Well, it is April 16 and there are snow flurries falling in NEPA.
Two days ago, the sun beamed brightly, everyone had short sleeves and masks. On Thursday, fans were bundled up as if it were a mid-November high school football game.
Dare I steal a quote? “This is the way.”
Any way, this is also the first post ON THE BLOG. The reasoning, after 21 months without track and field in the Lackawanna Track Conference, it only seemed fair to give coaches and athletes a chance to get their collective feet underneath them to get a more clear picture of what is ahead.
So without any further delay, let’s get started.
First, have no fear. … The District 2 Championships are going to run.
Look, we understand the constant anxiety, but the PIAA and District 2 Committees are working hard to keep the championship events alive for the kids who lost their seasons in 2020.
Now, the Jordan Relays and the Robert Spagna Championships? Well, we may need some compassion and a pause while we still learn to live during a pandemic. Nothing is official. … YET.
The logistics still need work, so stay tuned for updates.
This season, the athletes have really risen to the challenge. Yes, the runners on the track still need some time to get back into competition shape, but things are starting to come together.
RECORD BREAKERS
Well, Anastasia Ioppolo didn’t waste any time picking up where she left off as a freshman in 2019.
In her first dual meet of the season, the Wallenpaupack junior and former four-time District 2 Class 3A gold-medal winner, established a school record in the long jump and an LTC all-time mark.
Wallenpaupack’s Anastasia Ioppolo.
Photo by Christopher Dolan
LTC TOP LONG JUMP SCHOOL RECORDS
|
LONG JUMP |
|||
|
Anastasia Ioppolo |
Wallenpaupack |
18-8.25 |
2021 |
|
Julia Koloski |
Montrose |
18-4.25 |
2009 |
|
Janna Wilson |
Honesdale |
18-1.25 |
2012 |
|
Brooke Estadt |
Lakeland |
17-10.25 |
2017 |
|
Michele Horwhat |
Abington Heights |
17-8.5 |
1981 |
|
Erin Davis |
Western Wayne |
17-7 |
2002 |
|
Elizabeth Pattara |
Scranton Prep |
17-6.25 |
2015 |
|
Lila Gaughan |
North Pocono |
17—5.75 |
2019 |
|
Teresa Covert |
Susquehanna |
17-5 |
1998 |
|
Lisa Delfino |
Carbondale Area |
17-3.5 |
1984 |
This past week, female athletes continued to tear up the record books.
Scranton’s Isabella Noreika paced herself perfectly, checking her watch as she approached the finish line, and broke a school record in the 1,600 that stood since Her time of 5:29.24 beat the mark of 5:29.80 set in 2009 by Kelti Walsh.
Scranton’s Isabella Noreika.
Photo by Jake Danna Stevens
Then, Mid Valley junior Avery Rebar beat her own mark in the discus. It is the second time this season that Rebar set a school record in the throwing events. Earlier, she set a record in the shot put with her winning distance of 31-1 against Dunmore. Rebar is dominating the throwing events in Division III with the top distances in both events.
Mid Valley’s Avery Rebar.
The boys have been equally impressive. Valley View’s Jack Baronski took down a long-standing record in the 1,600-meter run in a win over Scranton. He powered his way to a time of 4:27.54. That eclipsed the mark of 4:30.17 held by Aaron Wilkinson since 2012.
Valley View’s Jack Baronski.
Photo by Jake Danna Stevens
Scranton Prep sophomore London Montgomery has burst upon the scene. He’s already a football star, but he will be really attracting the college recruiters because of his blazing speed. He set the school record in the 200 last week with a time of 22.44. If he can do that at the district meet and states, he will be among the top sprinters in the state.
LONDON MONTGOMERY
TOP LTC SCHOOL RECORDS IN 200-METER DASH
| 200 METER DASH | |||
|
Kareem Payne |
Delaware Valley |
21.9 |
2014 |
|
Pat Monahan |
North Pocono |
21.97 |
2015 |
|
Irving Blackwell |
Scranton |
22.07 |
2002 |
|
Robert Pickett |
Wallenpaupack |
22.21 |
2000 |
|
Lionel Wilson |
Honesdale |
22.24 |
2010 |
|
Dave Sweetman |
Riverside |
22.24 |
2012 |
|
Steve Wasch |
Lakeland |
22.24 |
2002 |
|
Pat Cerra |
Carbondale Area |
22.26 |
2004 |
|
Eric Inthavong |
Valley View |
22.34 |
2015 |
|
London Montgomery |
Scranton Prep |
22.44 |
2021 |
Then, in terrible weather conditions, Riverside’s Brandon Reed destroyed one of the oldest school records in the LTC. He leaped 22 feet, 9.75 inches to beat the mark of 20-9 set in 1976 by Riverside’s Mark Chewerka. Like Ioppolo’s distance, Reed’s is also one of the best marks in the history of the conference.
BRANDON REED
Riverside
LTC LONG JUMPS BETTER THAN 22 FEET
| LONG JUMP | |||
|
Lionel Wilson |
Honesdale |
23–7.5 |
2011 |
|
Ky’Ron Harbin |
Scranton |
23-4.75 (State Champion) |
2018 |
|
Skip Brinkley |
Abington Heights |
23—3 (State Champion) |
1966 |
|
Cody DeBoer |
Montrose |
23–1 |
2009 |
|
DaShawn Minnick |
West Scranton |
23-0.75 |
2016 |
|
Brandon Reed |
Riverside |
22-9.75 |
2021 |
|
James Lynch |
Delaware Valley |
22-7.5 |
2019 |
|
Alex Long |
Western Wayne |
22–7 |
2015 |
|
Rich Sparks |
Valley View |
22-6.5 |
1986 |
|
Brett Bachtle |
Wallenpaupack |
22—4 |
1988 |
Wallenpaupack’s Sara Shook.
Photo by Christopher Dolan
RANKINGS
TOP 5 GIRLS TEAMS
This is the first ranking of girls track teams since 2019. Not much has changed as the Blue Bloods are strong once again.
PAST CHAMPIONS SINCE 2013
|
YEAR |
DIVISION I |
DIVISION II |
DIVISION III |
DIVISION IV |
|
2013 |
Abington Heights |
Western Wayne |
Lakeland |
Montrose |
|
2014 |
Abington Heights |
Wallenpaupack |
Lakeland |
Montrose |
|
2015 |
Abington Heights |
North Pocono |
Lakeland |
Elk Lake |
|
2016 |
Abington Heights |
Wallenpaupack |
Lakeland |
Elk Lake |
|
2017 |
Abington Heights |
Wallenpaupack |
Lakeland |
Elk Lake |
|
2018 |
Abington Heights |
Western Wayne |
Lakeland |
Elk Lake |
|
2019 |
Abington Heights |
Wallenpaupack Delaware Valley Western Wayne |
Lakeland |
Montrose |
STREAKS
- Abington Heights Lady Comets: Have won 80 straight dual meets (Conference record)
- Lakeland Lady Chiefs: Have won 43 straight dual meets
2019 FINAL POLL
|
Team |
2019 Record |
||
|
1 |
 |
Abington Heights LADY COMETS |
5—0 |
|
2T |
 |
Delaware Valley LADY WARRIORS |
4—1 |
|
2T |
 |
Wallenpaupack LADY BUCKHORNS |
4—1 |
|
2T |
 |
Western Wayne LADY ‘CATS |
4—1 |
|
5T |
 |
Montrose LADY METEORS |
5—0 |
|
5T |
 |
Lakeland LADY CHIEFS |
5–0 |
2020 PRESEASON POLL (No season: COVID-19)
|
Team |
||
|
1 |
 |
Scranton LADY KNIGHTS |
|
2 |
|
Western Wayne LADY ‘CATS |
|
3 |
|
Abington Heights LADY COMETS |
|
4 |
|
Wallenpaupack LADY BUCKHORNS |
|
5 |
|
Delaware Valley LADY WARRIORS |
2021 FIRST POLL
|
Team |
||
|
1 |
|
Abington Heights LADY COMETS |
|
2 |
|
Wallenpaupack LADY BUCKHORNS |
|
3 |
|
Western Wayne LADY ‘CATS |
|
4 |
 |
Scranton Prep CLASSICS |
|
5 |
 |
Mid Valley Spartanettes |
A LOOK AHEAD
MONDAY
TUESDAY
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
Division I
West Scranton at Scranton, 4:15
Scranton Prep at Abington Heights, 4:15
Division II
Delaware Valley at Wallenpaupack, 4:15
Honesdale at North Pocono, 4:15
Crossover
Valley View at Western Wayne, 4:15
WEDNESDAY
Division III
Carbondale Area at Mid Valley, 4:15
Division IV
Mountain View at Elk Lake, 4:15
Montrose at Lackawanna Trail, 4:15
Susquehanna at Blue Ridge, 4:15
THURSDAY
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
Division III
Lakeland at Dunmore, 4:15
Holy Cross at Riverside, 4:15
Wallenpaupack’s James Carrubba.
Photo by Christopher Dolan
TOP 5 BOYS TEAMS
This is the first ranking of boys track teams since 2019. It is still early, but the season is VERY short.
PAST CHAMPIONS SINCE 2013
|
YEAR |
DIVISION I |
DIVISION II |
DIVISION III |
DIVISION IV |
|
2013 |
Valley View |
North Pocono |
Lakeland |
Montrose |
|
2014 |
Abington Heights |
North Pocono |
Lakeland |
Montrose |
|
2015 |
Valley View Scranton |
Western Wayne |
Lakeland |
Montrose |
|
2016 |
Scranton |
Wallenpaupack |
Lakeland |
Montrose |
|
2017 |
Scranton |
Wallenpaupack Delaware Valley North Pocono |
Lakeland |
Montrose |
|
2018 |
Scranton |
Wallenpaupack |
Lakeland |
Montrose |
|
2019 |
Abington Heights |
Wallenpaupack |
Lakeland |
Montrose |
STREAKS
- Lakeland Chiefs: Have won 42 straight dual meets
2019 FINAL POLL
|
Team |
2019 Record |
||
|
1 |
|
Wallenpaupack BUCKHORNS |
5—0 |
|
2 |
|
Abington Heights COMETS |
5—0 |
|
3 |
|
Scranton KNIGHTS |
4—1 |
|
4 |
|
Montrose METEORS |
5—0 |
|
5 |
|
Lakeland CHIEFS |
5—0 |
2020 PRESEASON POLL (No season: COVID-19)
|
Team |
||
|
1 |
|
Lakeland CHIEFS |
|
2 |
 |
Mid Valley SPARTANS |
|
3 |
|
Wallenpaupack BUCKHORNS |
|
4 |
|
Scranton KNIGHTS |
|
5 |
|
Montrose METEORS |
2021 FIRST POLL
|
Team |
||
|
1 |
 |
North Pocono TROJANS |
|
2 |
|
Mid Valley SPARTANS |
|
3 |
 |
Valley View COUGARS |
|
4 |
|
Wallenpaupack BUCKHORNS |
|
5 |
|
Lakeland CHIEFS |
A LOOK AHEAD
MONDAY
TUESDAY
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
Division I
West Scranton at Scranton, 4:15
Scranton Prep at Abington Heights, 4:15
Division II
Delaware Valley at Wallenpaupack, 4:15
Honesdale at North Pocono, 4:15
Crossover
Valley View at Western Wayne, 4:15
WEDNESDAY
Division III
Carbondale Area at Mid Valley, 4:15
Division IV
Mountain View at Elk Lake, 4:15
Montrose at Lackawanna Trail, 4:15
Susquehanna at Blue Ridge, 4:15
THURSDAY
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD
Division III
Lakeland at Dunmore, 4:15
Holy Cross at Riverside, 4:15
STANDINGS
BOYS
| Division I |
League |
Overall |
|
W — L |
W — L |
|
| Valley View |
2 — 0 |
2 — 1 |
| Abington Heights |
1 — 0 |
1 — 1 |
| Scranton Prep |
1 — 1 |
1 — 2 |
| Scranton |
0 — 1 |
0 — 2 |
| West Scranton |
0 — 2 |
0 — 4 |
| Division II |
League |
Overall |
|
W — L |
W — L |
|
| Wallenpaupack |
2 — 0 |
3 — 0 |
| Delaware Valley |
1 — 0 |
1 — 0 |
| North Pocono |
0 — 0 |
2 — 0 |
| Honesdale |
0 — 1 |
2 — 1 |
| Western Wayne |
0 — 2 |
0 — 2 |
| Division III |
League |
Overall |
|
W — L |
W — L |
|
| Lakeland |
2 — 0 |
2 — 0 |
| Mid Valley |
2 — 0 |
2 — 0 |
| Holy Cross |
1 — 1 |
1 — 1 |
| Dunmore |
1 — 1 |
1 — 1 |
| Riverside |
0 — 2 |
1 — 2 |
| Carbondale Area |
0 — 2 |
0 — 2 |
| Division IV |
League |
Overall |
|
W — L |
W — L |
|
| Montrose |
2 — 0 |
2 — 0 |
| Lackawanna Trail |
2 — 0 |
2 — 0 |
| Elk Lake |
1 — 1 |
1 — 1 |
| Blue Ridge |
0 — 1 |
0 — 1 |
| Mountain View |
0 — 1 |
0 — 1 |
GIRLS
| Division I |
League |
Overall |
|
W — L |
W L |
|
| Scranton Prep |
2 — 0 |
2 — 1 |
| Abington Heights |
1 — 0 |
2 — 0 |
| Valley View |
1 — 1 |
2 — 1 |
| Scranton |
0 — 1 |
0 — 2 |
| West Scranton |
0 — 2 |
0 — 3 |
| Division II |
League |
Overall |
|
W — L |
W L |
|
| Wallenpaupack |
2 — 0 |
3 — 0 |
| Western Wayne |
1 — 1 |
1 — 1 |
| North Pocono |
0 — 0 |
0 — 2 |
| Honesdale |
0 — 1 |
2 — 1 |
| Delaware Valley |
0 — 1 |
0 — 1 |
| Division III |
League |
Overall |
|
W — L |
W — L |
|
| Lakeland |
2 — 0 |
2 — 0 |
| Mid Valley |
2 — 0 |
2 — 0 |
| Holy Cross |
1 — 1 |
1 — 1 |
| Dunmore |
1 — 1 |
1 — 1 |
| Riverside |
0 — 2 |
1 — 2 |
| Carbondale Area |
0 — 2 |
0 — 2 |
| Division IV |
League |
Overall |
|
W — L |
W — L |
|
| Montrose |
2 — 0 |
2 — 0 |
| Elk Lake |
1 — 1 |
1 — 1 |
| Lackawanna Trail |
1 — 1 |
1 — 1 |
| Mountain View |
1 — 0 |
1 — 0 |
| Blue Ridge |
0 — 1 |
0 — 1 |
| Susquehanna |
0 — 2 |
0 — 3 |
Related posts:
Joby Fawcett has covered high school sports — including football, girls and boys volleyball, girls and boys tennis, girls and boys swimming, boys basketball, girls and boys track and field, and girls and boys lacrosse — for 22 years. The High School Sports Blog offers deeper insights plus statistical and historical information for fans and features photos, videos and graphics along with Top 5 polls for tennis and volleyball. Contact: jbfawcett@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5367; @sportsTT
