WHITEHALL — Whether it was crossing the finish line, clearing the bar or uncorking a big throw, area girls made the most of their moments at the District 11 Track and Field Championships.

Seven athletes — including two individual champions — earned spots in next week’s PIAA Championships in Shippensburg after standout performances at Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex Thursday. Northern Lehigh’s Katelynn Barthold and Tamaqua’s Samantha Plasha each captured gold, while Marian’s Alizabeth Pikitus and Olivia Thomas, Lehighton’s Emma Repsher, and Palmerton’s Nataly Walters and Erin Gombert also punched their tickets to states. Palmerton’s 400 relay team added one more qualifying mark to cap a dominant showing from local talent.

NL’s Barthold captures 800 title

After finishing second a year ago, Katelynn Barthold returned to the top of the podium in the 800 meters.

The Northern Lehigh senior won the District 11 Class 2A title Thursday, clocking a 2:18.19 to cap off a stellar week that also included a victory in the 3200 relay.

“I was hoping to go sub-2:18,” Barthold said. “But I knew it was going to be hard running solo. Still, 2:18 is better than 2:19, so it’s progress.”

Barthold, who earned her first state medal with a seventh-place finish in the 800 last season, continues to build momentum ahead of her return trip to Shippensburg.

“I came through the first lap in 63, which was faster than usual,” she said. “But when I go out fast, I tend to struggle to hold it. I just tried to hang on.”

Without much area competition this spring, Barthold knows the state meet will present a new level of intensity — and a big opportunity.

“We didn’t race a lot of the top teams this year,” she said. “But it’s a great chance to push myself.”

Her goal at states is clear: break 2:16 and lower her own school record.

“If I can do that — and hopefully it’s fast enough to place — that would be the perfect way to end it,” she said.

Plasha vaults to district gold

A few rain delays couldn’t keep Samantha Plasha from reaching new heights.

The Tamaqua senior captured the District 11 Class 3A pole vault title, clearing 10 feet to secure her first district championship in the event and punch her ticket to states.

“I’m happy — I’m ready to go to states,” said Plasha. “I went for 10-7, but I’m just excited to be going back.”

It was a fitting follow-up to her win at last week’s Schuylkill League Championships and a steady progression from last year, when she placed fourth at districts and just missed out on qualifying for the state meet in the pole vault.

Plasha, a state qualifier in the triple jump a year ago, will now return to Shippensburg — this time as a contender in a new event.

“I watched pole vault last year at states, and I was like, ‘I should be here,’” she said. “Now I get the chance.”

The road to Thursday’s title wasn’t easy. After Tuesday’s competition was postponed due to rain, Plasha had to wait to begin her jumps, only to have Thursday’s session briefly suspended again due to weather.

“It was a long couple days,” she said. “We didn’t even get to jump Tuesday, and then it rained again today. But we were able to get through it.”

Despite the stops and starts, Plasha showed poise — something she’s gained from handling a demanding schedule of jumps this season. Along with the pole vault, she also competes in the high jump and long jump.

“Last year, none of my jumping events were together,” she said. “Now they all are, so I’ve just had to work around it. I think I’ve gotten a lot better with that.”

The thrill of the vault — and the feeling of being airborne — is what keeps her coming back.

“I just enjoy the whole thing,” she said. “It’s fun being in the air.”

And with one more meet left in her senior season, Plasha is hoping for an even bigger lift — maybe even a school record.

“I hope I get it at states,” she said of the 10-6 mark. “I’ve been up to 10-4, and I went for 10-7 today. It wasn’t there, but hopefully next week it is.”

Pikitus punches ticket

to states

Alizabeth Pikitus didn’t always love the 400 meters — but she’s made it her event.

The Marian Catholic senior placed second in the Class 2A girls 400 with a time of 1:02.56, earning her first trip to the PIAA Championships.

“I used to dread running it,” Pikitus admitted. “It would make me sick with nerves. But I’ve learned to embrace it and not let it get the better of me.”

Her growth hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“It’s really exciting to see,” Marian head coach Justin Huegel said. “There was a time when she didn’t want to run the 400 — now she’s going to states in it. She’s completely made it her own.”

Pikitus, who also runs the 200 and contributes on both the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams, has become one of Marian’s most dependable athletes — and one of its most dedicated.

“She’s the same person every day — calm, focused, steady,” Huegel said. “She’s the kind of runner you want in the 400 because it’s such a brutal event. There’s nothing easy about it, but she’s never too high or too low. She just shows up and gets the job done.”

That consistency has paid off. Pikitus has battled nerves, pressure and expectations throughout her senior season, ultimately emerging as a leader on and off the track.

“She’s been unbelievable as a senior captain,” Huegel added. “All the behind-the-scenes work — the Saturday workouts on whatever track we could find, the effort when nobody’s watching — it’s all led to this moment.”

Though her sister, Andraya, never got the chance to run her senior season due to the COVID-19 cancellation in 2020, Pikitus is now carrying the family legacy forward with her trip to Shippensburg.

“She’s earned this,” Huegel said. “And to see her go out there and represent herself, her team, and her family — it means a lot.”

Pikitus said she’s aiming to break the one-minute barrier at states, something that would set a new personal best and mark a fitting end to her career.

“I’ve been working toward this all year,” she said. “Even if it’s not my favorite event, it’s become my thing — and now I get to do it at states.”

Repsher earns silver, state berth

Emma Repsher didn’t just meet the standard — she soared past it.

The Lehighton senior recorded a personal-best throw of 137 feet, 7 inches to place second in the Class 3A javelin competition, punching her ticket to states in only her second year in the event.

“My only expectation was to hit the 122 mark to qualify,” said Repsher. “To get a PR and finish second — I’m just so excited.”

Repsher hit the state standard on her first throw at 133 feet before improving to 137-7 on her second attempt.

“It was such a relief,” she said. “I looked over and my uncle and dad were crying — two people I’ve never seen cry before. That made it even more emotional.”

Repsher, who won the event at last week’s Colonial League meet with a then-PR of 136-6, credited the energy of the competition and the support from fellow throwers and family for helping fuel her performance.

“It was amazing,” she said. “All four medalists qualified for states. It was just an honor to throw alongside them.”

Now bound for Shippensburg, Repsher is looking forward to continuing her senior season — without pressure, just gratitude.

“I didn’t think I’d make it this far,” she said. “Now I just want to compete, embrace the moment and enjoy every bit of it.”

Trip to Ship

Palmerton senior Nataly Walters — who won the 3A triple jump with a meet record leap on Tuesday — secured another state berth in the long jump, finishing second with a leap of 18 feet, 9 inches. Fellow senior Erin Gombert placed fourth in the Class 3A 100-meter dash with a time of 12.47 seconds, surpassing the state qualifying standard of 12.50.

The Bomber girls 4x100-meter relay team — comprising of Gombert, Walters, Sarah Sabo, and Claire Thomas — finished third with a time of 48.20 seconds, under the state qualifying standard of 49.30.

Marian senior Olivia Thomas earned a state spot in the Class 2A shot put, placing second with a mark of 34-7.25.

Class 2A Championships

Day Two

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), Notre Dame-Green Pond (ND), Pen Argyl (PA), Palisades (Pali), Palmerton (Palm), Salisbury (Sal), Schuylkill Haven (SH), Weatherly (Wea)

GIRLS

(top 3 plus locals in top 10)

100 - 1. Viktorya Luckenbach (PG) 11.77, 2. Hailey Jenkins (Catty) 12.24, 3. Maggie Hoffman-Long (Min) 12.77, 9. Caitlyn Kovatch (MC); 200 - 1. Viktorya Luckenbach (PG) 24.05, 2. Hailey Jenkins (Catty) 25.81, 3. Sara Spolski (Nat) 26.29, Alizabeth Pikitus (MC) 27.96; 400 - 1. Sara Spolski (Nat) 59.78, 2. Alizabeth Pikitus (MC) 1:02.56, 3. Ava Terefencko (SH) 1:03.59, 4. Natalie Moffitt (NL) 1:03.60; 800 - 1. Katelynn Barthold (NL) 2:18.19, 2. Madison Dietz (PA) 2:25.51, 3. Mikayla Gordon (NL) 2:30.30; 1600 - 1. Anna Schaeffer (SH) 5:21.07, 2. Sophia Markopoulos (PA) 5:38.93, 3. Rio Stoudt (BC) 5:43.50, 10. Teaghan Biros (MC) 5:58.98; 100H - 1. Isabella Hughes (SH) 16.52, 2. Julia Harth (Catty) 17.40, 3. Hailey Mroczka (MA) 17.54, 9. Malia Hyman (NL) DNS; 400 relay - 1. Pine Grove 49.27, 2. Catasauqua 50.62, 3. Salisbury 50.84, 6. Marian Catholic (Caitlyn Kovatch, Gabrielle Osenbach, Addison Fritz, Alizabeth Pikitus) 52.43; 1600 relay - 1. Schuylkill Haven 4:09.98, 2. Palisades 4:18.43, 3. Pen Argyl 4:20.33, 4. Northern Lehigh (Natalie Moffitt, Anna Trelease, Mikayla Gordon, Katelynn Barthold) 4:22.03, 10. Marian Catholic (Adalyn Marek, Addison Fritz, Ava Fritz, Alizabeth Pikitus) 4:40.49; Shot put - 1. Natalia Smith (LVA) 35-10.75, 2. Olivia Thomas (MC) 34-7.25, 3. Dekota Barthold (NL) 33-4.5, 6. Anna Trelease (NL) 32-0.5; Triple jump - 1. Maggie Hoffman-Long (Min) 37-0.5, 2. Emerson Springs (ACC) 34-7, 3. Bella Murphy (SH) 34-3.5, 7. Taylor Everk (NL) 32-5; Pole vault - 1. Sadie Davis (PA) 8-6, 2. Gabriella Pena (Sal) 8-0, 3. Kayla Weeast (PA) 7-6.

Team scores

(top 3 plus locals)

1. Northern Lehigh 89, 2. Central Catholic 82, 3. Schuylkill Haven 79, 9. Marian Catholic 39.5, 16. Weatherly 4.

Class 3A Championships

Day Two

Blue Mountain (BM), Dieruff (D), Easton (East), East Stroudsburg South (ESS), Emmaus (Emm), Freedom (Free), Jim Thorpe (JT), Lehighton (Leh), Liberty (Lib), Nazareth (Naz), Northampton (North), North Schuylkill (NS), Northwestern Lehigh (NW), Notre Dame-Green Pond (ND), Palmerton (Palm), Parkland (Park), Panther Valley (PaVy), Pleasant Valley (PlVy), Pocono Mountain West (PMW), Pottsville (Potts), Saucon Valley (SV), Southern Lehigh (SL), Stroudsburg (S), Tamaqua (Tam), Whitehall (White), Wilson (Wil)

GIRLS

(top 3 plus locals in top 10)

100 - 1. Alena Murray (S) 12.00, 2. Amanda Mercurius (Naz) 12.29, 3. Taylor Cofer-Walcott (ESS) 12.35, 4. Erin Gombert (Palm) 12.47; 200 - 1. Amanda Mercurius (Naz) 24.55, 2. Julia Grant (S) 24.96, 3. Taylor Cofer-Walcott (ESS) 25.17, 6. Erin Gombert (Palm) 25.79; 400 - 1. Aniya Holder (D) 55.63, 2. Julia Grant (S) 56.59, 3. Natalie Ray (Free) 56.96, 8. Lilyanna Shapiro (Leh) 59.50, 9. Sophia Schaffer (NW) 1:00.43; 800 - 1. Elizabeth McClarin (Lib) 2:16.07, 2. Katie Drabouski (Lib) 2:16.35, 3. Rosalia Nestor (NW) 2:20.58; 1600 - 1. Madelyn McCartney (Emm) 4:53.13, 2. Virginia Kraus (SV) 4:57.02, 3. Avery Errico (Wil) 5:09.96, 5. Rosalia Nestor (NW) 5:12.59, 10. Brielle Frable (Leh) 5:26.38; 100H - 1. Faith Schiffer (SL) 14.72, 2. Alexa Giuffre (Potts) 15.21, 3. Kayla-Rayne Quinones (Emm) 15.27, 6. Ruby Walters (Palm) 15.64; 400 relay - 1. Stroudsburg 47.30, 2. Parkland 47.67, 3. Palmerton (Claire Thomas, Nataly Walters, Sarah Sabo, Erin Gombert) 48.20, 10. Northwestern (Ella Dangello, Carsyn Van Norman, Taylor Langley, Sophia Schaffer) 50.91; 1600 relay - 1. Parkland 3:57.52, 2. Notre Dame-Green Pond 3:59.33, 3. Easton 3:59.85, 8. Northwestern (Megan Fornwalt, Emily Kistler, Madison Milks, Sophia Schaffer) 4:07.34; Discus - 1. Brooke Nwigwe (ESS) 119-2, 2. McKayla Strunk (S) 118-11, 3. Evelyn Hersh (ND) 118-2, 4. Hallie Miller (Leh) 105-2, 6. Lorah Thomas (Leh) 103-5, 8. Adisan Kistler (NW) 98-10; Javelin - 1. Makayla Keck (BM) 162-8, 2. Emma Repsher (Leh) 137-7, 3. Skyelar Umstead (Naz) 125-3, 9. Alexandra Diehl (NW) 103-10, 10. Kylie Christman (NW) 103-6; Long jump - 1. Alexa Giuffre (Potts) 19-9.5, 2. Nataly Walters (Palm) 18-9, 3. Jariana Rivas (East) 18-3.5; High jump - 1. Claudia Walls (Emm) 5-5, 2. Aviannah Jean-Pierre (East) 5-3, 3. Emma Campusano (PMW) 5-1; Pole vault - 1. Samantha Plasha (Tam) 10-0, 2. Samantha Schultz (Park) 9-6, 3. Gabriella Borgos (Park) 9-6, 8. Rylee Roman (Palm) 8-6.

Team scores

(top 3 plus locals)

1. Parkland 69, 2. Emmaus 64, 3. Stroudsburg 57.5, 9. Palmerton 36, 15. Lehighton 23, 18. Northwestern 17, 20. Tamaqua 12.