WHITEHALL — From big jumps to clutch throws to blistering sprints, area boys delivered in a big way at the District 11 Track and Field Championships.

The two-day meet at Whitehall’s Zephyr Sports Complex concluded Thursday and produced three more individual gold medalists — Northwestern’s Gavin Nelson, and Palmerton’s Logan Anthony and Jake Rutkowitz — while several others punched their tickets to next week’s PIAA Championships in Shippensburg.

Jim Thorpe sophomore Kayden Spence, Pleasant Valley’s Jareal Moore, Lehighton’s Joe Roth and the Bears’ 400-meter relay team will also represent the area at states after standout performances in a deep and talented field.

For some, it’s a return to Shippensburg. For others, it’s a long-awaited breakthrough. But for all, it’s a chance to finish their season among Pennsylvania’s elite.

Nelson claims 3A high jump

Northwestern senior Gavin Nelson isn’t just comfortable in the spotlight — he’s thriving in it.

Nelson won his second straight district high jump title on Thursday, clearing 6 feet, 9 inches to claim the 3A crown after winning 2A gold last season.

“I’ve learned to manage the pressure,” said Nelson, who has learned under the guidance of highly successful Tigers’ coach Charles Groller. “There are always guys who want to knock you off, but I try to focus on staying consistent and executing my own jumps.”

He cleared 6-1, 6-3 and 6-5 on first attempts, then needed a second to get 6-7. With the title on the line, he sailed over 6-9 on his first try to secure gold.

Nelson made three attempts at 6-11, hoping to top his season best of 6-10 set earlier this year at Northern Lehigh.

“My butt kept clipping it,” he said. “It’s little stuff. But it gives me confidence going into states that I’m close.”

He placed third at the state meet last year in 2A. This time, he’s aiming even higher.

“I’d love to PR — maybe get 6-11 or even 7 feet,” he said. “If I do that, I’ll be happy, whatever place I finish.”

Anthony cops 2A shot put title

Palmerton senior Logan Anthony didn’t waste time making his mark.

On his first attempt in the Class 2A shot put, he launched a throw of 53 feet, 8 inches — a mark that proved to be the winner and earned him his first trip to states.

“I didn’t feel like it was my best,” Anthony said. “But to know that I still won and I’ve got more in the tank — that feels great.”

Anthony threw a career-best 54-9.5 a week earlier to win the Colonial League title. While he didn’t quite match that mark Thursday, he was steady across the rounds and leaned on his early advantage.

“I usually get my best throw early,” he said. “After a few rounds, my arm gets a little tired and the form breaks down. But I was happy with how I held it together.”

Anthony becomes the latest in a line of standout Palmerton throwers, joining teammate Ryan Burkett — who shattered Joe Kovacs’ district discus record Tuesday — as district champions.

“It feels like an honor to carry on that legacy,” Anthony said of the group, which is coached by Kris Hoffner. “I want to make my family, my team, and my brother proud.”

His older brother, Zack, recently earned All-American honors at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.

“We’re always competing — always talking throws,” Anthony said. “If I beat one of his marks, I make sure he knows.”

Rutkowitz adds 2nd gold

For Palmerton sophomore Jake Rutkowitz, the last jump was the best jump — and the one that delivered gold.

Tied at 44-9 heading into his final attempt in the Class 2A triple jump, Rutkowitz leapt 44-11 to take the title, his second of the event after winning the long jump Tuesday.

“I knew I just had to lock in,” he said. “I was missing the board all meet. But on the last one, I got it right.”

Rutkowitz also placed second in the 110 hurdles in 15.26 seconds, securing a return to states after qualifying last year in the triple jump.

“I told myself this year I wouldn’t be hard on myself,” he said. “Last year I barely got to states in one event. Now I’m going in three, with better marks, and feeling good.”

He said training alone — in addition to regular practice — has helped sharpen his focus and form.

“I go to the track by myself and make every rep count,” Rutkowitz said. “That’s where the biggest gains come.”

He’s undecided on whether to prioritize one event at states, but is confident in his preparation.

“I’m just going to go hard in everything,” he said. “I’ve been to states before — now it’s about performing.”

Spence sprints to second in 400

Jim Thorpe’s Kayden Spence didn’t enter Thursday’s Class 3A 400 final as a favorite — but he finished like one.

The sophomore surged around the final curve and into second place, clocking 50.43 seconds to earn his first trip to the state meet.

“I was seeded fifth,” Spence said. “But at the 200 I started catching people, and I knew I had it.”

He won the Colonial League title last week, but only had one practice before districts. Still, he delivered another strong performance.

“I’ve been chasing 49 all season,” he said. “I didn’t get it here, but I’ve got one more shot — and it’s the biggest meet of the year.”

While he admits a medal might be ambitious this year, Spence is excited to experience states and build for the future.

“This is all about learning and growing,” he said. “I want to be on that podium next year.”

Moore earns double qualifier

Pleasant Valley senior Jareal Moore ran through the pain — and straight to Shippensburg.

Moore anchored the team of Alex Bunting, Royce Thompson and Justin Delgado to place third in the 400 relay in 42.67 — under the state qualifying standard of 42.88, then placed second in the Class 3A 200 in 21.95 seconds.

“I’m happy with the time,” Moore said. “But I wanted 21.7 — that’s the number I’ve been chasing.”

He said he tightened up at the end of the 200 and had to lay down after finishing.

“My chest was tight and I could barely see,” he said. “That race took everything out of me.”

Still, he found enough left to help the relay team qualify for states.

“I love racing fast kids,” Moore said. “It brings out the best in me. That’s what I’m looking forward to at states — the best pushing me to go faster.”

The relay squad has been working together for most of the season. While the lineup saw the occasional tweak due to minor injuries or substitutions, the core group steadily built chemistry and consistency.

“We’ve pretty much been running together all season,” Bunting said. “Every now and then someone might sub in, but we’ve grown a lot as a group.”

Their improvement has been steady — and measurable.

“I feel like our times just gradually got better and better,” said Thompson. “We kept making progress.”

The team credited its strong bond and open communication as key reasons for its success.

“We’re all close, and we don’t take things personally,” Moore said. “If someone messes up or needs to fix something, we can say it and move on. That helps us get better.”

Delgado, who overcame some early handoff issues, said that accountability helped push him.

“I messed up a couple early in the season,” he said. “But having these guys hold me accountable — and help me fix it — made all the difference.”

With strong teams like Blue Mountain in the field and several relays qualifying for states, the Bears welcomed the competition.

“We’re not too focused on the numbers other teams put up,” Delgado said. “We just go out, run our race, and try to beat our last time. That’s all we can do.”

The group exceeded expectations — and now gets one more shot together on Pennsylvania’s biggest stage.

Roth returns to states

Lehighton senior Joe Roth continued his strong season with a fourth-place finish in the Class 3A javelin.

His throw of 183 feet, 1 inch easily eclipsed the state standard of 178-0, earning him a return trip to states after qualifying last year.

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)

BOYS

(top 3 plus locals in top 10)

100 - 1. Paiten LaPoint (Min) 10.89, 2. Alex Clark (ND) 10.94, 3. Lincoln Cook (Pali) 11.04; 200 - 1. Alex Clark (ND) 21.97, 2. Paiten LaPoint (Min) 21.98, 3. Hamaad Jenkins (Catty) 22.41; 400 - 1. Michael Stank (Nat) 49.74, 2. Jose Perez Figuereo (MA) 50.16, 3. Alexander Pirog (ND) 50.30; 800 - 1. Mekhi Britt (BC) 1:56.81, 2. Nolan Daynorowicz (Nat) 1:56.91, 3. Duke Ebert (ACC) 2:01.10, 9. Chase Ader (Palm) 2:12.20; 1600 - 1. Duke Ebert (ACC) 4:29.76, 2. Kolin Long (Min) 4:32.84, 3. Connor Hibell (Palm) 4:33.45; 110H - 1. Noah Dolbin (Nat) 14.41, 2. Jake Rutkowitz (Palm) 15.26, 3. Josiah Lafond (Catty) 16.13, 5. Wasleyson Charles (NL) 16.46; 400 relay - 1. Palisades 43.08, 2. Notre Dame-Green Pond 43.54, 3. Catasauqua 43.58; 1600 relay - 1. Nativity 3:22.36, 2. Notre Dame-Green Pond 3:24.87, 3. Palisades 3:26.54, 9. Northern Lehigh (Ethan Moore, Seth Schaeffer, Keith Lectora, Cayden Anglin) 3:44.97; Shot put - 1. Logan Anthony (Palm) 53-8, 2. Ethan Kline (SH) 49-11.5, 3. Ryan Burkett (Palm) 48-4, 8. William Slattery (NL) 39-1.25, 9. Landen Klimek (NL) 38-8.75; Triple jump - 1. Jake Rutkowitz (Palm) 44-11, 2. Steven Lozada (Sal) 44-9.75, 3. Joshua Hudak (Sal) 44-2.5, 10. Ryan Zambo (NL) 40-6; Pole vault - 1. Steven Lozada (Sal) 13-0, 2. Wyatt Summerer (Pali) 12-0, 3. Terrell Estes (PA) 11-6, T4. Jacob Walkowiak (Palm) 11-6.

Team scores

(top 3 plus locals)

1. Nativity 86, 2. Minersville 84, 3. Palmerton 79, 11. Northern Lehigh 26, 15. Marian Catholic 9, 18. Weatherly 2.

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)

BOYS

(top 3 plus locals in top 10)

100 - 1. Chase Guers (BM) 10.81, 2. Luke Miller (NS) 10.86, 3. Gigi Durandisse (Wil) 10.99; 200 - 1. Luke Miller (NS) 21.77, 2. Jareal Moore (PlVy) 21.95, 3. Chase Guers (BM) 21.98; 400 - 1. Laquaye Hamilton (D) 49.98, 2. Kayden Spence (JT) 50.43, 3. Reese Prebosnyak (White) 50.48, 9. Benjamin Bachman (NW) 51.73; 800 - 1. Jared Petre (Emm) 1:56.88, 2. David Myer (Lib) 1:57.40, 3. Peter Jones (SL) 1:58.08; 1600 - 1. Dylan Boyle (Free) 4:27.25, 2. Colin McGuigan (Park) 4:27.68, 3. Jacob Casey (Naz) 4:28.28; 110H - 1. Abiel Quartey (S) 15.20, 2. Stephan Richards (Free) 15.27, 3. Donovann Durham (Potts) 15.40, 7. Gio Rivera-Poke (Tam) 16.21, 8. Equan Warner (Leh) 16.28; 400 relay - 1. Blue Mountain 41.48, 2. Emmaus 41.96, 3. Pleasant Valley (Alex Bunting, Royce Thompson, Jareal Moore, Justin Delgado) 42.67; 1600 relay - 1. Parkland 3:21.95, 2. Southern Lehigh 3:22.55, 3. Emmaus 3:23.67, 4. Pleasant Valley (Justin Delgado, Quinn Kauffman, Isaiah Montgomery, James Morton) 3:27.35; Discus - 1. Jonathan Adjin-Tettey (ESS) 148-8, 2. Carter Giberson (SL) 146-5, 3. Ryan Galen (Potts) 134-2, 4. Jacob Hehn (Tam) 132-2, 5. Gavin Strohl (JT) 131-9, 6. Bodie Hawk (Leh) 131-4, 9. Gino Williams (PaVy) 124-3; Javelin - 1. Thomas Lloyd (White) 210-1, 2. Leo Dauberman (Park) 186-3, 3. Kaden Zerfoss (ESS) 183-6, 4. Joseph Roth (Leh) 183-1; Long jump - 1. Anthony Otero (Lib) 23-6.5, 2. Austin Boyce (Naz) 22-7.75, 3. Oziaz Washington (ESN) 22-2.5; High jump - 1. Gavin Nelson (NW) 6-9, 2. Jaden Bulgin (Park) 6-7, 3. Andrew Szeplaki (North) 6-3; Pole vault - 1. Andrew Szeplaki (North) 14-9, 2. Tyler Grabinski (Emm) 14-9, 3. Casey Huie (Lib) 14-3.

Team scores

(top 3 plus locals)

1. Emmaus 80, 2. Parkland 74, 3. East Stroudsburg South 55.5, 12. Pleasant Valley 23, 18. Jim Thorpe 12, 21. Northwestern 11, 23. Lehighton 9, 24. Tamaqua 7.