Jackson Stein couldn’t find the words.

The Palmerton junior didn’t have to.

The Blue Bombers have let their performances do the talking this season.

And they spoke volumes on Tuesday.

Palmerton’s boys track and field team stayed unbeaten in Colonial League showdown, handing Southern Lehigh its first loss while also topping Catasauqua to move to 9-0 on the season.

“It’s hard to put my finger on what it is exactly,” said Stein, who cleared 11-3 to win the pole vault. “But we’re just a really close team, and we’ve all been really working together to push each other to get better.”

The Blue Bombers dispatched the Spartans – who are now 8-1 – 85.5-64.5 and took care of the Roughies 134-15.

Palmerton’s depth has been a key component in its success so far this season, and the trend continued Tuesday.

The Blue Bombers placed two in the top three in 11 individual events, and swept all three relays.

“We have a special group of athletes,” said Palmerton head coach Mike Gombert. “We really cover the events quite well. We have a really senior-laden group of distance runners, who we’ve counted on all season, and they’ve certainly performed. We have good, strong throwers, we’re strong in the jumps.”

Palmerton took the top two spots in the 800 and 1600, and went 1-3 in the 3200. Owen Hibell won both the 800 and 1600 with times of 2:03.4 and 4:42.3, respectively, while younger brother Connor placed first in the 3200 (10:27.9) and was a runner-up in the 1600. Jordan Mann was second in the 800, and Aaron Simpson placed third in the 3200.

Owen and Connor Hibell, along with Mann and Dylan Hartranft, also teamed up to win the 3200 relay.

The distance success comes on the heels of a cross country season that saw the Blue Bombers win the District 11 title.

“Winning districts definitely solidified a bond between us,” said Owen Hibell. “All the hard work that went into it, and being able to get to states as a team. That really drove us, and we want to get to Shippensburg. We’re not going to let up. We’re going to stay focused. We know we have a shot at a medal (in the 3200 relay), and a chance to really do well there.”

The group is also chasing the school record in the 3200 relay, which is 8:17. Their personal best came this past Saturday at the Zephyr Relays, with an 8:23.

“It’s helped a lot, because running with Owen and all of my other teammates really pushes me more,” said Connor Hibell. “It really gives me more determination, and I really enjoy running with those guys.”

Zack Anthony and Logan Anthony took the top two spots in the shot put, with Zack winning with a mark of 44-6.

Ryan Burkett and Zack Anthony also went 1-2 in the discus, with Burkett winning with a throw of 141-01.

“My main focus is going to be shot put and discus, and I’m really starting to progress as the season has gone on,” said Zack Anthony. “I just threw my best at the Whitehall Invite, 48-feet, which is a big improvement for me.

“My goal was 47 (feet) for shot put this year, but my new goal is to hit the state qualifying standard at the district meet, which is 49-6. So I’m getting close to that. My discus goal would also be to hit the state qualifying throw, which is around 148 (feet). I’m at 136 right now, so I think it’s within reach.”

Bryson Walters placed second in the 300 hurdles, and third in both the 100 hurdles and long jump, before anchoring the winning 1600 relay team of Dylan Hartranft, Jordan Mann and Reilly Burke to close out the meet with a personal best time of 3:30.3.

“This is amazing,” said Walters. “We were making sure we pulled points out of everywhere we could, making sure that everyone was in the event that was most beneficial for the team.”

And the Blue Bombers delivered with their biggest statement of the season.

GIRLS MEET ... The Blue Bombers earned a split, falling to undefeated Southern Lehigh (111-39) but picking up an 83-58 win over Catasauqua. Leading the way for Palmerton were Jessica Heydt, who won both the shot put (32-4) and discus (85-6); Emma Snyder, who captured the high jump (5-3); and Gabby Lucas, who placed first in the triple jump (34-4).

CLOSE CALL

... The team of Reilly Burke, Ty Sander, Emilio Gonzalez and Devon White helped the Bomber boys win the 400 relay with a time of 44.6, just ahead of Southern Lehigh’s 44.7.

NOT DONE YET

... Palmerton hosts Northern Lehigh and Notre Dame Green Pond in the regular season finale next Tuesday. The Crusader boys also entered Tuesday with one loss.

BOYS

Palmerton 85.5, So. Lehigh 64.5

Palmerton 134, Catasauqua 15

100 - 1. Noah Tapler (SL) 11.4, 2. Wyatt Younes (C), 2. Cade Sawyer (SL), 3. David Baddoo (SL); 200 - 1. Cade Sawyer (SL) 22.7, 2. Noah Tapler (SL), 3. Ty Sander (P); 400 - 1. Dylan Hartranft (P) 52.5, 2. Sean Steckert (SL), 3. Bryce Marino (P); 800 - 1. Owen Hibell (P) 2:03.4, 2. Jordan Mann (P), 3. Peter Jones (SL); 1600 - 1. Owen Hibell (P) 4:42.3, 2. Connor Hibell (P), 3. William Kane (SL); 3200 - 1. Connor Hibell (P) 10:27.9, 2. William Kane (SL), 3. Aaron Simpson (P); 110H - 1. Jack Inglis (SL) 15.5, 2. Justin Herrmann (P), 3. Bryson Walters (P); 300H - 1. Jack Inglis (SL) 40.4, 2. Bryson Walters (P). 3. Reilly Burke (P); 400 relay - 1. Palmerton (Reilly Burke, Ty Sander, Emilio Gonzalez, Devon White) 44.6; 1600 relay - 1. Palmerton (Dylan Hartranft, Jordan Mann, Reilly Burke, Bryson Walters) 3:30.3; 3200 relay - 1. Palmerton (Connor Hibell, Dylan Hartranft, Jordan Mann, Owen Hibell) 9:12.0; High jump - 1. Robert Allen (SL) 6-1, 2. Calvin Gehman (SL), 3. Justin Herrmann (P); Pole vault - 1. Jackson Stein (P) 11-3, 2. Parker Hambly (SL), 3. Samuel Masucci (SL), 3. Troy Wambold (P); Long jump - 1. Jack Inglis (SL) 20-9, 2. Stephen Jones (P), 3. Bryson Walters (P); Triple jump - 1. Stephen Jones (P) 43-6, 2. Calvin Gehman (SL), 3. Emilio Gonzalez (P); Shot put - 1. Zack Anthony (P) 44-6, 2. Logan Anthony (P), 3. William Knudson (SL); Discus - 1. Ryan Burkett (P) 141-01, 2. Zack Anthony (P), 3. Benjamin Maund (SL); Javelin

- 1. Charles Probst (SL) 134-0, 2. Cade Sawyer (SL), 3. Trevor Regits (C).

GIRLS

So. Lehigh 111, Palmerton 39

Palmerton 83, Catasauqua 58

100 - 1. Hailey Jenkins (C) 12.2, 2. Alexandra Lea (SL), 3. Nataly Walters (P); 200 - 1. Alexandra Lea (SL) 26.1, 2. Hailey Jenkins (C), 3. Chloe Posavek (SL); 400 - 1. Emily Stock (SL) 1:01.9, 2. Gabriela Netwall (SL), 3. Malya Best (SL); 800 - 1. Emily Stock (SL) 2:26.4, 2. Natalie Mosier (P), 3. Alaina Patel (SL); 1600 - 1. Maura Lenhart (SL) 5:35.2*, 2. Emma Martinez (P), 3. Alivia Bear (C); 3200 - 1. Maura Lenhart (SL) 12:02.3, 2. Alivia Bear (C), 3. Jacalyn DeSimone (SL); 100H - 1. Faith Schiffer (SL) 16.1, 2. Elizabeth Maund (SL), 3. Meghan Conron (SL); 300H - 1. Faith Schiffer (SL) 47.7, 2. Morgan Pera (SL), 3. Julia Harth (C); 400 relay - 1. Southern Lehigh 51.2; 1600 relay - 1. Southern Lehigh 4:303; 3200 relay - 1. Southern Lehigh 11;37.4; High jump - 1. Emma Snyder (P) 5-3, 2. Elena Johnson (SL), 3. Kamarrah Saslo (P); Pole vault - 1. Ella Sarnitsky (SL) 8-9, 2. Catherine Yazdanyar (SL), 3. Farrah Smith (SL); Long jump - 1. Alexandra Lea (SL) 17-9, 2. Nataly Walters (P), 3. Gabriela Netwall (SL); Triple jump - 1. Gabby Lucas (P) 34-4, 2. Farrah Smith (SL), 3. Raquelle Riggins (SL); Shot put - 1. Jessica Heydt (P) 32-4, 2. Lauren DeLong (C), 3. Gabriela Netwall (SL); Discus - 1. Jessica Heydt (P) 85-6, 2. Elixabeth Maund (SL), 3. Lauren DeLong (C); Javelin

- 1. Sade Rodriguez (C) 86-0, 2. Raquelle Riggins (SL), 3. Samantha Perloni (P).

* - Judge’s decision.