JORDAN RELAYS: Abington Heights, Western Wayne repeat as girls champions

Joby Fawcett, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
·3 min read

May 7—YATESVILLE — Megan Malone was enjoying her lunch when she received a call with a daunting assignment.

Abington Heights track coach Mike Ludka needed her to add a race to her already busy schedule for the 65th Jordan Relays on Thursday night.

And it required Malone to run back-to-back 400-meter legs.

Without hesitation, she agreed.

It's that willingness that feeds the Lady Comets' dynasty. And it did again, as Malone ran on two gold-medal winning teams and sparked Abington Heights to a fourth straight girls Class 3A crown with 52 points at Charley Trippi Stadium on the campus of Pittston Area High School.

Valley View finished second with 36 points and this year's host, Pittston Area, finished third with 34.

"I was pretty nervous, but I knew that coach needed me," said Malone, who competed in four events. "It was a really big meet and race, so I volunteered and said to keep me in the two 400s. I was really confident about it and I am really glad to do it."

Malone ran a 400 in the 1,600 medley and helped Abington Heights to a second-place finish to Valley View, then took the track for another 400 in the 1,600 relay which was the next event. There, she teamed with Ellie Smith, Anna Scoblick and Marygrace Sabatini to win with a time of 4 minutes, 21.76 seconds.

Those same four runners also struck gold in the 1,200 medley with a time of 3:02.29, while the Lady Comets' team of Abby Marion, Kristin Lipkus, Maia Arcangelo, Emma Horsley won the 3,200 relay in 10:44.01.

"Getting those medals and the overall win really motivates you," Malone said.

Valley View's team of Madison Markiewicz, Ava Sherman, Samantha Adams, Brianna Zipay won the 1,600 medley in 4:32.61 with a late surge from Zipay on her 800-meter leg. Scranton Prep won the opening Distance Medley when the team of Avery Tompkins, Frances Doherty, Julie Kelly, Rita Collins crossed in 10:02.41. Pittston Area's team of Lauren Lopresto, Aria Messner, Giavanna Innamorati, Jakiya Kroon won in 50.07.

Class 2A

In a balanced meet where five schools won gold in six events, Western Wayne had more depth overall and cruised to a fourth straight title with 40 points.

The Lady 'Cats won one event, the 3,200 relay, and added three second-place finishes to stave off Dunmore and Lakeland which tied for second with 33 points.

"I am just so happy to be a part of this team," Western Wayne's Haley Estus said. "Our team really stepped it up in this meet."

Estus teamed with Kayla Stokesberry, Madison Kammer and Sydney Hutchinson to win the 3,200 relay in 10:32.21 for Western Wayne's only gold medal.

"Our time has really improved over the course of the season, so we were excited to run a fast time here," Estus said. "We actually broke into the top five times all time at our school, so that was big."

Dunmore was the only one to win two races. The Lady Bucks teams Serenity Fox, Sienna Delfino, Alexis Chapman, Abby Springer won in 54.24 and Chapman, Molly Zimmer, Springer and Katie Alunni won the 1,200 medley in 3:12.50.

Elk Lake's team of Dannica Wagner, Makayla Wagner, Davia Adams and Krista Jones won the Distance Medley in 10:06.31, Carbondale Area's team of Megan Cosklo, Alyssa Cosklo, Madeline Borders and Rachel Korty won the 1,600 medley 4:40.96, and Lakeland's team of Kaylee Lorenzetti, Madelyn James, Reese Kearney and Skylar Arendt won the 1,600 relay in 4:24.07.

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