WHITEHALL — Palmerton athletes made themselves right at home at Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex during this week’s Colonial League Track and Field Championships.

Across two days of competition Wednesday and Thursday, the Blue Bombers delivered a flurry of standout performances — winning multiple titles, breaking league records, and showcasing the depth and talent of a program built on both individual excellence and team unity.

From Nataly Walters’ historic jumps to Jake Rutkowitz’s triple crown and Logan Anthony’s dominance in the shot put, Palmerton’s presence was felt in nearly every event — and often at the top of the podium Thursday.

Walters leads with historic triple

No one made a louder statement than Nataly Walters. The senior capped her meet Thursday with a meet-record leap of 40 feet, 8.25 inches in the triple jump, earning her third gold medal and third league record of the championships. She broke the long jump mark Wednesday, and earlier Thursday, helped Palmerton’s 400-meter relay team — alongside Claire Thomas, Sarah Sabo, and Erin Gombert — to another league record of 48.93 seconds.

“It kind of just gives me motivation,” Walters said. “Even though I’m not feeling 110 percent, I know it’s enough to do my best.”

After a disappointing 100-meter final — where she still placed third — Walters rebounded with her trademark drive, adjusting her approach and switching to the 36-foot board in the triple jump finals.

“I knew if I want it, I can do it,” she said. “I’m just proud that I did it when I was tired, and it was windy and chilly. That gives me confidence heading into districts.”

Walters has already authored a storied career, winning two long jump state titles and a triple jump state championship her sophomore year.

“States is more fun with friends,” Walters said. “Anything I can do to help get them there would make my senior year come full circle.”

Rutkowitz also claims triple crown

While Walters reigned on the track and in the pit, Jake Rutkowitz delivered a championship trifecta of his own.

The sophomore started with a meet-record 23-2 to win the long jump Wednesday, then returned Thursday to win the 110 hurdles in 15.28 seconds and the triple jump with a personal-best 45-6.75.

“I hadn’t broken 44 since last year, and I hit that on my second jump,” Rutkowitz said. “Then I got 45-6 — and I did it twice. I love the consistency. It shows I didn’t just get a random big jump.”

Rutkowitz called the long jump his proudest moment — a mark he never thought he’d hit this season. And like Walters, he sees even more potential ahead.

“I wasn’t on the board when I jumped 45-6,” he said. “That shows I could be getting more.”

Rutkowitz, who celebrated his long jump win Wednesday with a backflip taught by his sister — a gymnast — credited his athletic background and mindset for a performance to remember.

“I’m happy to be out here, and happy I’m doing well,” he said.

Anthony builds on tradition

In the throws, Logan Anthony kept the Bombers rolling. The junior won the shot put with a personal-best mark of 54-9.5, topping the field one day after teammate Ryan Burkett claimed the discus title.

“It was a PR by a little over three feet,” said Anthony. “I changed my warmup routine and focused on form. That helped a lot.”

Anthony’s preparation also included training with a heavier college shot put for the past few weeks — a move he made on his own.

“Once I picked up the high school one again, it felt so much lighter,” he said.

The multisport athlete, who plays football and basketball, said the legacy of Palmerton’s throwing program motivates him.

“It’s like carrying on a legacy,” Anthony said. “We’re trying to beat the guys who came before us. That’s what drives us.”

Gombert seals relay win

The 400 relay team’s record-breaking run might not have happened without senior Erin Gombert, who ran down Southern Lehigh’s anchor in the final 100 meters to give Palmerton a thrilling win by 0.08 seconds.

“We were definitely nervous,” said Walters. “We knew Southern Lehigh would push us — and Erin really hammered down and caught her at the end.”

Sabo credited the team’s long-standing chemistry — rooted in friendships beyond the track — for the relay’s success.

“We’ve known each other longer than we’ve been on this relay,” she said. “That really helps.”

The group believes their time is strong enough to get them to states once again, even as they transition from Class 2A to 3A this season.

“We want to show that the little town of Palmerton doesn’t mess around,” Walters said.

Gombert also placed second in both the 100 and 200 Thursday.

Hibell edges a win by thousandths

Connor Hibell gave Palmerton another dramatic win — this one in the boys 1600, where he outleaned Southern Lehigh’s Gregory Rubino by one one-thousandth of a second, 4:33.46 to 4:33.47.

“I didn’t know who won when we crossed the finish line,” Hibell admitted. “I thought I was still behind him.”

Hibell, who placed second in the 3200 a day earlier with a personal-best, expected the longer race to be his stronger event. But he credited Rubino for pushing him throughout the mile.

“I couldn’t have run that race without him,” he said. “He paced me really well. I’m happy with the surprise win.”

Barthold rises again

In the girls 800, Katelynn Barthold delivered a wire-to-wire win for Northern Lehigh, finishing in 2:19.22 — just .04 seconds off the meet record.

“I went out a little bit too fast and I didn’t kick, but hopefully at districts I can get the record,” said Barthold, who also anchors her team’s identity as one of the Bulldogs’ top athletes.

Running from the front presented a different challenge for Barthold, who often thrives when chasing competitors.

“When you’re ahead and you can’t hear somebody, you just don’t kick,” she said. “It definitely affects me. You feel like you’re safe, but you’re not — it’s a press for the time.”

She’s motivated by carrying a little extra responsibility for her team — and using that to inspire her teammates.

“If we want a faster time, everybody has to run faster,” she said. “It’s not just me.”

Barthold, who is committed to Lafayette, is already looking ahead to more competition — and faster races — in the postseason.

“I’m definitely excited,” she said. “There are some fast girls out there, and I think that’s going to push me.”

Spence wins big, eyes bigger goals

Jim Thorpe’s Kayden Spence entered as the favorite in the boys 400, and he delivered — winning in 50.28 seconds and holding off the field down the stretch.

“I came in first seed, I wanted to win, and I got the win,” Spence said. “But I’ve got 0.28 more to go until I get that 49.”

Spence, a sophomore, said expectations have helped fuel his development, and his combination of speed and strength shines in the 400.

“The 400 is where my stride opens up,” he said. “I think that really helps me.”

Spence’s consistency has been a strength this spring. He’s run under 51 seconds multiple times, and knows that continuing to train through the final stretch of the race will be key.

“With a hard race, you get tired, your legs stop working, your arms stop swinging,” Spence said. “So you’ve got to keep that endurance up — make sure your body can keep moving past that last hundred.”

Moore cracks 22, wins EPC 200

In the EPC championships, Pleasant Valley’s Jareal Moore ran a lifetime-best 21.92 seconds to win the 200 meters, breaking the 22-second barrier for the first time and setting a new school record (22.02) in the process.

“I was just hoping to get under 22 — I was telling everybody,” said Moore. “It feels like I’m in a whole different club now.”

Moore changed his block start and credited his teammates for helping critique his prelim race video.

“I fully changed my block start,” he said. “Before, I didn’t care about it — but every millisecond counts. My teammates recorded me in prelims and told me what to fix. I listened, and it paid off.”

“This is something I’ve never experienced before. I just thank God for it. I really wanted this one.”

Moore, who also placed third in the 100 and helped the Bears’ 400 relay team finish fourth, said he felt stronger than ever down the stretch of the 200.

“I usually die out in the last 100, but for some reason, I just kept going,” Moore said. “When I looked and no one was near me in the last 50, it felt amazing.”

Now with a sub-22 time under his belt, Moore has his eyes on an even faster finish at next week’s district meet.

“People are running 21.5, and that’s where I want to be,” he said. “But I just thank God for everything. This is something I’ve never experienced before — it feels incredible.”

RECORDS FALL ... Walters broke her own triple jump record of 39-8, which had been set in 2023. The Bombers broke Southern Lehigh’s previous 400 relay mark of 49.50, which was established in 2022. From big jumps to tight finishes and record-setting relays, Palmerton’s athletes — and their league rivals — turned the Colonial League Championships into a showcase of skill, heart, and hometown pride. And if these performances are any indication, the best may still be yet to come.

TEAM TITLES ... Southern Lehigh swept the boys and girls Colonial League team titles. The Spartans won the girls crown with 145.67 points and captured the boys title with 163 points. Palmerton placed second in the boys team standings with 78 points, while the Northwestern girls were third (90.67), followed by Palmerton (77) in fourth. Lehighton tied Wilson with 49 points for fifth. In the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference meet, Emmaus won the girls team title with 125 points, while Parkland won the boys championship with 132 points.

UP NEXT ... The District 11 Track and Field Championships will take place next Tuesday and Wednesday (May 13-14) and once again be held at Whitehall.

COLONIAL LEAGUE

BOYS

100 – 1. Noah Tapler (Southern Lehigh) 10.82, 2. Lincoln Cook (Palisades) 10.90, 3. Gigi Durandisse (Wilson Area) 10.93; 200 – 1. Alex Clark (Notre Dame GP) 22.17, 2. Gigi Durandisse (Wilson) 22.23, 3. Shane Kerosetz (Saucon Valley) 22.63; 400 – 1. Kayden Spence (Jim Thorpe) 50.28, 2. Alexander Pirog (Notre Dame Green Pond) 50.87, 3. Stanley Wempe (Southern Lehigh) 50.98, 4. Benjamin Bachman (Northwestern Lehigh) 51.45, 7. Joseph Roth (Lehighton) 52.69, 9. Aiden Eckhart (Lehighton) 52.98; 800 – 1. Peter Jones (Southern Lehigh) 2:00.23, 2. Gregory Tenzer (Salisbury) 2:04.69, 3. Jason Hall (Wilson) 2:04.73, 8. Kyle Kuznicki (Lehighton) 2:08.06, 10. Brady Furman (Northwestern Lehigh) 2:09.77; 1600 – 1. Connor Hibell (Palmerton) 4:33.46; 2. Gregory Rubino (Southern Lehigh) 4:33.47; 3. Jeffrey Sunderlin (Wilson) 4:35.16; 5. Greyson Wellings (Northwestern) 4:44.99; 9. Elijah Pagotto (Lehighton) 4:51.34; 110H – 1. Jake Rutkowitz (Palmerton) 15.28, 2. Shane Leh (Northwestern Lehigh) 15.90, 3. Equan Warner (Lehighton) 16.43, 5. Nathaniel Estevez (Jim Thorpe) 16.61, 7. Wasleyson Charles (Northern Lehigh) 16.80; 400 relay – 1. Palisades 43.32, 2. Notre Dame Green Pond 43.69, 3. Southern Lehigh 43.88, 5. Jim Thorpe 44.10, 6. Northwestern Lehigh 44.74, 8. Lehighton 45.64, 9. Northern Lehigh 45.91; 1600 relay – 1. Southern Lehigh 3:27.79, 2. Notre Dame Green Pond 3:31.49, 3. Palisades 3:35.14, 4. Lehighton 3:37.38, 5. Northwestern Lehigh 3:37.39, 7. Jim Thorpe 3:41.62, 9. Northern Lehigh 3:44.14; Shot put – 1. Logan Anthony (Palmerton) 54-9.50; 2. Eli Torres (Saucon Valley) 50-6; 3. Silas Day (Palisades) 47-9; 5. Ryan Burkett (Palmerton) 46-4.50; 9. Kameron Behler (Palmerton) 40-6.75; 10. Bodie Hawk (Lehighton) 40-2.75; Triple jump – 1. Jake Rutkowitz (Palmerton) 45-6.75; 2. Steven Lozada (Salisbury) 44-8; 3. Joshua Hudak (Salisbury) 44-6.50; 4. Bradley Burnard (Northwestern) 42-9; 9. Vincent Taglieri (Palmerton) 40-8; Pole vault – 1. Steven Lozada (Salisbury) 13-9; 2. Aaron Lyon (Southern Lehigh) 12-9; 3. Wyatt Summerer (Palisades) 11-9; 9. Jacob Walkowiak (Palmerton) 10-9.

GIRLS

100 – 1. Hailey Jenkins (Catasauqua) 12.11, 2. Erin Gombert (Palmerton) 12.47, 3. Nataly Walters (Palmerton) 12.60, 8. Carsyn Van Norman (Northwestern Lehigh) 13.14; 200 – 1. Hailey Jenkins (Catasauqua) 25.36, 2. Erin Gombert (Palmerton) 25.62, 3. Chloe Posavek (Southern Lehigh) 26.01, 7. Lilyanna Shapiro (Lehighton) 26.68; 400 – 1. Savina Steele (Notre Dame Green Pond) 57.38, 2. Chloe Posavek (Southern Lehigh) 57.89, 3. Lilyanna Shapiro (Lehighton) 59.19, 4. Megan Fornwalt (Northwestern Lehigh) 1:00.14, 5. Sophia Schaffer (Northwestern Lehigh) 1:00.65, 7. Emily Kistler (Northwestern Lehigh) 1:03.03; 800 – 1. Katelynn Barthold (Northern Lehigh) 2:19.22, 2. Rosalia Nestor (Northwestern Lehigh) 2:22.06, 3. Brenna Hammerstone (Notre Dame Green Pond) 2:23.60, 7. Brielle Frable (Lehighton) 2:27.09, 10. Stacy Bos (Jim Thorpe) 2:32.90; 1600 – 1. Virginia Kraus (Saucon Valley) 5:00.49, 2. Rosalia Nestor (Northwestern Lehigh) 5:09.94, 3. Avery Errico (Wilson Area) 5:12.90, 6. Brielle Frable (Lehighton) 5:27.61, 8. Sophia Cornell (Northwestern Lehigh) 5:31.04, 10. Stacy Bos (Jim Thorpe) 5:37.84; 100H – 1. Faith Schiffer (Southern Lehigh) 15.08, 2. Sofia Pandey (Saucon Valley) 16.06, 3. Karla Tshiyonga (Wilson Area) 16.60, 4. Ruby Walters (Palmerton) 16.86, 5. Claire Thomas (Palmerton) 17.03; 400 relay – 1. Palmerton 48.93, 2. Southern Lehigh 49.01, 3. Bangor Area 50.54, 5. Northwestern Lehigh 51.09, 8. Lehighton 52.21; 1600 relay – 1. Notre Dame Green Pond 4:04.56, 2. Northwestern Lehigh 4:09.60, 3. Southern Lehigh 4:11.07, 4. Lehighton 4:12.54, 7. Northern Lehigh 4:20.59, 8. Palmerton 4:22.40, 10. Jim Thorpe 4:25.85; Shot put – 1. Evelyn Hersh (Notre Dame-GP) 34-2.75; 2. Vanessa Sadler (Jim Thorpe) 33-6.50; 3. Lorah Thomas (Lehighton) 33-4; 5. Adisan Kistler (Northwestern) 32-4.25; 6. Dekota Barthold (Northern Lehigh) 32-2.25; 7. Anna Trelease (Northern Lehigh) 32-0.75; 8. Aubrey Holland (Jim Thorpe) 31-11.50; 10. Calli Hewey (Lehighton) 30-6.50; Triple jump – 1. Nataly Walters (Palmerton) 40-8.25; 2. Farrah Smith (Southern Lehigh) 36-2.50; 3. Isabella Johnson (Bangor) 35-5.50; 5. Gabby Lucas (Palmerton) 34-0.75; 9. Taylor Everk (Northern Lehigh) 33-3.25; 10. Alexandra Feller (Lehighton) 32-10.50; Pole vault – 1. Ella Kimmel (So. Lehigh) 8-9; 2. Mia Stanten (So. Lehigh) 8-9; 3. Gracelyn Dickinson (So. Lehigh) 8-9; 4. Sadie Davis (Pen Argyl) 8-3; 5(t). Ava Okuley (NW Lehigh), Gabriella Pena (Salisbury), Kayla Weeast (Pen Argyl), Regan Dittmar (NDGP), Audrey Burke (Palisades), Farrah Smith (So. Lehigh) 7-9.

EASTERN PA CONFERENCE

BOYS

100 – 1. Ayden Walker (East Stroudsburg South) 10.90, 2. Radnor Rowlands (Parkland) 10.95, 3. Jareal Moore (Pleasant Valley) 11.05; 200 – 1. Jareal Moore (Pleasant Valley) 21.92, 2. Keyen Johnson (Stroudsburg) 22.38, 3. Lincoln Clark (Parkland) 22.39; 400 – 1. Jeremiah Strowder (Northampton Area) 49.72, 2. Anthony Cappellini (Parkland) 49.77, 3. Reese Prebosnyak (Whitehall Coplay) 50.26; 800 – 1. Marcelo Castilla (Parkland) 1:58.23; 2. David Myer (Liberty) 1:58.44; 3. Jared Petre (Emmaus) 1:59.52; 10. James Morton (Pleasant Valley) 2:04.24; 1600 – 1. Duke Ebert (Allentown Central Catholic) 4:26.95, 2. Adam Korytkowski (East Stroudsburg South) 4:27.44, 3. Jacob Casey (Nazareth) 4:27.72; 110H – 1. Amare DuBoise (Freedom) 15.15, 2. Abiel Quartey (Stroudsburg) 15.26, 3. Darrien Burke (Stroudsburg) 15.65, 8. Demetrius Outten (Pleasant Valley) 16.12; 400 relay – 1. Emmaus 42.18, 2. Parkland 42.40, 3. East Stroudsburg South 42.85, 4. Pleasant Valley 43.01; 1600 relay – 1. Emmaus 3:26.06; 2. Parkland 3:28.69; 3. Pleasant Valley 3:29.47; Discus – 1. Michael Udeh (East Stroudsburg South) 140-3; 2. Nasir Clark (East Stroudsburg South) 138-0; 3. Leo Dauberman (Parkland) 137-5; Javelin – 1. Thomas Lloyd (Whitehall) 197-1; 2. AJ Formicia (PM East) 174-6; 3. Leo Dauberman (Parkland) 164-11; Long jump – 1. Anthony Otero (Liberty) 22-10.50; 2. Jaden Bulgin (Parkland) 22-10; 3. Ozias Washington (ES North) 22-3; High jump – 1. Jaden Bulgin (Parkland) 6-5; 2. Jathniel Feguiere (Emmaus) 6-2; 3. Gabriel Kabba (Emmaus) 6-0; 3. Rayland Decaries (Pocono Mountain East) 6-0.

GIRLS

100 – 1. Alena Murray (Stroudsburg) 12.02, 2. Amanda Mercurius (Nazareth) 12.23, 3. Gabrielle DeVita (Emmaus) 12.30; 200 – 1. Julia Grant (Stroudsburg) 24.87, 2. Kaley Seide (Parkland) 25.12, 3. Natalie Ray (Freedom) 25.20; 400 – 1. Julia Grant (Stroudsburg) 55.87, 2. Aniya Holder (Dieruff) 56.72, 3. Lucy Tobia (Parkland) 56.91; 800 – 1. Madelyn McCartney (Emmaus) 2:20.53, 2. Madeleine Guzevich (Nazareth) 2:21.45, 3. Payton Campbell (Emmaus) 2:22.66; 1600 – 1. Madelyn McCartney (Emmaus) 4:58.79, 2. Katie Drabouski (Liberty) 5:03.28, 3. Elizabeth McClarin (Liberty) 5:06.00; 100H – 1. Kayla-Rayne Quinones (Emmaus) 15.04, 2. Kimora Woods (East Stroudsburg South) 15.64, 2. Emily Hoysan (Parkland) 15.64; 400 relay – 1. Stroudsburg 47.66, 2. Parkland 47.82, 3. Emmaus 49.07; 1600 relay – 1. Parkland 4:00.84, 2. Stroudsburg 4:03.45, 3. Liberty 4:04.36; Discus – 1. Brooke Nwigwe (ES South) 120-1; 2. Charlize Smith (Easton) 112-9; 3. Adriana Borzio (Stroudsburg) 103-7; Javelin – 1. Alexa Wiland (Northampton) 121-0; 2. Skyelar Umstead (Nazareth) 118-2; 2. Daviana Jones (Bethlehem Catholic) 118-2; Long jump – 1. Victoria Phillips (Northampton) 17-2; 2. Abigail Hackett (Liberty) 17-1; 3. Claudia Walls (Emmaus) 16-11; High jump – 1. Claudia Walls (Emmaus) 5-2; 2. Alexa Davis (Nazareth) 5-1; 3. Faith Belote (Easton) 4-11; 3. Alena Murray (Stroudsburg) 4-11.