HS TRACK AND FIELD: Scranton boys and West Scranton girls earn wins in City Rivalry meet

Apr. 19—SCRANTON — Exciting races, dramatic finishes and another record-breaking performance: This year's edition of the city rivalry meet between Scranton and West Scranton had everything.

Scranton's distance running stars rose to the occasion, West Scranton's hurdlers and sprinters gave outstanding efforts and both meets came down to the end on a blustery and cold Tuesday afternoon at Scranton Veterans Memorial Stadium.

First, with the victory hanging in the balance, West Scranton's girls won the 1,600-meter relay and swept the javelin to rally for a 74 1/2 -71 1/2 victory. It is the second straight season the Lady Invaders beat Scranton, and evened their record at 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the Lackawanna Track Conference Division I this spring.

"We are so happy," West Scranton junior hurdler Emily Stefani said. "Last year was the first time the girls had a win over Scranton in a really long time (seven years), and it was really exciting to come back and get a win again.

"Obviously, they are our rivalry school, and it was very exciting coming right down to the last two events."

Scranton's boys piled up points in the distance races to thwart the speed of the Invaders in a 106-44 win to remain unbeaten in the LTC Division I standings.

"It's great," said Scranton junior Brian McCormack, who won the 1,600 and 3,200 and tied for first with Luke Pikulski in the 800. "I was talking to coach (Steve Shumbres) before the meet, and we said this meet was going to come down to the distance races. These were must-wins.

"As much as I wanted to go out there and win, the second- and third-place finishes were just as important. This was all about the supporting cast, and it was great to see all of my teammates go out there and perform."

As the meet unfolded, the Scranton girls reached 71 1/2 points with only two events left, after Bella Noreika and Amelia King took first and second place in the 3,200-meter run.

It was Noreika's third individual victory of the meet, and earlier she broke another school record in the 800 with a winning time of 2 minutes, 25.84 seconds. That beat the mark of 2:27.82 set by Cecelia Babarsky in 2006.

The Lady Knights still needed four points to secure the win with the 1,600 relay and javelin events remaining.

West Scranton's Nina Gallagher, Sahmira Menifee and Angelina Tabone swept the javelin. Gallagher won with a distance of 82 feet, 10 inches, and the Lady Invaders climbed back into the meet and trailed, 71 1/2 -69 1/2 .

"I was honestly really proud and proud of all my teammates," Gallagher said. "I thought we all did an amazing job. Usually, when people tell me something like the meet is riding on our points, it makes my nerves go up, but we did great. As soon as I found out that we brought the points that helped the team out so much, it was an amazing feeling."

West Scranton's team of Vincentia McDonough, Alaina Cigliano, Emily Stefani and Abby Megotz came through and earned a win in 4:22.9. Cigliano gave the Lady Invaders the lead on her leg, and Megotz, who won the 100, held off a surge from Noreika on the final 400 meters for the win.

Overall, Stefani had a big day for West Scranton. She won the 100 hurdles in 17.4 and the 300 hurdles in 52.3 while also teaming with McDonough, Megotz and Cigliano, who contributed a win in the 200, for a victory in the 400 relay as well.

"I think this was my best week in the hurdles," Stefani said. "I have had a few little mess-ups in my previous races, and you can't have those. I cleaned those up, and it really worked out."

In the field, where West Scranton held a 37 1/2 -21 1/2 edge, Menifee won the shot put and discus to go along with her second in the javelin for 13 points, while Olivia Pfohl won the long and high jumps.

"I had a little extra level of motivation with us going against Scranton," Menifee, a freshman, said. "It felt great to help the team win and to have my teammates there really pushing and supporting me."

Catherine Hill in the 400, Kamryn Alers in the triple jump, Kim Lagene in the pole vault and the 3,200 relay team of King, Grace Campbell, Jada Cintron and Jennifer Villanueva also had wins for Scranton.

With McCormack leading the way, Scranton outscored West Scranton, 30-7, in the distance races that included the 800, 1,600, 3,200, 3,200 relay and 1,600 relay.

In addition to McCormack's first-place finishes, Aidan Graff finished second in the 1,600 and 3,200 for the Knights (3-1 overall, 3-0 in division), who kept pace with Valley View in the division standings. Valley View runs a crossover meet against Western Wayne on Wednesday.

"I was happy with my two-mile because I had a personal-best time (10:31.9)," Graff said. "I also ran the 3,200-meter relay, which was a surprise for me. In the mile, I just wanted to get that second place. It was a great meet. West Scranton put up a really good fight in the sprints and hurdles. We just knew it was going to come down to the distance races."

Pikulski shared first with McCormack as they came across the line together in the 800. He also teamed with Graff, Joey Lewis, who added a third in the 800, and Josh Atonal in the 3,200 relay.

"Brian and I knew this was going to be a close meet," Pikulski said. "In the 800, we knew we could finish first and second, and even get third. We talked about it before the race, and we decided it would be good to run together. Brian and I are really good friends, and it was nice to get out there and run an 800 with him."

Scranton also got a boost from Lamiare Saldano. After a second-place finish to West Scranton's Joe Harris in the 100, Saldano erased a deficit in the final 50 meters to win the 400 relay. He also added a win in the 200.

"In the 100, I started too slow," Saldano said. "I knew the team was depending on me, so in the events I had left, I had to give 110%. My handoff in the relay was a little shaky, but I knew I could make it happen for the team."

Scranton won all seven field events. Jacob Martinez contributed wins in the shot put and discus. Abdullah Muhammad won the discus, Billy Maloney won the long jump, Owen Farro won the triple, Ismail Williams won the high jump and Anthony Brown led a sweep in the pole vault.

Colin Manley led West Scranton with wins in the 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles, while Taron Knight-Guerrier won the 400 and Harris won the 100.

Colin Kravitz won the 100, 200, 400 and ran on the winning 1,600 relay as North Pocono remained undefeated with a 111-39 win over Honesdale in a Division II meet.

Michael Blaine added wins in the long and high jumps for the Trojans.

Scranton 106, West Scranton 44

3200 Relay: Scranton (Pikulski, Lewis, Graff,Atonal) 9:18.3. 110 Hurdles: Colin Manley (WS) 15.6, Salazar (SCR), Sims (SCR). 100: Joe Harris (WS) 11.4, Saldano (SCR), Oates (WS). 1600: Brian McCormack (SCR) 4:43.6, Graff (SCR), Kane (WS). 400 Relay: Scranton (Ortiz, Royce, Shilling, Saldano) 45.5. 400: Taron Knight-Guerrier (WS) 53.1, Keeler (WS), Moore (SCR). 300 Hurdles: Colin Manley (WS) 42.7, Sims (SCR), Donovan (WS). 800: Brian McCormack (SCR) and Luke Pikulski (SCR) 2:19.6, Lewis (SCR). 200: Lamiare Saldano (SCR) 24.0, Dalzell (WS), Knight-Guerrier (WS). 3200: Brain McCormack (SCR) 9:37.5, Graff (SCR), Kane (WS). 1600 Relay: West Scranton (Keeler, Dalzell, Donovan, Knight-Guerrier) 3:40.3. Shot: Jacob Martinez (SCR) 43-9 1/2 , Weekes (SCR), Williams (WS). Discus: Abdullah Muhammad (SCR) 86-4, Ortiz (SCR), Petrewski (SCR). Javelin: Jacob Martinez (SCR) 124-8, Carrera (SCR), Bennett (WS). Long: Billy Maloney (SCR) 18-7, Dalzell (WS), Williams (SCR). Triple: Owen Farro (SCR) 37-6 3/4 , Williams (SCR), Roberto (SCR). High: Ismail Williams (SCR) 5-4, Manley (WS), Webb (SCR). Pole: Anthony Brown (SCR) 10-0, Johns (SCR), Farro (SCR).

Records: SCR 3-1, 3-0; WS 1-3, 0-2.

North Pocono 111, Honesdale 39

3200 Relay: North Pocono (Clarke, Dennebaum, Schield, Segiel) 12:48.5. 110 Hurdles: Kyle Wickizer (NP) 17.2, B. Wolff (NP), Youngblood (NP). 100: Colin Kravitz (NP) 11.6, Avery (HON), Luyster (NP). 1600: Aiden Horne (NP) 4:42.9, Logan (HON), Clarke (NP). 400 Relay: North Pocono (Wickizer, West, Layland, Blaine) 46.4. 400: Colin Kravitz (NP) 53.3, Esgro (NP), Layland (NP). 300 Hurdles: Jeffery Delgado-Santos (HON) 44.1, Wickizer (NP), Youngblood (NP). 800: Aidan LaTourette (HON) 2:20.3, Horne (NP), D'Albora (HON). 200: Colin Kravitz (NP) 23.7, West (NP), Avery (HON). 3200: Logan Novobilski (HON), 11:14.3, Clarke (NP), Horne (NP). 1600 Relay: North Pocono (Layland, Horne, Esgro, Kravitz) 3:58.2. Shot: Zach Hoover (NP) 40-4, Przywara (NP), Richards (NP). Discus: Josh Schriver (NP) 117-3, LeClair (HON), Winters (HON). Javelin: Nick Franceschelli (NP) 161-4, Winters (HON), West (NP). Long: Michael Blaine (NP) 16-11, Excel (NP), Benzie (NP). Triple: Zach Benzie (NP) 34-9 1/2 , Keast (HON), Cross (HON). High: Michael Blaine (NP) 5-8, Benzie (NP), Kobe (HON). Pole: Ryan Gross (HON) 10-6, Esgro (NP), Magnotta (NP).

Records: NP 4-0, 3-0; HON 1-3, 1-2.

Girls

Emily Franklin swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, Norah Wolff won the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles, and Soyer DeLucy won the long and triple jumps to lead North Pocono to a 104-46 win over Honesdale in Division II.

Rachael Collins won the 100, 200 and 400 for Honesdale.

West Scranton 74 1/2 , Scranton 71 1/2

3200 Relay: Scranton (Campbell, Cintron, Villanueva, King) 11:23.8. 100 Hurdles: Emily Stefani (WS) 17.4, Mitchell (SCR), David (SCR). 100: Abby Megotz (WS) 13.6, Smith (SCR), Cigliano (WS). 1600: Bella Noreika (SCR) 6:08.2, King (SCR), Roche (WS). 400 Relay: West Scranton (McDonough, Megotz, Stefani, Cigliano) 53.1. 400: Catherine Hill (SCR) 1:04.7, O'Shea (SCR), Megotz (WS). 300 Hurdles: Emily Stefani (WS) 52.3, Pfohl (WS), Mitchell (SCR). 800: Bella Noreika (SCR) 2:25.6 (school record; old mark, 2:27.82, Cecelia Babarsky, 2006), King (SCR) Villanueva (SCR). 200: Alaina Cigliano (WS) 28.7, Smith (SCR), O'Shea (SCR). 3200: Bella Noreika (SCR) 12:47.4, King (SCR), Roche (WS). 1600 Relay: West Scranton (McDonough, Cigliano, Megotz, Stefani) 4:22.9. Shot: Sahmira Menifee (WS) 29-6 1/2 , Randle (SCR), Gallagher (WS). Discus: Sahmira Menifee (WS) 65-4, Mercedez (WS), Polemitis (SCR). Javelin: Nina Gallgher (WS) 82-10, Menifee (WS), Tabone (WS). Long: Olivia Pfohl (WS) 16-1, Alers (SCR), Donovan (WS). Triple: Kamryn Alers (SCR) 29-3, Pfohl (WS) Lagene (SCR). High: Olivia Pfohl (WS) 4-6, Alers (SCR), Quddus (SCR) and Jeffrey (WS). Pole: Kim Lagene (SCR) 6-0.

Records: WS 2-2, 1-1; SCR 1-3, 1-2.

North Pocono 104, Honesdale 46

3200 Relay: North Pocono (G. Davis, Healey, Yeager, Palermo) 14:19.8. 100 Hurdles: Norah Wolf (NP) 18.1, Martin (HON), DeCesare (NP). 100: Rachel Collins (HON) 12.9, Kravitz (NP), LaFave (NP). 1600: Emily Franklin (NP) 5:35.4, Kretschmer (HON), Palermo (NP). 400 Relay: North Pocono (N. Wolff, LaFave, Kravitz, DeLucy) 54.3. 400: Rachel Collins (HON) 1:02.7, Kravitz (NP), Kromko (HON). 300 Hurdles: Norah Wolff (NP) 52.9, DeCesare (NP), Meager (HON). 800: Emily Franklin (NP) 2:33.6, Dahlgren (HON), Kretschmer (HON). 200: Rachel Collins (HON) 28.1 Kravitz (NP), LaFave (NP). 3200: Emily Franklin (NP) 13:28.9, Palermo (NP), Dahlgren (HON). 1600 Relay: North Pocono (DeCesare, Wolff, DeLucy, M. Davis) 4:41.2. Shot: Haile White (NP) 23-1 1/4 , Kehagias (HON), Rowe (HON). Discus: Elektra Kehagias (HON) 76-7, Bajor (NP), Luczak (NP). Javelin: Grace Williams (NP) 64-9, Erickson (NP), Cecacci (NP). Long: Soyer DeLucy (NP) 15-6, G. Davis (NP) Er. Meagher (HON). Triple: Soyer DeLucy (NP) 30-9 1/4 , Er. Meagher (HON), Bealer (NP). High: Elizabeth Meagher (HON) 4-7, DeCesare (NP), Bealer (NP). Pole: Olivia Bassi (NP) 8-6, M. Wolff (NP), LaFave (NP).

Records: NP 3-1, 2-1; HON 2-2, 1-2.

Contact the writer: jbfawcett@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9125; @sportsTT on Twitter