WHITEHALL - Better than expected?

Or exactly as planned?

Maybe a bit of both.

The second day of the District 11 Track and Field Championships saw area girls come up with clutch performances on one of the season’s biggest stages.

Jim Thorpe’s Kaila O’Connor and Northwestern’s Faith Yost both captured a pair of Class 3A titles Wednesday, while Laura Clarke won her second championship in as many days for the Olympians.

Panther Valley’s Izabella Bochicchio and Palmerton’s Ana Recker also captured district titles in Class 2A competition.

Blazing Kaila

O’Connor won the 100 with a time of 12.23 ahead of Southern Lehigh’s Madison Trout (12.30) and Parkland’s Naeema Salau (12.36).

The sophomore got out of the blocks strong and never looked back.

“I did,” O’Connor said of working on her starts. “Especially before the meet, that’s all I was really working on, making sure I got that good push, and I got that today.

“It definitely pushes me. the times are always extremely close, so you never know who’s going to win, so you have to be ready. You really have to work on it and think of yourself and run your race.”

O’Connor had qualified for states in the 300 hurdles on Tuesday.

“I definitely set goals for myself for each event and for each race. The 300 hurdles, I didn’t have the form that I wanted to, but there’s room to improve obviously with states next week. And then coming in today, I knew I really needed to nail my 100 start. That’s the difference between first and second at the end of the day.”

She finished the day with a massive PR to repeat as champion in the 200, running a 25.03 to win after clocking a 25.47 in the prelims. O’Connor was seeded with a 25.43.

“I’m definitely ecstatic,” said O’Connor. “The goal was to PR today, but I didn’t think it was going to be a PR by that much. Honestly, I think it was my start today. Usually in the 200, I don’t know, for some reason, I don’t get that good of a start. But today, I felt a really big push and then coming around that curve, I was like, ‘Whoa, I still have a lot of energy.’

“I think I’m just really still shocked over the 200, because I really didn’t think I was going to PR by that much. I definitely didn’t think I’d be able to push that hard, so I think now I really have to refocus and see what I can break now.”

Yost double

Yost won the 100 hurdles with a time of 15.5. She came back and won the high jump, clearing 5-5.

“It was crazy. It was a little bit nerve-racking but we both knew that we were going to states so we were both really happy with that,” Yost said of the high jump competition with Parkland’s Madeleine Battista. “It’s a little bit of a stress relieved.”

Yost tried to go for 5-6, but couldn’t quite clear the bar.

“I’m usually a lot more tired by the end so it’s kind of difficult,” she said. “There’s going to have to be one meet maybe next year, where I’m just like, ‘OK, let’s start out at 4-11 or something and see where I can get.’ You just have to keep at it, and keep trying. Some attempts I’m closer than others. I know some of my first few attempts I’m pretty close. At leagues, it skimmed my calf on the first attempt. And on the second attempt I was nowhere near that.

After running a 15.74 in the prelims, Yost turned in a stellar time to win the finals in the 100 hurdles.

“I worked on my block starts at practice, and coach put out the cups again, the one cup in front and one cup behind where you have to hit it when you go,” she said. “That got me a bit lower, so I got a really good run-through during practice. And then coach just had me do it again. My block start was a lot better. I think I only hit one hurdle. I still keep a little bit of distance over the hurdles because I’m a little bit scared. But I’m really happy with my time.”

It was a banner day for Yost, who won four league titles a week ago.

“I’m still processing the fact that I’m going to states,” she said. “I have to focus on my events, so after 100 hurdles, I had to go over to high jump. I didn’t really have time to think that I’m going to states. Sitting on the high jump mat after 5-5, it was kind of like, ‘I’m going to states! This is crazy.’ I see it as an opportunity to have fun and try my best. It’s great competition and a chance to get PRs, and I’m just looking to have fun.”

Two golden days

After winning the shot put on Tuesday, Clarke returned and won the discus Wednesday, finishing with a mark of 113-9.

Clarke and Kelly Leszcynski of Nazareth both finished with a best mark of 113-9, but the Jim Thorpe senior won with a better second throw.

“That sounds amazing,” said Clarke. “Champion in both throws, my favorite throwing events. That’s pretty awesome. I’m just happy with my throw today.”

Clarke delivered as the top seed in both events. Now she will turn her attention to achieving similar success at states.

“Everyone has the same chance I do,” said Clarke. “Everyone puts in work, everyone does what they can. I was just trying my best not to get in my own head about it. I know I cam throw. I know I can throw farther. I just need to take it back to basics.

“I want to PR in both. I want to succeed in both. I want to do my best in both no matter what.”

Defending her title

Recker won the pole vault, clearing 10-6. It’s her second straight title in the event.

“It feels awesome,” said the senior. “Winning leagues last week was awesome, too. I didn’t put pressure on myself to win districts. But it’s an awesome goal to achieve again.

“I missed my first two attempts at 10-6, so the adrenaline was pumping. I like ‘Oh my gosh, I really have to make this.’ But once I made it over that was it. I was really excited to make it over.”

Recker relishes the opportunity to go to states for the second year in a row.

“Probably the day before it’s going to hit,” said Recker. “But last year I kind of just went. This year, I’m not in it to win it, but I’m definitely going to compete with the other girls there. I’m excited.

“I’m not the same vaulter I was last year. Last year, I was brand-new to the sport. I didn’t know anything about it. This year, I put a lot of work in during the offseason and I really worked on my form. That really helps with the basics and stuff like that. But I’m a completely different vaulter than I was. It’s not that I’m not proud of myself from last year, but I’m really proud of the work that I put in this year.”

Massive throw

Bochicchio won the shot put with a mark of 34-8.75, a massive PR.

“It was incredible,” she said. “It was the first time I’ve gotten first. It was real fun throwing with everybody. It was great to talk to them, and getting the chance to do that.

Expectations?

“Third! I was not expecting first at all,” she replied. “I really have no words. It was a shock to me. My first throw was 32-feet, and it was like, ‘OK!’ And then I went up for my second throw and saw it was further than usual, and turned around and had a wide open mouth, and was like, ‘Oh, OK.’ And once they said 34-feet, I was really surprised.”

The junior was fourth at leagues and the fourth seed in the event.

Her previous best was 32-11.

It is the first district title for Panther Valley since Diana Burch won the javelin in 2002.

“It was a huge jump, and also why I was not expecting it,” said Bochicchio. “I was just more relaxed than usual. I wasn’t expecting it, so I just went up there and did my best and it came out. I’m happy with it.”

“I’m a little nervous for states, but I’m extremely happy to be representing my school. I’m just glad to be able to do it.”

Moving on

Six other area girls advanced to states with runner-up finishes Wednesday.

Northern Lehigh’s Katelynn Barthold and Emily Moyer, Palmerton’s Nataly Walters, Weatherly’s Rhianne Markovchick, Marian’s Grace Curnow advanced in Class 2A, while Pleasant Valley’s De’Nair Drew qualified in 3A.

Walters advanced to states with a second-place finish in the 100, running a 12.97. She also qualified for states in the triple jump with a runner-up finish and a jump of 36-7 and the 200 with a second-place finish and a time of 26.86.

She had previously qualified for states in the long jump on Tuesday.

“For my first time going to states,” she said. “I’m just hoping to have a good race, have a good day, shoot for a PR. But if that doesn’t happen, I know I made it to states and I’ll be happy with that because that’s what I was aiming for at the beginning of the season, and I’m really excited that now I’m going to go, and I actually get to do it. I’m really proud of myself.”

Markovchick advanced to states with a second-place finish in the 100 hurdle finals with a time of 16.43.

“I’m excited. I put a lot of work in,” she said. “It’s been a struggle but I made it. It’s a little bit of a challenge at times but we make it work, We borrow other people’s tracks a lot. For the most part, we just get it done. We have makeshift PVC pipe hurdles.

“I was really chasing (Pine Grove’s) Abby (Frew, who won in 16:06) all season. She was my main competition, I knew that. My main goal was to keep up with her. I put a lot of work in to get my speed down this year. I had major PRs this year.”

Barthold, a freshman, advanced to states with a second-place finish in the 1600 with a time of 5:26.71.

“It was my goal from the start of the year to go to states. And I knew coming in that I could. I was ranked second, I got second. My goal was to stick with the girl ranked first, and than drop back and go with mu own pace. And that’s what I did, and sprinted at the end.

“I was very nervous this whole day.”

Moyer placed second in the pole vault, clearing 10-0.

Curnow advanced to states with a second-place finish in the 400, running a time of 1:02.08.

“I’m really happy. This was a big goal, to be able to be up on the podium and to even make it to states,” said Curnow. “I’m so excited I actually accomplished it. You can ask my coaches, I was talking a lot about this 400. I couldn’t wait for it. I was really nervous, but also really excited.

“I do put pressure on myself, and I’ve been trying to be better using it as adrenaline. But I definitely do have added pressure that is just from me.”

Curnow also qualified for states during the cross country season in the fall.

“Those were two big goals of mine going into the year,” she said. “I’m just so excited I got to accomplish both of them.”

Drew finished second in the 100 hurdles to qualify for states with a time of 15.88, just ahead of Southern Lehigh’s Emma McKee (15.98).

“I just knew that I needed to run my hardest today because I knew the girl that won, I knew she was fast and I just knew I needed to focus and not get in my head,” Drew said. “I just needed to focus on getting over the hurdles, and that’s pretty much all I did. Towards the middle I started hitting a few, and I saw a few girls getting closer, and I just thought, ‘Nope, you need to focus. Focus, focus, focus.’ Then I started getting back up to where I was supposed to be.

“And it was all based on the last hurdle. Because me and the other girl (McKee), we kind of got to it at the same time. But I jumped it about a second faster than she did and I just knew I had to sprint it to the finish line.”

District 11

Track and Field Championships

Day 2

Class 2A

Girls

Team Legend

Allentown Central Catholic (ACC), Catasauqua (C), Mahanoy Area (MA), Marian Catholic (MC), Minersville (M), Nativity BVM (N), Northern Lehigh (NL), North Schuylkill (NS), Notre Dame GP (ND), Palisades (Pali.), Palmerton (Palm.), Panther Valley (PV), Pen Argyl (PA), Pine Grove (PG), Salisbury (S), Schuylkill Haven (SH), Shenandoah Valley (SV), Weatherly (W)

Individual Results

100 – 1. Viktorya Luckenbach (PG) 12.78*, 2. Nataly Walters (Palm.) 12.97*, 3. Allyson Babinsky (MA) 13.19; 200 – 1. Viktorya Luckenbach (PG) 26.51*, 2. Nataly Walters (Palm.) 26.86*, 3. Allyson Babinsky (MA) 27.46, 5. Emma Christman (Palm.) 27.71; 400 – 1. Lauren Bower (ND) 1:01.87*, 2. Grace Curnow (MC) 1:02.08*, 3. Samantha Roth (ACC) 1:02.37, 10. Mikayla Gordon (NL) 1:07.02; 800 – 1. Ryley Scwalm (NS) 2:25.81*, 2. Olivia Schweitzer (ND) 2:27.61*, 3. Amelia Smith (Pali.) 2:27.70, 4. Katelyn Barthold (NL) 2:32.91, 6. Emma Martinez (Palm.) 2:34.82; 1600 – 1. Ryley Schwalm (NS) 5:17.95*, 2. Katelyn Barthold (NL) 5:26.71*, 3. Katie McCormick (NS) 5:27.49, 5. Emma Martinez (Palm.) 5:32.19, 10. Cora Wentz (Palm.) 5:56.03; 100H – 1. Abigail Frew (PG) 16.06*, 2. Rhianne Markovchick (W) 16.43*, 2. Valia Tsirukis (ND) 17.23; 400 relay – 1. Pine Grove 50.70*, 2. Allentown Central Catholic 51.62*, 3. Palisades 51.66, 5. Marian Catholic (Caitlyn Kovatch, Grace Curnow, Kerrigan Digris, Carly Minchoff) 53.29, 7. Northern Lehigh (Kendall Snyder, Mikayla Gordon, Carly Mikolski, Zoe Hathaway) 54.24; 1600 relay – 1. Notre Dame GP 4:13.59*, 2. Palisades 4:18.68*, 3. Marian Catholic (Grace Curnow, Isabella Genao, Alizabeth Pikitus, Kerrigan Digris) 4:28.71, 4. Northern Lehigh (Katya Pasesko, Katelyn Barthold, Delaney Szwast, Mikayla Gordon) 4:30.15; Pole Vault – 1. Ana Recker (Palm.) 10-6*, 2. Emily Moyer (NL) 10-0*, 3. Bubblegum Kernosh (PA) 10-0, 7. (tie) Maddy Bennyhoff (Palm.) and two others 6-6; Shot put – 1. Izabella Bochicchio (PV) 34-8.75*, 2. Kaycee Raczka (M) 34-2.75*, 3. Jessica Heydt (Palm.) 32-10.25, 8. Caitlin Kirk (NL) 30-8.75; Triple jump

– 1. Devin Hubler (M) 37-6*, 2. Nataly Walters (Palm.) 36-7*, 3. Mikaili Donmoyer (PG) 34-3.5, 4. Emma Christman (Palm.) 34-2, 9. Kendall Snyder (NL) 32-6, 10. Carly Mikolski (NL) 31-2.

Class 3A

Girls

Team Legend

Bangor (B), Blue Mountain (BM), Dieruff (D), Easton (Ea.), East Stroudsburg North (ESN), East Stroudsburg South (ESS), Emmaus (Em.), Freedom (F), Jim Thorpe (JT), Lehighton (Leh.), Liberty (Lib.), Nazareth (Na.), Northampton (No.), North Schuylkill (NS), Northwestern Lehigh (NW), Notre Dame GP (ND), Parkland (P), Pleasant Valley (PV), Pocono Mountain East (PME), Pocono Mountain West (PMW), Saucon Valley (SV), Southern Lehigh (SL), Stroudsburg (S), Tamaqua (T), Whitehall (W)

Individual Results

100 – 1. Kaila O’Connor (JT) 12.23*, 2. Madison Trout (SL) 12.30*, 3. Naeema Salau (P) 12.36*; 200 – 1. Kaila O’Connor (JT) 25.03*, 2. Madison Trout (SL) 25.64*, 3. Naeema Salau (P) 25.67*; 400 – 1. Raegan Day (Ea.) 59.69*, 2. Lucy Tobia (P) 1:00.07*, 3. Jayla Reinert (Ea.) 1:00.44, 4. Nemani Moon (PV) 1:00.80, 7. Nicole Carroll (JT) 1:01.44; 800 – 1. Sophie Emin (Ea.) 2:18.67*, 2. Olivia Haas (BM) 2:19.09*, 3. Lana Hurwitz (P) 2:19.62; 1600 – 1. Olivia Haas (BM) 4:56.55*, 2. Hailey Reinhard (Em.) 5:09.67*, 3. Lana Hurwitz (P) 5:13.08, 10. Grace Stegemerten (T) 5:32.12; 100H – 1. Faith Yost (NW) 15.50*, 2. DeNair Drew (PV) 15.88*, 3. Emma McKee (SL) 15.98, 4. Brittney Bartasavage (Leh.) 16.01; 400 relay – 1. Nazareth 49.37*, 2. Southern Lehigh 49.55*, 3. Parkland 49.56*, 7. Pleasant Valley (Brittany Williams, DeNair Drew, Nemani Moon, Nyia Moon) 50.79; 1600 relay – 1. Easton 4:00.88*, 2. Nazareth 4:03.37*, 3. Parkland 4:03.47, 4. Pleasant Valley (Nyia Moon, DeNair Drew, Reese Ruggiero, Nemani Moon) 4:06.29, 10. Jim Thorpe (Nicole Carroll, Aubrey Bonner, Ehlauna Penn, Kaila O’Connor) 4:21.59; Discus – 1. Laura Clarke (JT) 113-9*, 2. Kelly Leszcynski (Na.) 113-9*, 3. Molly Lineberger (Em.) 109-6, 9. Samantha Merklin (PV) 92-8; High jump – 1. Faith Yost (NW) 5-5*, 2. Madeleine Battista (P) 5-3*, 3. Hailey Falzone (Na.) 4-11, 8. (tie) Haley Ginder (Leh.) and Allison Reimer (P) 4-9; Javelin – 1. Kelly Leszcynski (Na.) 145-5*, 2. Rosalind Gergely (BM) 133-2*, 3. Brylee Tereska (Lib.) 131-7*, 8. (tie) Kaziah Streisel (T) and Tierney McCarroll (PMW) 103-8; Long jump

– 1. Liberty Williams (D) 17-1.75*, 2. Kate Walasavage (BM) 16-11.25*, 3. Hailey Sammarco (P) 16-10.25.

*State Qualifiers