1:55.28, 2. Thomas Smigo (Pali) 2:00.54, 3. Jaden Kennedy (SV) 2:01.50, 4. Nathan Vincent (NW) 2:02.36, 8. Jordan Mann (Palm) 2:04.44; 200 - 1. Damon Simpson (Wil) 21.99, 2. Damian Simpson (Wil) 22.46, 3. Aiden Tobin (SL) 22.57, 6. Trevor Amorim (NL) 23.37; Pole vault - 1. Tyson Utesch (Sal) 13-1, 2. Taylor LaBarri (PA) 12-0, 3. Cayden Kuhns (NW) 12-0, 4. Harrison Dailey (Palm) 11-3, 5. Jackson Stein (Palm) 10-3; Shot put - 1. Gian Greggo (PA) 51-7.5, 2. Noah Denton (SL) 46-8.5, 3. Nathan Carr (Pali) 45-11.5, 6. Zack Anthony (Palm) 44-8, 8. Matt Frame (NL) 42-0, 9. Colin Myers (NW) 40-7.5; 1600 relay

- 1. Southern Lehigh 3:30.16, 2. Notre Dame GP 3:31.31, 3. Palmerton 3:32.30, 5. Northwestern 3:33.81, 10 Northern Lehigh 4:00.28.

GIRLS

Team scores and legend

1. Southern Lehigh (SL) 171, 2. Palmerton (Palm) 81, 3. Palisades (Pali) 75, 4. Northwestern (NW) 74, 5. Wilson (Wil) 68, 6. Notre Dame GP (NDGP) 64, 7. Northern Lehigh (NL) 46, 8. Saucon Valley (SV) 39, 9. Pen Argyl (PA) 28, 10. Catasauqua (Cat) 27. 11. Bangor (Ban) 21, 12. Salisbury (Sal) 7.

Individual results (top 3 plus other locals in top 10)

100H - 1. Faith Yost (NW) 15.88, 2. Emma McKee (SL) 16.11, 3. Elizabeth Maund (SL) 16.89; 100 - 1. Madison Trout (SL) 12.30, 2. Jocelyn Smith (Wil) 12.80, 3. Marley Chase (SL)12.84, 4. Nataly Walters (Palm) 13.01; 1600 - 1. Emily Stock (SL) 5:24.43, 2. Avery Errico (Wil) 5:26.86, 3. Katelynn Barthold (NL) 5:26.96, 4. Emma Martinez (Palm) 5:28.12, 10. Angelina Klein (NW) 5:49.11; 400 relay - 1. Southern Lehigh 49.50, 2. Wilson 50.78, 3. Palisades 51.66, 8. Northern Lehigh 55.28, 9. Northwestern 55.98; Shot put - 1. Jessica Heydt (Palm) 32-8.5, 2. Lauren DeLong (Cat) 31-8.0, 3. Abigail Fredericks (Palm) 31-3.25, 5. Sadie Fenstermaker (NW) 30-8.0, 8. Maria Kirkopoulos (NW) 29-3.5, 10. Caitlin Kirk (NL) 28-11.0; Pole vault - 1. Ana Recker (Palm) 10-3, 2. Emily Moyer (NL) 10-3, 3. Bubblegum Kernosh (PA) 9-3, 4. Ashley Haas (NW) 8-9, 5. Grace Yost (NW) 7-9, 9. Amy Andreoli (NW) 7-3; 400 - 1. Lauren Bower (NDGP) 1:00.17, 2. Alexandra Lea (SL) 1:00.24, 3. Sarah Sidoro (NDGP) 1:01.49, 9. Norah Silfies (NW) 1:04.19, 10. Naomi Glassberg (NW) 1:04.33; 800 - 1. Olivia Bortz (SV) 2:23.98, 2. Autumn Garges (SL) 2:27.69, 3. Amelia Smith (Pali) 2:27.71, 7. Katelynn Barthold (NL) 2:35.0, 8. Emma Martinez (Palm) 2:35.15; 200 - 1. Madison Trout (SL) 25.67, 2. Jocelyn Smith (Wil) 25.95, 3. Marley Chase (SL) 26.52, 4. Nataly Walters (Palm) 26.60, 5. Carsyn Van Norman (NW) 27.17, 8. Emma Christman (Palm) 28.14; 1600 relay - 1. Northwestern 4:14.59, 2. Palisades 4:15.59, 3. Notre Dame GP 4:16.04, 6. Northern Lehigh 4:32.87; Triple jump

- 1. Nataly Walters (Palm) 37-8.75, 2. Kyra Jackson (Cat) 34-6.75, 3. Malayla Days (Wil) 34-3.25, 4. Kendall Snyder (NL) 34-1, 5. Emma Nelson (NW) 33-6.75, 6. Emma Christman (Palm) 33-6.5, 8. Kirsten Mauer (NW) 32-6.5.

EPC RESULTS

BOYS

Team scored and legend

1. Nazareth (Naz) 85, 2. Stroudsburg (Str) 78, 3. Parkland (Park) 71, 4. Northampton (Nor) 67, 5. Emmaus (Emm) 66, 6. Liberty (Lib) 59, 7. Dieruff (Die) 42, 7. East Stroudsburg South (ESS) 42, 9. Easton (Eas) 41, 10. Freedom (Fre) 40, 11. Bethlehem Catholic (BC), 11. Whitehall (Whi) 25, 13. Allentown Central Catholic (ACC) 24, 14. Pocono Mountain West (PMW) 23, 15. Pleasant Valley (PV) 11, 16. East Stroudsburg North (ESN) 2, 17. Pocono Mountain East (PME) 1.

Individual results (top 3 plus other locals in top 10)

110H - 1. Jake Hilarczyk (Naz) 15.45, 2. Raymon Deschamps (Lib) 15.72, 3. Tyler Hoysan (Park) 15.81; 100 - 1. Benjamin Henry (Nor) 11.14, 2. Josh Farrell (Lib) 11.29, 3. Richard Suarez (Die) 11.31, 9. Patrick Moore (PV) 11.63; 1600 - 1. Alexander Heidemann (Fre) 4:23.90, 2. Liam McLaughlin (Str) 4:27.06, 3 Liam Davis (ESS) 4:27.11, 6. Tyler Akob (PV) 4:38.02; 400 relay - 1. Northampton 43.26, 2. Stroudsburg 43.33, 3. Nazareth 43.46, 9. Pleasant Valley 44.36; Javelin - 1. Kevin Givone (Naz) 181-11, 2. Andrew Nguyen (Park) 176-6, 3. Robert McClosky (ESS) 171-0; Long jump - 1. Kyle Moore (Emm) 21-10.5, 2. Colin Burdian (ESS) 21-7.0, 3. Logan Henry (Nor) 21-6.5; 400 - 1. Josh Farrell (Lib) 49.46, 2. Kensley Joasil (BC) 50.27, 3. Jaylen Morrison (Str) 51.39; 800 - 1. Alexander Heidemann (Fre) 1:54.77, 2. Jordan Gagner (Naz) 1:57.57, 3. Tyler Rothrock (Park) 1:59.71, 7. Raymond Lursen (PV) 2:01.23; 200 - 1. Benjamin Henry (Nor) 22.02, 2. Jack Sanchez Cuesta (Die) 22.68, 3. Mason Kuehner (Naz) 23.07; Discus - 1. Aiden Tacker (Whi) 138-8, 2. Aiden Raub (Str) 136-7, 2. Anthony Liguori (Str) 136-7; High jump - 1. Jayden Ekoko (Eas) 6-1, 2. Damaurian Jones-Golson (Lib) 5-11, 3. Tyler Aide (Naz) 5-11; 1600 relay

- 1. Northampton 3:28.77, 2. Stroudsburg 3:29.56, 3. Dieruff 3:29.81, 8. Pleasant Valley 3:34.81.

GIRLS

Team scores and legend

1. Parkland (Park) 143, 2. Easton (Eas) 98, 3. Nazareth (Naz) 93, 4. Emmaus (Emm) 63, 5. Stroudsburg (Str) 48, 6. Liberty (Lib) 47, 6. Pleasant Valley (PV) 47, 8. Northampton (Nor) 46, 9. Freedom (Fre) 28, 10 Pocono Mountain West (PMW) 22, 11. Whitehall (Whi) 20, 12. Pocono Mountain East (PME) 18, 13. Dieruff (Die) 14, 14. East Stroudsburg North (ESN) 8, 15. Allentown Central Catholic (ACC) 6, 16. Bethlehem Catholic (BC) 1.

Individual results (top 3 plus other locals in top 10)

100H - 1. De’Nair Drew (PV) 15.70, 2. Emma Shafnisky (Naz) 16.14, 3. Maggie Scalzo (Eas) 16.43; 100 - 1. Naeema Salau (Park) 12.53, 2. Kiana Young (Str) 12.71, 3. Alena Murray (Str) 12.93, 7. Nyia Moon (PV) 13.10; 1600 - 1. Lana Hurwitz (Park) 5:14.90, 2. Erin Vincent (Eas) 5:16.95, 3. Avaline Fihlman (Fre) 5:17.42; 400 relay - 1. Parkland 49.69, 2. Nazareth 49.74, 3. Stroudsburg 50.34, 4. Pleasant Valley 50.62; Discus - 1. Kelly Leszcynski (Naz) 105-7, 2. Rebecca Coleman (Nor) 103-0, 3. Leanne Villante (Eas) 101-8, 3. Molly Lineberger (Emm) 101-8, 5. Samantha Merklin (PV) 98-8; High jump - 1. Madeleine Battista (Park) 5-3, 2. Hailey Falzone (Naz) 4-11, 3. Alexandra Cook (Whi) 4-9; 400 - 1. Lucy Tobia (Park) 59.71, 2. Jayla Reinert (Eas) 59.94, 3. Nemani Moon (PV) 1:00.01; 800 - 1. Sophia Emin (Eas) 2:22.14, 2. Lana Hurwitz (Park) 2:22.83, 3. Gracie Trexler (Park) 2:24.41; 200 - 1. Naeema Salau (Park) 25.83, 2. Kiana Young (Str) 26.01, 3. Aaliyah Cancel (PMW) 26.49, 7. Nemani Moon (PV) 27.11; 1600 relay - 1. Easton 4:00.50, 2. Parkland 4:03.61, 3. Pleasant Valley 4:05.76; Javelin - 1. Kelly Leszcynski (Naz) 145-3, 2. Brylee Tereska (Lib) 127-3, Chloe Chase (Park) 114-4; Long jump

- 1. Mia Lopez (PME) 17-0.75, 2. Zoey Emrick (Naz) 16-11.75, 3. Liberty Williams (Die) 16-9.75, 9. Reese Ruggiero (PV) 15-6.5,