MAHANOY CITY — There was a reason Samantha Plasha was looking forward to the Schuylkill League Track and Field Championships.

Consistently competing in four events in one day, the Tamaqua athlete was anticipating a meet where she could do two events one day and two the next.

Unfortunately for her, and most of those competing in the annual event, inclement weather on Tuesday forced nearly everything to be held on Wednesday.

The change, however, didn’t phase the Blue Raider senior, as Plasha went on to win two individual events (pole vault and high jump), and placed second in another.

“She’s such a quiet, hard-working individual,” said Tamaqua head coach Jim McCabe. “She has great ability. She always seems to pull off good things when it’s the most important. She obviously puts in the time and effort not only at practice but she gets into the weight room ... We have some goals set, and she continues to work toward them, and I think good things are yet to come for her and I’m looking forward to it.

“It would have been two (events Tuesday) and two (Wednesday). In dual meets and invites, that’s a mess. And they’re all usually around the same time, so I was looking forward to this week when she was going to have two and two. It ended up still being separated a little bit, so she had time to refocus on a particular event instead of going from one to the other to the other, back and forth.”

Plasha was seeded first in both events she won. She cleared 10-0 to take the pole vault, and 5-0 to capture the high jump.

Her second came in the long jump (16-5.25), while she also participated on the 400 relay team, which finished fourth.

“Honestly, there’s no pressure being seeded first,” said Plasha. “I’m more worried about getting the record for pole vault. I’m not really worried about the seeding, I’m just worried about getting the record. For my school, the record is 10-6. I went for 10-7 today and I was close. (Leagues) just helps better improve me and gets me ready for districts. This is the step before things get bigger, and a step going on to hopefully getting to states.

“I was a little upset because two of my events were supposed to be yesterday and two were today, which would space them out. But I ended up doing them all today. It is what it is ... If they’re more spaced out, I’m OK. If they’re right on top of each other, than I’m like, ‘I have to go here, then over there.’”

Plasha wasn’t the only local athlete to earn gold.

Marian’s Jake Tom, seeded second in the long jump, improved on that seed and took first with a distance of 22-0.

The junior has worked hard to improve, which was stressed by his head coach.

“Jake’s been doing a great job this year,” said Marian mentor Justin Huegel. “And the goal we’ve been preaching has been consistency, just making sure he’s doing what he needs to to stay consistent and hit that mark that could take him possibly to states. But the work ethic he’s had for the long jump has been unbelievable. Every jump, every inch, every foot he’s getting is all because of him.”

The first place was a pleasant surprise for the junior, whose PR this season is 22-3.5.

“I was a little nervous coming in seeing everybody else jumping, but I had a good jump and was able to get first,” said Tom. “I have a lot of room to grow ... I’ve been PRing almost every single meet, so I just want to keep going up.

“I would not have believed it (if someone told me before the season that I would win this). I was coming into the season in the mid 20s, and I kind of figured it out and now I’m jumping 22. I started approaching the board a lot faster, getting a lot more pop on my jump, and started going further.”

Tamaqua success

The Raiders had five others place either second or third during the meet.

Katelynn Fredericks, who has battled back from injury, took second in the 300 hurdles while Kimmy Rudy (1600), Madelyn Schaefer (800), Levi Kunkel (800) and Jacob Hehn (discus) all ended with thirds.

“I only ran it twice this season,” said Fredericks, who missed time due to a stress fracture. “I came back for the Blue Mountain Invite two Fridays ago. The leg is still giving me some problems, but I’m fighting through it.

“I had a stronger start. I came out of the blocks quick. My goal was to at least get second.”

Rudy posted a time of 5:53.14, giving her a PR in the 1600.

“It went well,” she said. “It was definitely harder with the heat, but everybody was definitely very competitive. I was pleased with my time ... I wanted to get at least where I was seeded, and I was seeded third.”

Kunkel was also seeded third in his event, which is where he finished.

“The first lap I felt really very strong,” said Kunkel, who had a time of 2:04.85. “Coming into it, I had some shin splints. But even through the pain I got through it pretty well. I wanted to start fast and then try and keep pace with the guy closest to me until the second lap when I try to kick it into high gear and pull ahead. (Going forward), I want to break 2:00, but I just want to PR and push as hard as I can.”

Schaefer took third in the same event during the girls competition. She was seeded second and stayed there most of the race, but was caught for the runner-up spot.

“I’m not disappointed,” said Schaefer, whose time was 2:28.10. “My freshman year I got fourth, so my sophomore year I got third. Next year maybe we’ll be second. We’re going to work our way up.

“Blue Mountain has great girls and they were tough to keep up with. I usually like to go out fast. I like to set my mark, but I knew Gianna (Chipriano) was going to go out and I stayed with her for the first lap. The second lap I did pretty good until the last 10 meters when I broke down. But I’ll be back next year.”

Hehn registered a PR of 137-10 to reach the podium.

“I’m happy Jake Hehn took third and PR’d in the discus,” said McCabe. “And the kids on the track ... they all did well and moved forward and improved. I’m happy that their hard work has come to fruition.”

Marian moment

The Colts also received a top-3 showing from Aidan Milkovits, who took third in the shot put.

While the senior PR’d with a mark of 44-9, he still wasn’t thrilled with the result.

“I’m not very pleased because I feel I could have done better,” he said. “I was expecting a better performance today having had an extra day of rest, but it is what it is and now it’s back to work for districts.

“I was looking at 45, potentially 46 for today ... I want to leave with a medal at districts, some way or another.”

While Milkovits was a bit disappointed, his coach wasn’t.

“Aidan’s been a great addition to the team,” said Huegel. “This is his first year coming out for track, and his leadership has been unbelievable. As a first-year person he’s been able to make himself a captain of the team ... Every day he takes to his craft as if it’s a full-time job, so having a kid like that being able to set an example and then seeing the results come on the podium is phenomenal.”

TOP TEAMS ... Blue Mountain won both team titles. The boys finished with 140.5 points compared to runner-up Nativity’s 103.5. Tamaqua was seventh. The Blue Raider girls ended third, with the Eagles winning with 158 points and Pottsville gaining 116.

SCHUYLKILL LEAGUE TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP

at Mahanoy Area

(top 3 plus other locals in top 10)

BOYS

100 - 1. Chase Guers (BM) 10.48, 2. Luke Miller (NS) 10.60, 3. Paiten LaPoint (M) 10.80; 200 - 1. Luke Miller (NS) 21.43, 2. Chase Guers (BM) 21.46, 3. Bo McDonald (N) 22.32; 400 - 1. Michael Stank (N) 49.60, 2. Cole Swick (BM) 49.78, 3. Evan Galavage (P) 50.96; 800 - 1. Nolan Daynorowicz (N) 1:59.05, 2. Kolin Long (M) 2:04.20, 3. Levi Kunkel (T) 2:04.85; 1600 - 1. Kolin Long (M) 4:36.25, 2. William Mayberry (MA) 4:36.97, 3. Robert Guzman (SV) 4:37.22, 5. Aidan Elston (T) 4:43.27, 7. Brody Boyce (T) 4:51.37; 110H - 1. Noah Dolbin (N) 14.33, 2. Donovann Durham (P) 15.47, 3. Rafael Liranzo (BM) 15.60, 5. Gio Rivera-Poke (T) 16.31, 9. Luis Tejada (T) 17.64; 300H - 1. Noah Dolbin (N) 38.67, 2. Rafael Liranzo (BM) 39.72, 3. Sonny Seritti (MA) 42.36, 9. Luis Tejada (T) 44.96, 10. Michael Johnson (MC) 45.03; 400 relay - 1. Blue Mountain 41.43, 2. North Schuylkill 42.98, 3. Nativity BVM 43.67, 8. Tamaqua (Luis Tejada, Scott Case, Victor Schlosser, Brody Schlier) 45.97, 10. Weatherly (Matthew Adler, Dominik Kokinda, Vincent Paisley, Derek Ochs) 51.97; 1600 relay - 1. Nativity 3:25.77, 2. Blue Mountain 3:38.74, 3. Pottsville 3:39.09, 6. Tamaqua (Jacob Hehn, Aiden Elston, Brody Boyce, Levi Kunkel) 3:45.54, 7. Panther Valley (Mrgim Neziri, Chase McArdle, Nuredin Gjoca, Edison Mitchell) 3:57.70; Shot put - 1. Ethan Kline (SH) 46-9, 2. Brayden Lauta (NS) 45-7, 3. Aidan Milkovits (MC) 44-9, 8. Gino Williams (PV) 40-6; Discus - 1. Ryan Galen (P) 143-4, 2. Ethan Kline (SH) 138-1, 3. Jacob Hehn (T) 137-10, 6. Gino Williams (PV) 125-2; Javelin - 1. William Shaner (BM) 156-7, 2. Aiden Boom (M) 148-2. 3. Niko Carestia (SH) 147-11; Long jump - 1. Jacob Tom (MC) 22-0, 2. Noah Dolbin (N) 21-8.5, 3. Dante Carr (M) 21-7; Triple jump - 1. Chase Guers (BM) 43-4.25, 2. Michael Elchisak (SV) 42-5.75, 3. Luke Smith (SH) 40-9.5, 9. Terrence McDowell (T) 37-7.5, 10. Victor Schlosser (T) 36-11; High jump - 1. Luke Smith (SH) 6-2, 2. Dante Carr (M) 6-2, 3. Xavier McNally (NS) 6-0, 6. Scott Case (T) 5-8, 9. (tie) Mrgim Neziri (PV) and Michael Johnson (MC) 5-6; Pole vault - 1. Dalton Minnick (BM) 11-7, 2. Noah Lechleitner (BM) 11-1, 3. Killian Bressler (P) 10-7.

GIRLS

100 - 1. Viktorya Luckenbach (PG) 11.59, 2. Justine Siminitus (P) 12.41, 3. Maggie Hoffman-Long (M), 4. Katelynn Fredericks (T) 12.72, 10. Caitlyn Kovatch (MC) 13.43; 200 - 1. Viktorya Luckenbach (PG) 24.12, 2. Justine Siminitus (P) 25.82, 3. Sara Spolski (N) 26.22, 8. Alizabeth Pikitus (MC) 27.71; 400 - 1. Sara Spolski (N) 59.50, 2. Myla Fegley (P) 1:01.68, 3. Tatiana Salefski (NS) 1:02.47, 4. Alizabeth Pikitus (MC) 1:02.85, 5. Lucia DeMarco (T) 1:03.43, 7. Millie Black (T) 1:05.91; 800 - 1. Gianna Chipriano (BM) 2:22.35, 2. Emma Lazarchick (BM) 2:27.46, 3; 1600 - 1. Anna Schaffer (SH) 5:19.77, 2. Vanessa Frasnelli (BM) 5:41.79, 3. Kimmy Rudy (T) 5:53.14, 10. Teaghan Biros (MC) 6:11.15; 3200 - 1. Anna Schaffer (SH) 12:00.33, 2. Vanessa Frasnelli (BM) 12:47.34, 3. Felicia Bro (MA) 13:03.89, 7. Isabella Jones (T) 13:47.11, 9. Teaghan Biros (MC) 13:57.26; 100H - 1. Alexa Giuffre (P) 15.18, 2. Riley Davis (P) 16.40, 3. Isabella Hughes (SH) 16.92, 7. Payton Selby (T) 18.05; 300H - 1. Alexa Giuffre (P) 45.63, 2. Katelynn Fredericks (T) 46.81, 3. Isabella Hughes (SH) 47.40; 400 relay - 1. Pine Grove 50.24, 2. Blue Mountain 51.47, 3. North Schuylkill 52.51, 4. Tamaqua (Katelynn Fredericks, Siena Stellfox, Payton Selby, Samantha Plasha) 53.30, 6. Marian Catholic (Caitlyn Kovatch, Gabrielle Osenbach, Addison Fritz, Alizabeth Pikitus) 54.09; 1600 relay - 1. Schuylkill Haven 4:11.85, 2. Pottsville 4:15.26, 3. Blue Mountain 4:24.60, 4. Tamaqua (Madelyn Schaefer, Andrea Betz, Kimmy Rudy, Lucia DeMarco) 4:32.11, 5. Marian Catholic (Adalyn Marek, Addison Fritz, Ava Fritz, Alizabeth Pikitus) 4:32.11; 3200 relay - 1. Blue Mountain 10:11.52, 2. Schuylkill Haven 10:23.92, 3. Minersville 10:58.04, 4. Marian Catholic (Adalyn Marek, Ava Fritz, Madeline Davis, Teaghan Biros) 11:11.48, 5. Tamaqua (Madelyn Schaefer, Andrea Betz, Lila Stegemerten, Millie Black) 11:23.13; Shot put - 1. Ashley Gould (P) 32-8, 2. Makayla Keck (BM) 32-6.5, 3. Claire Kowalonek (NS) 32-0.5, 4. Olivia Thomas (MC) 31-9; Discus - 1. Karlee Feger (SH) 105-8, 2. Emmalee Pinkey (N) 102-9, 3. Hannah Miller (BM) 96-9, 4. Leah Black (T) 93-7, 6. Olivia Thomas (MC) 88-6, 7. Esme Petschauer (MC); Javelin - 1. Makayla Keck (BM) 157-5, 2. Hannah Leninger (PG) 118-4, 3. Avery Miller (M) 110-2, 7. Kelly Reiner (W) 97-0; Long jump - 1. Alexa Giuffre (P) 18-0, 2. Samantha Plasha (T) 16-5.25, 3. Maggie Hoffman-Long (M) 16-4.75, 5. Morgan Orsulak (PV) 15-7.5, 8. Caitlyn Kovatch (MC) 14-8, 9. Gabrielle Osenbach (MC) 14-7.5, 10. Cecilia Ulicny (T) 14-2.5; Triple jump - 1. Maggie Hoffman-Long (M) 35-1, 2. Izabel Zajac (BM) 34-0, 3. Rhyan Brennan (P) 33-7.25, 10. Morgan Orsulak (PV) 30-2.75; High jump - 1. Samantha Plasha (T) 5-0, 2. Izabel Zajac (BM) 4-10, 3. Lauren Powis (NS) 4-10, 4. Kali Grochowski (MC) 4-10, 5. Lucia DeMarco (T) 4-10, 9. Cecilia Ulicny (T) 4-6, 10. Lara Cancio (MC) 4-6; Pole vault - 1. Samantha Plasha (T) 10-1, 2. Alyssa Cook (M) 10-1, 3. Kamryn Moran (BM) 8-7.