WHITEHALL – Whether it was with a record-breaking leap, a clutch throw, or a show-stopping backflip, area athletes delivered headline moments during the Colonial League Track and Field Championships Wednesday.

Six standouts left Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex as the gold standard. Palmerton crowned three champions, Lehighton two and Northwestern one on a stellar opening day of the league meet, which also included the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.

Palmerton’s Rutkowitz breaks long jump record

Jake Rutkowitz knew he had one shot — and he made it count.

The Palmerton sophomore soared 23 feet, 2 inches on his final preliminary jump to not only win the Colonial League long jump title but also break the meet record. He didn’t jump again after that, cramping up after the 110 hurdles, but the effort stood as the best of the day — and of the league’s history.

“I just had to send myself and go for it,” Rutkowitz said. “It was my last jump before I started cramping, but I gave it everything.”

The winning leap came with help from his friend and runner-up, Manny Bolmer (Catasauqua), who offered a landing tip — turning to the side instead of squatting — that may have added up to six inches and sealed the victory.

Already a nationally ranked freestyle BMX rider with a Monster Energy sponsorship and an Instagram reel viewed over 287 million times, Rutkowitz, who was seeded second at 22-2, brings creativity and flair to the runway and beyond. His celebration? A backflip off the podium, planned with a friend.

“I like standing out a little bit,” he said with a smile. “Can’t go wrong with a flip.”

He now turns his attention to a new goal: 24 feet — a distance that would put him within striking range of the Lehigh Valley record (24-6) held by NFL receiver Jahan Dotson.

Rutkowitz also advanced to the finals of the 110 hurdles with a top time of 15.24 in the prelims. He is also seeded third in the triple jump and pole vault.

Walters soars to long jump crown, meet record

Palmerton wasn’t done piling up titles — or rewriting records.

Senior Nataly Walters spent the first day of her final Colonial League competition with a meet-record jump of 19 feet, 2 inches in the girls long jump. She nearly got there on her first jump — an 18-5 effort despite being a foot behind the board — before correcting her mark and delivering the historic leap.

“I felt a lot of pressure coming into today,” said Walters, who is a two-time defending state champion in the event. “Everyone was talking about the record. But I just had to relax and do what I’ve been doing in practice — and it showed.”

Now a veteran leader and mentor, Walters reflected on the growth she’s made since her early days when nerves would get the best of her. “I’ve grown a lot mentally — that’s thanks to my coaches, teammates, and family. My Grammy even came up from Myrtle Beach to see this.”

With districts ahead, she has her eyes on a 20-foot jump. Walters is also the top seed in the Colonial League triple jump, and advanced to the finals of the 100 with a time of 12.48, second best in prelims. The senior is also driven to help Palmerton’s 4x100 relay team, which includes Erin Gombert, Sarah Sabo and Claire Thomas, break the school record again – and maybe more.

Lehighton’s Roth and

Repsher sweep javelin titles

Lehighton enjoyed a golden day in the javelin pit, with top seeds Joe Roth and Emma Repsher sweeping both the boys and girls titles.

Roth, a senior, added another accolade to his decorated career by winning the boys javelin championship. He credited his coach, his teammates, and training partner Emma Repsher for supporting him throughout the season.

“It just feels great,” Roth said. “Coming out, winning the Colonial League is a great accomplishment.”

Repsher, meanwhile, delivered a breakthrough performance, uncorking a personal-best throw of 136 feet, 6 inches — nearly seven feet beyond her seed mark and well above her recent performances in the 114-foot range.

“I’ve been giving it my all in practice, and I was finally able to clutch up,” she said. “It’s super exciting for me — especially with how the season has gone.”

Repsher has overcome five surgeries, including ACL and meniscus tears — the most recent coming at the start of basketball season. She said overcoming the mental and physical hurdles has made moments like this one especially sweet.

“I’ve had to push past my fears,” she said. “I just had to trust myself and go for it.”

Both Lehighton throwers now look ahead to the District 11 Championships, where Repsher hopes to hit the state-qualifying standard of 122 feet, and Roth looks to continue his strong season.

Burkett battles through

for discus title

Palmerton’s Ryan Burkett didn’t have his best day in the ring — and still came out on top.

The senior, one of Pennsylvania’s top throwers, won the boys discus title with a throw of 169 feet, 8 inches — short of his best, but good enough to take the crown and surpass the state qualifying mark.

“It wasn’t a great throwing day for me,” Burkett said. “But I still got first, had fun with the guys, and mentally it was a good day.”

Burkett, third in the state in the event last year, has focused on refining his technique in recent weeks, emphasizing cues and small adjustments as part of a plan to peak at districts and states.

“There’s been a lot of stuff pushed into practices recently,” he said. “We’re trying to simplify and focus on one thing each week.”

He hopes to hit the high 170s or low 180s next week and head into states with momentum.

Nelson defends high jump title for Northwestern

Consistency has been the key for Northwestern Lehigh senior Gavin Nelson — and it delivered another league title.

Nelson cleared 6 feet, 8 inches to defend his Colonial League crown in the high jump, then came within inches of clearing 6-11 — a mark that would have been a new personal best, which is currently 6-10.

“I was right there,” Nelson said. “It was just a tweak — maybe my run-up or speed. But it’s something that can be fixed with practice. I’m confident I’ll get it.”

Nelson, who steadily worked his way up from 6-1 and place third in the event at states a year ago, mirrored the same calm and methodical approach that has helped him become one of the state’s most reliable jumpers. The inspiration? Tigers’ graduate Faith Yost, who won a state title in the same event during Gavin’s freshman year.

“She always told me it’s not about how high you jump — it’s how consistent you are,” he said. “That’s stuck with me.”

UP NEXT ... With league titles in hand, athletes will now turn their focus to the second day of competition, which gets underway Thursday at Whitehall at 3 p.m. After that, it will be on to districts and, for many, the state meet in Shippensburg — with records broken, personal bests shattered, and big goals still ahead.

EPC MEET ... Pleasant Valley’s Demetrius Outten placed second in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference 300 hurdle finals with a time of 39.77, and advanced to the 110 hurdle finals with a time of 16.23. The Pleasant Valley boys 3200 relay team also placed fourth with a time of 8:24.59. Jareal Moore made it to the finals of both the 100 (10.94) and 200 (22.19) for the Bears.

RECORD BREAKERS ... Rutkowitz broke the mark of 23-0 in the long jump set by Southern Lehigh’s Jack Inglis in 2024; Walters bested the 18-9 established by Northwestern’s Faith Yost in the long jump set in 2023.

COLONIAL LEAGUE TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

(top 3 plus other locals in top 10)

BOYS

3200 - 1. Jeffrey Sunderlin (Wilson) 9:53.12 ; 2. Connor Hibell (Palmerton) 9:56.48 ; 3. Miles Etters (Southern Lehigh) 10:15.28 ; 5. Elijah Pagotto (Lehighton) 10:21.47 ; 8. Xander Giandomenico (Northwestern Lehigh) 10:38.02 ; 9. Noah Griffith (Northwestern Lehigh) 10:48.33 ; 300H – 1. Jack Pavis (Southern Lehigh) 40.99 ; 2. Gaddiel Bidohuertas (Saucon Valley) 41.24 ; 3. Joshua Allen (Southern Lehigh) 41.82 ; 5. Cayden Anglin (Northern Lehigh) 42.11 ; 8. Equan Warner (Lehighton) 43.93 ; 10. Dayton Tindula (Palmerton) 44.51 ; 3200 relay – 1. Southern Lehigh 8:17.15 ; 2. Wilson 8:20.13 ; 3. Northwestern Lehigh 8:40.72 ; 5. Lehighton 8:51.91 ; 10. Palmerton 9:44.84 ; Discus – 1. Ryan Burkett (Palmerton) 169-8 ; 2. Silas Day (Palisades) 148-4 ; 3. Landen Klimek (Northern Lehigh) 141-8 ; 5. Ethan Weems (Notre Dame-GP) 136-0; 7. Bodie Hawk (Lehighton) 128-5 ; 9. Gavin Strohl (Jim Thorpe) 122-6 ; 10. Logan Anthony (Palmerton) 121-4 ; Javelin – 1. Joseph Roth (Lehighton) 175-6 ; 2. Grady Oravec (Southern Lehigh) 162-4 ; 3. Jacob Hillis (Bangor) 158-6 ; 4. Brendan Miller (Northwestern Lehigh) 155-9 ; 10. Kris Rodgers (Lehighton) 125-8; Long jump – 1. Jake Rutkowitz (Palmerton) 23-2 ; 2. Emmanuel Bolmer (Catasauqua) 22-11 ; 3. Calvin Gehman (Southern Lehigh) 22-7 ; 4. Owen Eckhart (Lehighton) 20-6.5 ; 9. Griffin Martin (Lehighton) 20-1.25 ; High jump – 1. Gavin Nelson (Northwestern Lehigh) 6-8 ; 2. Calvin Gehman (Southern Lehigh) 6-0 ; 3. Trent Ader (Palmerton) 5-10; 8. Kellen Bauer (Northern Lehigh) 5-6.

GIRLS

3200 – 1. Virginia Kraus (Saucon Valley) 10:27.69 ; 2. Avery Errico (Wilson) 11:26.72 ; 3. Rosalia Nestor (Northwestern Lehigh) 11:27.46 ; 6. Sophia Cornell (Northwestern Lehigh) 12:15.33 ; 7. Elizabeth Kane (Southern Lehigh) 12:27.40 ; 8. Zoe Vezenov (Southern Lehigh) 12:43.83 ; 9. Erin McMenamy (Southern Lehigh) 12:45.65; 10. Claudia Pagotto (Lehighton) 12:47.10 ; 300H – 1. Faith Schiffer (Southern Lehigh) 44.14; 2. Savina Steele (Notre Dame-GP) 45.13 ; 3. Emma Yakaitis (Salisbury) 46.81 ; 4. Ruby Walters (Palmerton) 47.43; 5. Megan Fornwalt (Northwestern Lehigh) 49.49; 6. Sarah Jones (Southern Lehigh) 49.70; 8. Floreni DeJesus Bido (Catasauqua) 50.52 ; 9. Claire Thomas (Palmerton) 50.95 ; 3200 relay – 1. Notre Dame-Green Pond 9:52.89 ; 2. Northwestern Lehigh 9:56.59 ; 3. Wilson 9:58.86 ; 5. Northern Lehigh 10:10.88 ; 7. Lehighton 10:35.08 ; 10. Palmerton 11:30.73 ; Discus – 1. Evelyn Hersh (Notre Dame-Green Pond) 118-6 ; 2. Breanna Prugar (Saucon Valley) 110-5 ; 3. Anna Trelease (Northern Lehigh) 109-3 ; 4. Hallie Miller (Lehighton) 104-2 ; 5. Lorah Thomas (Lehighton) 100-11 ; 6. Dekota Barthold (Northern Lehigh) 99-1 ; 7. Adisan Kistler (Northwestern Lehigh) 93-10 ; 8. Mallory Conner (Northwestern Lehigh) 91-1 ; Javelin – 1. Emma Repsher (Lehighton) 136-6 ; 2. Kylie Christman (Northwestern Lehigh) 115-0 ; 3. Anna Trelease (Northern Lehigh) 113-10 ; 4. Hanna Gober (Northwestern Lehigh) 109-4 ; 6. Emma Sherer (Lehighton) 102-4 ; 7. Emma Rex (Palmerton) 101-4 ; 8. Alexandra Diehl (Northwestern Lehigh) 99-6 ; 9. Victoria Stehlik (Jim Thorpe) 96-7 ; 10. Isabella Roman (Jim Thorpe) 93-7 ; Long jump – 1. Nataly Walters (Palmerton) 19-2 ; 2. Farrah Smith (Southern Lehigh) 16-11 ; 3. Katelynn Barthold (Northern Lehigh) 16-9 ; 4. Evelyn Kurlansik (Southern Lehigh) 16-4 ; 5. Madelynne Grady (Southern Lehigh) 16-3.5 ; 8. Taylor Langley (Northwestern Lehigh) 15-11 ; 10. Alexandra Feller (Lehighton) 15-6 ; High jump – 1. Elena Johnson (Southern Lehigh) 5-3 ; 4. Norah Silfies (Northwestern Lehigh) 4-11 ; 6. Julianna Snyder (Palmerton) 4-9 ; 10. Piper Fretz (Wilson) 4-7.

EASTERN PA CONFERENCE

TRACK AND CHAMPIONSHIPS

(top 3 plus other locals in top 10)

BOYS

3200 – 1. Jacob Casey (Nazareth) 9:46.13 ; 2. Dylan Boyle (Freedom) 9:53.28 ; 3. Luke McEvoy (Parkland) 9:55.54 ; 300H – 1. Ethan Huertas (Freedom) 39.75 ; 2. Demetrius Outten (Pleasant Valley) 39.77 ; 3. Stephan Richards (Freedom) 41.38 ; 3200 relay – 1. Parkland 8:05.04 ; 2. Emmaus 8:09.72 ; 3. Easton 8:22.99 ; 4. Pleasant Valley 8:24.59 ; Shot put – 1. Marquis Labossiere (Easton) 48-6 ; 2. Jonathan Adjin-Tettey (East Stroudsburg South) 46-10.5 ; 3. Carter Troxell (Whitehall) 46-5.25 ; Triple jump – 1. Shane Plante-King (East Stroudsburg South) 46-9.5 ; 2. Ozias Washington (East Stroudsburg North) 45-7 ; 3. Anthony Otero (Liberty) 44-3.5 ; 5. Uriah Gearhart (Pleasant Valley) 43-10.5 ; Pole vault – 1. Tyler Grabinski (Emmaus) 16-0 ; 2. Casey Huie (Liberty) 13-3 ; 3. Owen Tobias (Parkland) 12-3.

GIRLS

3200 – 1. Madelyn McCartney (Emmaus) 10:42.80 ; 2. Payton Campbell (Emmaus) 10:52.51 ; 3. Vivian Clark (Easton) 11:31.49 ; 300H – 1. Maggie Scalzo (Easton) 44.43 ; 2. Kayla-Rayne Quinones (Emmaus) 45.81 ; 3. Ana Gbur (Parkland) 46.87 ; 3200 relay – 1. Liberty 9:34.03 ; 2. Easton 9:35.60 ; 3. Nazareth 9:36.93 ; 4. Emmaus 9:48.86 ; 5. Parkland 9:51.90 ; 7. East Stroudsburg South 10:19.81 ; Shot put – 1. Nayeli Moliere (Pocono Mountain West) 36-11.75 ; 2. Breyanna Sims (Pocono Mountain West) 35-7.5 ; 3. Kayleen Louis (Emmaus) 35-5.75 ; Triple jump – 1. Anne Beenders (Northampton) 37-4.75 ; 2. Claudia Walls (Emmaus) 35-9 ; 3. Madelyn Vargas (Stroudsburg) 35-1.25 ; Pole vault – 1. Olivia Hayes (Northampton) 9-9 ; 2. Sydney Moritz (Stroudsburg) 9-3 ; 3. Genevieve Inserra (Parkland) 9-3.