WHITEHALL — Nataly Walters soared into the record books. Anna Trelease made a splash in her district debut. And Northern Lehigh’s 4x800-meter relay team reached redemption — with a little help from a new runner.

From veteran excellence to breakout moments, Tuesday’s District 11 Track and Field Championships at Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex featured several headline performances from area athletes who will now head to Shippensburg University for the PIAA Championships with gold medals — and big goals.

Walters adds to historic resume

Palmerton’s Nataly Walters delivered yet another signature moment in a career already filled with them.

The senior and top seed shattered the District 11 Class 3A triple jump meet record with a leap of 40 feet, 4 inches, surpassing the 40-2 mark set by Stroudsburg’s Ayanna Burrell in 2017. With that effort, Walters now owns the triple jump meet records in both Class 2A and 3A. She set the 2A mark of 39-2.75 in 2023.

“Either way, I was going to break a record — mine or someone else’s,” Walters said. “It’s really cool to think I have both. Not many people get the opportunity to try to do that — let alone actually perform and do it.”

Walters, who won the PIAA triple jump title in 2023 and was second at states a year ago, opened with a 39-5 and built momentum throughout the day despite wet and slick conditions. She launched her record-breaking jump on her final attempt.

“I told myself, ‘If you want the record, you’ve got to do it now — you’re not coming back next year,’” she said. “As soon as I got out of the sand, I looked back and kind of knew.”

She also claimed the Colonial League title last week with a meet-record 40-8.25 and is poised to make another splash in Shippensburg – where she also won the last two Class 2A long jump titles.

“I’ve had the triple jump in my mind since we moved up to 3A,” said Walters, who is also the top seed in the long jump. “Now I’ve got the long jump record to chase. It’s a challenge, and that challenge has brought me to jump big.”

NL freshman Trelease wins double gold

Northern Lehigh freshman Anna Trelease introduced herself in a big way, capturing two Class 2A throwing titles in her first district championship appearance.

Trelease won the discus with a throw of 112-7, then added the javelin crown with a 118-6. She delivered her winning mark in discus on her second attempt after a wet, shaky start — then came from behind in the javelin finals to win with her second-to-last throw.

“It’s exciting,” said Trelease, who was seeded fourth in the javelin and second in the discus. “Coming in here as a freshman and coming away with two titles — I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

She has only been throwing javelin and discus for one season, having focused on shot put in previous years. But her natural feel, particularly in the javelin, helped her find immediate success.

“I think of it like throwing a football,” she said. “It’s the same flick of the wrist. That really helps me feel comfortable.”

Trelease, coached by Derek Long, said she hopes to challenge for school records at states — she’s just shy of both: 119 feet in discus and 120 in javelin.

“I hope I can maybe hit one of those at states,” she said. “Either way, I’m just blessed to be here.”

Northern Lehigh relay

completes redemption run

Trelease wasn’t the only Bulldog to take home gold. Northern Lehigh’s 4x800-meter relay team of Taylor Everk, Natalie Moffitt, Mikayla Gordon, and Katelynn Barthold won the Class 2A title in 10:02.63 — a triumph that felt especially sweet after finishing second last season and placing ninth at states, just one spot away from a medal.

Barthold anchored the race and didn’t waste much time putting the Bulldogs out front before pulling away on the final lap to seal the win.

“We were seeded first and we wanted to come in on top — and we did,” said Barthold, who is also the top seed in the 800 by a staggering 10 seconds. “We PR’d, and we were all just really proud of each other.”

The story behind the team’s success became even more impressive with the late addition of Everk, who has now only run with the group twice. She stepped in after an injury to Emma Heil — and helped the Bulldogs reach the top of the podium.

“She blew away our expectations,” Gordon said. “We really supported each other and just had that next-girl-up mentality.”

The win not only secured a state berth, but kept the Bulldogs’ school record — again — of 9:54 in reach — a goal the team is chasing heading into states.

“It’s our last year together, and we’re going to push for it,” said Barthold, who is a senior, along with Gordon, while Everk and Moffitt are both juniors.

From Walters’ record-setting finale to Trelease’s incredible debut to the Bulldogs’ come-from-behind relay win, Tuesday’s district meet provided a perfect snapshot of excellence — both established and emerging — with more to come at Shippensburg.

TRIP TO SHIP ... Marian sophomore Kali Grochowski qualified for states in the Class 2A high jump, clearing 4-10 to place second.

MOVING ON ... Palmerton senior Erin Gombert qualified for the 3A 100 (12.73) and 200 (26.21) finals. Teammate Ruby Walters advanced to the 3A 100 hurdle finals with a time of 16.39, while Northern Lehigh’s Dekota Barthold (18.34) and Malia Hyman (18.54) qualified for the 2A 100 hurdle finals. Marian’s Alizabeth Pikitus qualified for the 2A 200 finals with a time of 28.04. In the Class 2A 100, Marian’s Caitlyn Kovatch (13.82) also reached the finals.

SCHEDULE CHANGES ... Due to inclement weather in the forecast, the second day of the meet was postponed to Thursday, and will once again take place at Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex. Additionally, the Class 3A pole vault was suspended, and will be completed Thursday.

Class 2A Championships

Day One

Allentown Central Catholic (ACC), Bethlehem Catholic (BC), Catasauqua (Catty), Lehigh Valley Academy (LVA), Mahanoy Area (MA), Marian Catholic (MC), Minersville (Min), Nativity (Nat), Northern Lehigh (NL), Pen Argyl (PA), Palisades (Pali), Palmerton (Palm), Salisbury (Sali), Schuylkill Haven (SH), Weatherly (Wea)

GIRLS

(top 3 plus locals in top 10)

3200 - 1. Anna Schaeffer (SH) 11:37.00, 2. Madison Dietz (PA) 12:04.04, 3. Felicia Bro (MA) 12:51.93, 6. Teaghan Biros (MC) 13:27.15; 300H - 1. Emma Yakaitis (Sali) 47.16, 2. Isabella Hughes (SH) 48.22, 3. Florenni DeJesus Bido (Catty) 48.95; 3200 Relay - 1. Northern Lehigh (Taylor Everk, Natalie Moffitt, Mikayla Gordon, Katelynn Barthold) 10:02.63, 2. Schuylkill Haven 10:05.62, 3. Pen Argyl (10:11.95, 7. Marian Catholic (Adalyn Marek, Ava Fritz, Madeline Davis, Teaghan Biros) 11:43.68; Discus - 1. Anna Trelease (NL) 112-7, 2. Natalia Smith (LVA) 110-6, 3. Dekota Barthold (NL) 107-0, 7. Olivia Thomas (MC) 81-4; Javelin - 1. Anna Trelease (NL) 118-6, 2. Avery Miller (Min) 113-4, 3. Natalia Smith (LVA) 111-9, 5. Kelly Reiner (Wea) 103-10, 7. Dekota Barthold (NL) 87-7; Long jump - 1. Maggie Hoffman-Long (Min) 17-1, 2. Angie Braun (ACC) 16-5.25, 3. Emerson Springs (ACC) 16-3, 5. Katelynn Barthold (NL) 15-7.5, 6. Caitlyn Kovatch (MC) 14-10.5; High jump - 1. Milly Wolf (ACC) 5-0, 2. Kali Grochowski (MC) 4-10, 3. Alexis Chilinskas (MA) 4-10, 4. Morgan Smith (NL) 4-8, 8. (tie) Adalyn Marek (MC) and Annalise Shelly (Sali) 4-4; 10. Lara Cancio (MC) 4-4.

Class 3A Championships

Day One

GIRLS

(top 3 plus locals in top 10)

3200 - 1. Virginia Kraus (SV) 10:24.53, 2. Madelyn McCartney (Emm) 10:36.58, 3. Avery Errico (Wil) 11:02.16, 7. Rosalia Nestor (NW) 11:52.97; 300H - 1. Maggie Scalzo (East) 44.54, 2. Aniya Holder (D) 44.74, 3. Alexa Giuffre (Potts) 44.75, 7. Katelynn Fredericks (Tam) 44.64, 8. Ruby Walters (Palm) 46.86. 10. Claire Thomas (Palm) 49.02; 3200 Relay - 1. Liberty 9:32.06, 2 Nazareth 9:34.09, 3. Easton 9:37.76, 6. Northwestern Lehigh (Megan Fornwalt, Sophia Cornell, Emily Kistler, Rosalia Nestor) 10:03.88; Shot put - 1. Lucy Colyer (North) 34-10.75, 2. Nayeli Moliere (PMW) 34-8.5, 3. Lorah Thomas (Leh) 34-1.25; Triple jump - 1. Nataly Walters (Palm) 40-4, 2. Mia Bowden (PMW) 37-4.5, 3. Anne Beenders (North) 37-3, 10. Gabby Lucas (Palm) 34-5.