Tommy Beltz of Lehighton, who has been soaring in sailplanes since he was 13 years old, holds down second place in the fifth annual U.S. Standard Class Soaring Championships being held in Hobbs, New Mexico.

The 22-year-old Lehighton native trails Richard Johnson of Dallas, Texas, with Karl Stridieck of Point Matilda, PA, being the third place holder. Beltz has been timed at 61.72 m.p.h.

Both Beltz and Stridieck are former winners of the soaring championships, Beltz having taken the honor in 1972 and finishing in third place last year.

The Lehighton glider pilot does a lot of sailing from the Beltz airport located between Route 209 and the new Beltzville Lake.