SCHUYLKILL HAVEN – With the sound of medals clanging together, Michael Fellin could be heard making his way across the field at a nearly empty Blue Mountain High School Stadium to take a few more pictures.

Fellin was hard to catch at Tuesday’s District 11 Track and Field Championships.

But the Marian junior was easy to spot afterward.

Fellin’s gold rush included victories in the 100, 200 and as a member of the Colts winning 400 relay team.

His fourth event netted a second-place finish in the 1600 relay.

“It is a dream come true,” said Fellin. “It’s fun to do a sport you’re kind of good at. With that, it takes a lot of work, a lot of training, and I put in that time, and to be here under the lights with my favorite people, it actually is a dream come true for me. I love every second of it.”

Fellin won the 100 with a time of 11.0, an event he was seeded third in at 11.28.

He was the top seed in the 200, winning with a time of 22.92. He was seeded at 23.18.

“The thing about coaching Mike Fellin is, over the course of the summer, and COVID, as much as we could help him as coaches, that kid deserves a ton of credit for what he did on his own,” said Marian head coach Justin Huegel. “The work ethic he has behind the scenes when nobody’s watching is just a testament to his character. He is on a different level with his mindset, and he just needs to keep going. If he keeps working, and with what he does on his own, it makes our job easy.”

Ean Chelak, Jacob Fenstermaker, Johnny Malarkey and Fellin won the 400 relay with a time of 44.09. The group was seeded first at 44.03.

They came together for a second-place finish in the 1600 relay with a time of 3:38.40.

“In my four events, I’d like to get gold, which is a tall order,” said Fellin. “It takes a lot of will power, and I had six races today with four events. I wanted to come out with four gold medals, but I got three golds and a silver. I don’t mind that at all.

“It was a good day. I’m going to states, and I’m just very thankful to be here, and be healthy and strong.”

Fellin ran an 11.21 in the 100 prelims, and a 23.17 in the 200 prelims, topping both marks in the finals.

But it was the relay that was the most satisfying win.

“I knew these guys since I was a freshman in high school,” said Fellin. “It’s not just a friendship anymore, it’s a brotherhood.

“We’ve grown to love each other, to support each other through everything, not just track and field. I wouldn’t want anybody else on my side besides these three guys.”

Chelak also won the 400 with a time of 51.22. He was seeded third at 52.46.

The senior was ahead of Marcus Yearwood (51.55) from Palisades and Marcus Vaupel (51.89) from Nativity.

“I always have nerves for it,” said Chelak about the 400. “I always put a lot of pressure on myself. I thought back to last week when I lost at the Schuylkill League Championships in the 400, and it just didn’t set well with me. I was hoping to win my first Schuylkill League title in the 400, and I came up short, finishing second (to Vaupel).

“Coming around the last turn, I was running a little bit angry at the end. I just wasn’t letting it happen again.”

Chelak used a strong finish to make sure it didn’t.

“Coming off the turn, I was in either second or third,” said Chelak. “Me and Marcus were neck-and-neck, but the kid from Palisades (Yearwood) was ahead of both of us. I just thought in the back of my head, ‘I didn’t come this far just to get this far.’ I want to continue my journey further and make it to the state championships and see what I can do there.”

The relay was another strong run for a group that has been nearly unstoppable this season.

“I cannot be more proud of them for the work they’ve put in to get here,” said Huegel. “They keep getting more and more excited for what they could accomplish. They just keep working harder and harder to get further and further. Have they always been perfect? No, but they’ve always listened and I cannot thank our sprint coach, Jim Wheeler, enough for what he’s done to get those boys to believe.

“We talked about it all of last year during COVID, that something like this could happen. And they thought we were crazy, but here we are.”

Palmerton Pride

Owen Hibell, Ana Recker and Jonathan Perloni all captured gold for the Bombers on Tuesday.

Palmerton’s Corlan Wood also qualified for states with a runner-up finish in the pole vault, clearing 12-0. He needed to clear at least 11-6 to make it.

Hibell won the 3200 with a time of 10:27.74.

Hibell used a late kick to pass Allentown Central Catholic’s Jacob Demchak (10:29.24) in the final 50 meters, a move that was especially clutch with only the top finisher in 2A boys going to states.

“I just wanted to sit back on the first person’s shoulder for about six-and-a-half laps,” said Hibell, who hung around the top five throughout the race. “The Central kid went a little earlier than I thought he was going to, so I tried to stay with him. He started to slow down with about 200 to go, and then I happened to have an extra kick and was able to get him. He went really early, so I thought I could catch him.”

Hibell, who was seeded second at 10:25.99, was patient throughout the eight laps before making his move.

“I just needed to hold my own the whole race and that’s what I think I did, and I think I did it well,” he said. “I just raced for myself and didn’t think about time; I just went for placement and it worked out.

“I was very excited. I put a lot of hard work into the season, and to see it pay off is really exciting. It was a lot of hard work and discipline through snowy weather, hill workouts … long runs, it was a lot mentally and physically and it paid off.”

A sophomore, Hibell has made the most of his first varsity track season after last year was canceled.

“I started running for CYO programs in first and second grade, but I didn’t really start taking it seriously until I hit about seventh grade,” he said. “That’s when I started to realize I could be pretty good at this.

“I just didn’t want the season to end yet. It’s kind of unbelievable, thinking back to January when I just started training that I’ll end up here.”

Recker won the pole vault, clearing 9-3. She needed to clear at least 9-0 to make it to states.

“That was my goal, definitely. But I was just happy to get as high as I did. I was definitely aiming for the school record this whole year, but I’m just happy to be here. It’s a great experience for me, it’s my first year. I just feel really good.”

Recker was seeded first at 8-9.

“There was definitely a lot of pressure,” she said. “My coach was expecting a lot from me, but he just wanted me to have fun and that’s what I really focused on, too. I’m so glad I got the record, and that I qualified for states as well.

“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be really tough competition, but I’m looking forward to the environment. It’s just going to be nice.”

Perloni placed first in the 110 hurdles with a time of 15.56. Perloni ran a 16.79, second fastest, in prelims.

“It feels great, I’m not going to lie,” said Perloni, who also finished second in the 300 hurdles later in the day. “I felt fast going out right from the beginning, was able to maintain it, keep my rhythm, and just to see the time after, it just meant a lot.”

Perloni was the first seed with a time of 15.98, and took first in the event at last week’s Colonial League meet.

“We had a good week of practice since last week, so being able to perform and drop time every week is great.”

Perloni will try to do it again at states.

“I want to try to run my best time out there,” he said. “If I could drop even more time at states when it really matters, that would mean the world to me. I’m going to try to have a good week-and-a-half of practice now, and make sure everything is all set for Shippensburg.”

RUNNER-UP ... Beside Wood in the pole vault, Perloni in the 300 hurdles and Marian’s 1600 relay team, there were five other second-place finishes from the Times News area. Palmerton’s Kody Kratzer placed second in the triple jump, while Panther Valley’s Seth Berk was runner-up in the discus. Northern Lehigh’s Emily Moyer finished behind Recker in the pole vault, and Weatherly’s Ricky Ray crossed the line second in the 800. The Wreckers’ 3200 boys realy team also gained second place, finishing behind Pen Argyl.

SEE YOU SOON

... The Class 3A competition will begin today at Blue Mountain at 2:30 p.m. with field events. The first on track competition is the 3200 at 3:15.

BOYS

Teams and legend)

1.Pen Argyl (PA) 117, 2. Palisades (Pali) 95.5, 3. Palmerton (Palm) 93, 4. Marian Catholic (MC) 68, 5. Allentown Central Catholic (ACC) 51, 6. Salisbury (S) 39, 7. Mahanoy Area (MA) 33.5, 8. Nativity (N) 33, 9. Weatherly (W) 31, 10. Northern Lehigh (NL) and Catasauqua (C) 29, 12. Minersville (M) 28, 13. Pine Grove (PG) 25, 14. Panther Valley (PV) 15, 15. Shenandoah Valley (SV) 10, 16. Schuylkill Haven (SH) 4.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

(Top four plus other local finishers)

100 - 1. *Michael Fellin (MC) 11.00, 2. *Giovanni Hines (S) 11.30, 3. Ben Terry (MA) 11.38, 4. Mason Smeland (Pali) 11.50, 5. Jacob Fenstermaker (MC) 11.61.

200 - 1. *Michael Fellin (MC) 22.92, 2. Ben Terry (MA) 23.50, 3. Nathaniel Hendricks (Pali) 23.68, 4. Dominic Kintz (Palm) 24.15, 7. Ean Chelak (MC) 25.46.

400 - 1. *Ean Chelak (MC) 51.22, 2. Marcus Yearwood (Pali) 51.55, 3. Marcus Vaupel (N) 51.89, 4. Jacob Dove (C) 52.11, 8. Brance Fronheiser (Palm) 55.28, 10. Bryce Marino (Palm) 56.10, 18. Jackson Hunsicker (NL) 1:00.36.

800 - 1. *Josh Deremer (PA) 2:00.20, 2. Ricky Ray (W) 2:05.55, 3. Joseph Duffy (ACC) 2:06.33, 4. Michael Noyola (Palm) 2:07.56, 7. Jared Thomason (NL) 2:13.71, 8. Alex Porambo (MC) 2:16.70, 12. Ethan Shaffer (Palm) 2:20.28, 17. Jackson Hunsicker (NL) 2:26.09.

1600 - 1. *Thomas Smigo (Pali) 4:36.71, 2. Nathan DeBellis (PA) 4:47.87, 3. Jared Thomason (NL) 4:49.28, 4. Jimmy Freeman (ACC) 4:50.62, 8. Scotty Zoscin (W) 5:03.31, 14. Owen Hibell (Palm) 5:11.63, 16. Gavin Vercusky (MC) 5:17.13.

3200 - 1. *Owen Hibell (Palm) 10:27.74, 2. Jacob Demchak (ACC) 10:29.24, 3. Scotty Zoscin (W) 10:35.17, 4. Mitchell Campbell (Pali) 10:37.33, 6. Michael Berger (W) 10:56.91, 7. Albin Petschauer (MC) 11:01.41, 10. Frankie Willis (W) 11:45.31, 11. David McAndrew (PV) 11:54.65, 12. Aaron Simpson (Palm) 11:58.74, 15. Matthew Kokinda (PV) 13:34.80.

110H - 1. *Jonathan Perloni (Palm) 15.56, 2. Colm McGroarty (MA) 16.55, 3. Kenneth Dyer (NL) 16.69, 4. Maksym Komperda (ACC) 17.01, 5. Caleb Hankee (NL) 17.14, 6. Gabriel DeMatto (PV) 17.22, 7. Dylan Bartholomew (Palm) 17.48, 8. Hunter Zehner (NL) 17.49.

300H - 1. *Cody Miller (N) 41.63, 2. Jonathan Perloni (Palm) 41.67, 3. Hunter Zehner (NL) 42.29, 4. Bryce Guthier (Pali) 42.73, 5. Gabriel DeMatto (PV) 42.83, 7. Caleb Hankee (NL) 45.04, 9. Dylan Bartholomew (Palm) 45.42, 10. Kenneth Dyer (NL) 46.36, 16. Tim Maguschak (W) 51.04, 17. Alex Kokoski (MC) 53.61.

400 relay - 1. *Marian Catholic (Jacob Fenstermaker, Johnny Malarkey, Ean Chelak, Michael Fellin) 44.09, 2. Nativity 45.08, 3. Palisades 45.12, 4. Palmerton 45.37.

1600 relay - 1. *Palisades (Thomas Smigo, Mason Smeland, Marcus Yearwood, Mitchell Campbell) 3:32.51, 2. Marian Catholic 3:38.40, 3. Nativity 3:40.97, 4. Palmerton 3:44.01, 8. Northern Lehigh 3:53.71.

3200 relay - 1. *Pen Argyl (Nathan DeBellis, Ryan DeBellis, Nathan Stocker, Josh Deremer) 8:32.07, 2. Weatherly 8:54.64, 3. Shenandoah Valley 9:05.41, 4. Marian Catholic 9:07.09, 7. Palmerton 9:36.25.

Long jump - 1. *Josh Leininger (PG) 22-3, 2. Jake Benner (Pali), 20-11.5, 3. Lucas Maggipinto (PA) 20-1, 4. Quintin Stephens (S) 19-9.5, 5. Kody Kratzer (Palm) 19-8, 6. Mason Fristick (MC) 19-7, 8. Harrison Dailey (Palm) 19-0; 11. Chase Jones (NL) 17-5.5, 12. Lucas Heydt (Palm) 17-3.5, 14. Thomas Kokinda (PV) 16-7.5, 15. Michael Silliman (MC) 16-5.5.

Triple jump - 1. *Jake Benner (Pali) 42-0, 2. Kody Kratzer (Palm) 41-9, 3. Josh Leininger (PG) 41-7.5, 4. Maksym Komperda (ACC) 41-7, 7. Johnny Malarkey (MC) 40-0, 11. Corlan Wood (Palm) 38-3.5, 13. Bryan Wilde (PV) 37-8.5.

High jump - 1. *Hunter Bleam (S) 6-3, 2. Lucas Magginpinto (PA) 5-11, 3. Jake Benner (Pali) 5-11, 4. Patrick Donohue (ACC) 5-9, 6. (tie) Jeremy Salvaggio (Palm) and Ben Tubiello (Pali) 5-5, 8. Mason Fristick (MC) 5-5, 10. (tie) Frankie Willis (W) and Griffin Campbell (Pali) 5-3.

Shot put - 1. *Zach Morro (PA) 46-10.75, 2. Hunter Bleam (S) 46-6.75, 3. Connor Schwalm (M) 42-3.75, 4. Gian Greggo (PA) 41-8.5, 13. Tim Iles (Palm) 37-0.

Discus - 1. *Zach Morro (PA) 157-8, 2. Seth Berk (PV) 143-4, 3. Owen Buck (Palm) 130-7, 4. Jacob Solonoski (W) 130-3, 10. Tim Iles (Palm) 109-4, 13. Benjamin Artz (MC) 100-1, 14. Brody Muniz (Palm) 99-11.

Javelin - 1. *Zach Morro (PA) 167-6, 2. Dorian Hoaglund (C) 152-11, 3. Brody Muniz (Palm) 148-2, 4. Reid Holden (PA) 145-9, 8. Lucas Heydt (Palm) 135-1, 9. Harrison Dailey (Palm), 10. Mason Fristick (MC) 115-2, 11. Brad Jones (PV) 114-9.

Pole vault- 1. *Taylor LaBarre (PA) 12-0, 2. *Corlan Wood (Palm) 12-0, 3. Tyson Utesch (S) 11-6, 4. Charlie Haring (ACC) 11-6, 8. Brady Hanzarik (NL) 10-0, 9. Jackson Stein (Palm).

* - State qualifier

GIRLS

(Teams and legend)

1.Palisades (Pali) 141, 2. North Schuylkill (NS) 103, 3. Pen Argyl (PA) 87, 4. Notre Dame of Green Pond (NDGP) 56, 5. Pine Grove (PG) 87, 6. Panther Valley (PV) 49, 7. Palmerton (Palm) 47, 8. Minersville (M) 38, 9. Northern Lehigh (NL) 36, 10. Marian Catholic (MC) and Mahanoy Area (MA) 19, 12. Allentown Central Catholic (ACC) 18, 13. Shenandoah Valley (SV) 10, 14. Salisbury (S) 8, 15. Weatherly (W) and Catasauqua (C) 5, 17. Nativity (N) 3, 18. Schuylkill Haven (SH) 2.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

(Top four plus other local finishers)

100 - 1. *Sydney Odle (Pali) 12.95, 2. *Sarah Sidoro (NDGP) 13.06, 3. Adriana Tavares (PV) 13.30, 4. Kristen Guelcher (NL) 13.31, 6. Aneilia Mcleod (PV) 13.68, 7. Emma Christman (Palm) 13.71.

200 - 1. *Sarah Wagner (NS) 26.00, 2. *Delaney Porter (PA) 27.30, 3. Delaney Frank (Palm) 27.71, 4. Aneilia Mcleod (PV) 27.75, 6. Adriana Tavares (PV) 28.10.

400 - 1. *Delaney Porter (PA) 1:00.14, 2. *Lauren Bower (NDGP) 1:01.10, 3. Haley Moss (MA) 1:01.30, 4. Haylie Yoder (PG) 1:02.93, 5. Jamison Wheeler (MC) 1:03.47, 6. Delaney Frank (Palm) 1:04.51, 19. Kendall Gerhart (W) 1:09.12.

800 - 1. *Cori McCormick (NS) 2:23.36, 2. *Ryley Schwalm (NS) 2:26.88, 3. Julia Roth (ACC) 2:27.12, 4. Amelia Smith (Pali) 2:28.89, 5. Hailey Shreffler (PV) 2:30.49, 8. Natalie Mosier (Palm) 2:37.28, 14. Grace Curnow (MC) 2:43.44, 16. Isabella Genao (MC) 2:45.48, 19. Chloe Diekman (PV) 2:51.27, 21. Aricka Creyer (NL) 2:54.32.

1600 - 1. *Cori McCormick (NS) 5:13.58, 2. *Ryley Schwalm (NS) 5:26.05, 3. Sarah Pezzino (PA) 5:29.96, 4. Hailey Shreffler (PV) 5:33.56, 5. Natalie Mosier (Palm) 5:34.37, 16. Maddie Dando (MC) 6:32.85.

3200 - 1. *Cori McCormick (NS) 11:03.28, 2. *Sarah Pezzino (PA) 11:40.63, 3. Katie McCormick (NS) 11:43.94, 4. Katherine Koons (NDGP) 12:15.34, 7. Maddie Dando (MC) 13:30.29, 9. Delaney Szwast (NL) 14:02.01, 11. Emma Martinez (Palm) 14:05.45, 12. Cecilia Pyfer (Palm) 14:20.93, 13. Danielle Gordon (W) 14:34.59, 14. Kira Houser (Palm) 14:39.43.

100H - 1. *Abigail Frew (PG) 16.06, 2. *Skye Porter (Pali) 16.84, 3. Morgan Magditch (Pali) 17.18, 4. Rhianne Markovchick (W) 17.28, 7. Autumn Steibler (PV) 17.88.

300H - 1. *Kayla Walker (Pali) 49.33, 2. *Abigail Frew (PG) 50.09, 3. Autumn Steibler (PV) 50.61, 4. Abby Wallbillich (PA) 51.51, 18. Emma Snyder (Palm) 59.35, 19. Samantha Perloni (Palm) 1:00.68, 21. Stephanie Steckel (NL) 1:09.56.

400 relay - 1. *Palisades (Ava Balliet, Kaylei Gruver, Angela Henry, Sydney Odle) 51.22, 2. *Pine Grove 52.39, 3. Marian Catholic 52.43, 4. Palmerton 52.84, 5. Panther Valley 52.86, 12. Northern Lehigh 55.79, 13. Weatherly 58.48.

1600 relay - 1. *Notre Dame of Green Pond (Sarah Sidoro, Lauren Bower, Laura Dainauski, Grace Medei) 4:11.67, 2. *Palisades 4:12.73, 3. Pine Grove 4:23.57, 4. Marian Catholic 4:28.47, 5. Panther Valley 4:29.30, 12. Northern Lehigh 5:07.39, 13. Palmerton 5:09.94.

3200 relay - 1. *North Schuylkill (Kailey Roberts, Katie McCormick, Ryley Schwalm, Cori McCormick) 9:54.50, 2. *Palisades 10:01.32, 3. Notre Dame of Green Pond 10:09.77, 4. Minersville 10:35.10, 7. Marian Catholic 11:59.37.

Long jump - 1. *Sarah Wagner (NS) 18-2, 2. *Devin Hubler (M) 16-7.5, 3. Trinity Williams (Pali) 16-1.25, 4. Paige Casterline (Pali) 15-11.25, 5. Emma Christman (Palm) 15-10, 7. Kendall Snyder (NL) 15-3, 14. Rhianne Markovchick (W) 13-4.5, 16. Olivia Horninger (NL) 12-9.75.

Triple jump - 1. *Devin Hubler (M) 37-4.25, 2. *Sarah Wagner (NS) 36-6, 3. Trinity Williams (Pali) 35-1.5, 4. Makaili Donomoyer (PG) 33-4.5, 5. Emma Christman (Palm) 33-4.5, 7. Kendall Snyder (NL) 32-9.75; 11. Emma Snyder (Palm) 30-2.25, 14. Danielle Mertz (Palm) 29-5.75, 15. Rhianne Markovchick (W) 26-5.5.

High jump - 1. *Trinity Williams (Pali) 5-2, 2. *Paige Casterline (Pali) 5-2, 3. Melena Koutch (S) 5-0, 4. Emma Snyder (Palm) 4-10, 6. Zoe Hathaway (NL) 4-8, 9. Danielle Mertz (Palm) 4-6; 14. Emily Bauder (MC) 4-4.

Shot put - 1. *Delaney Hilferty (Pali) 34-1.5, 2. *Kaycee Raczka (M) 33-2, 3. Hailey Evans (NL) 33-0, 4. Katelyn Shoemaker (Pali) 323.5, 8. Izabella Bochiocchio (PV) 29-11.75, 9. Abigail Fredericks (Palm) 29-7.5, 11. Kelly Sullivan (MC) 28-5.5, 12. Ashley Pleban (MC) 28-5, 16. Jessica Heydt (Palm) 27-1.

Discus - 1. *Randi Wood (SV) 106-2, 2. *Marilyn Dergham (NDGP) 104-0, 3. Hailey Evans (NL) 100-4, 4. Jaclyn Mogish (NS) 96-9, 6. Abigail Fredericks (Palm) 93-7; 13. Zoe Salter (Palm) 74-0.

Javelin - 1. *Katya Hoover (PA) 117-6, 2. *Katelyn Shoemaker (Pali) 115-3, 3. Delaney Hilferty (Pali) 11-8, 4. Jacqueline Kokinda (PV) 101-11, 5. Hailey Evans (NL) 98-3, 8. Sadie Trubilla (PV) 92-1, 9. Abby Reis (Palm) 85-8, 13. Abigail Fredericks (Palm) 77-2, 16. Chase Montanari (Palm) 73-7.

Pole Vault - 1. *Ana Recker (Palm) 9-3, 2. Emily Moyer (NL) 8-6, 3. Bubblegum Kernosh (PA) 8-0, 4. Jennique Herrera (PA) 8-0.

* - State qualifier