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YATESVILLE — With their championship dreams on the line, the Holy Redeemer Royals needed one more win at the wire.

Caroline Banas took them over the top.

Banas cleared 5 feet, 4 inches to win the high jump in the meet’s final event Thursday, lifting Redeemer over defending Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 girls track and field champion Wyoming Area, 77-73 and into first place in the division in a battle of unbeaten teams fighting for the league’s top spot.

“I’m just happy,” Banas said. “It came down to the last couple events.”

Make that the very last one.

Holding a one-point lead with one event left, the Royals needed a win in the high jump to win the meet at Pittston Area’s track.

They put their season on the legs of last year’s state high jump bronze medalist, and she didn’t disappoint.

Locked in a duel with Wyoming Area’s game Shelby Stackhouse, Banas easily cleared the heights of 5-2 and 5-3 on her first try, then needed two leaps to make 5-4.

“I wasn’t nervous,” Banas said. “I knew I would do it.”

So did Redeemer, which moved to 6-0 on the season and clinched at least a tie for the WVC Division 2 title. The Royals can lock up the crown in their regular season finale Tuesday against Northwest.

“It feels great,” Holy Redeemer coach Kevin Walters said. “We’ve always said success breeds success. To be at least co-champions — we can’t finish lower — is great. They work hard. They deserve it.”

The boys meet wasn’t quite as pressure-packed, as Wyoming Area rode three victories by Alex Chronowski and two by Ryan Murray to a 103-46 victory over Redeemer. Chronowski won the 200 and 400 dashes and ran on the 1,600-meter relay team, while Murray won in long jump and high jump.

The girls meet jumped back and forth throughout, as both teams played to their strengths.

Wyoming Area’s Bree Bednarski did her best to give the Warriors a shot, winning the 100 and 200 dashes, the javelin throw and anchoring the 400-meter relay. Meanwhile, Stackhouse won the long jump and pole vault. while Holy Redeemer’s Autumn Kaminski won both hurdles and led off the 1,600 relay as Lindsey Williams and Molly Holmes teamed on relays to wind up as double winners.

Wyoming Area swept the pole vault, long jump and javelin, while Holy Redeemer recorded sweeps in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs, along with the discus.

“What hurt us is we didn’t get one point in any of the distance events,” Wyoming Area coach Joe Pizano said. “But we knew that going into the meet. But our kids did a great job, set a lot of PRs today. Holy Redeemer has a great group of girls.”

Still, the Royals needed one more win to avoid having the meet wind up tied.

That could have happened after McKenna Dolan placed third in the high jump, if Stackhouse was able to out-leap Banas.

But the Royals senior standout refused to let it happen, drawing on her past big-meet experience to keep Redeemer on top.

“She was a great competitor, Shelby Stackhouse,” said Banas, who ran over and hugged her opponent the minute the meet was decided. “It really helped knowing I had the (bronze medal) finish at states and the experience indoors. I have a lot of confidence now. Some days I’m off.

“I was feeling it today.”

She felt her finishes on the track were just as important.

Banas ran anchor on the winning 1,600 relay team, and recorded second-place finishes in both the 200 and 400dashes. Without those critical points she provided, the outcome may have been much different.

“They have some good sprinters, but I got second in both,” Banas said. “I really pushed.

“Every point counts.”

Especially in a meet that goes right to the wire.

“I’m comfortable having her carry the meet on her shoulders,” Walters said of Banas. “I was excited to see the girls compete.

“Today was an outstanding meet.”

Girls

Holy Redeemer 77, Wyoming Area 73

3,200 relay — 1. HR (Holmes, Williams, Hons, Mullery) 11:34; 2. WA. 100 hurdles — 1. HR, Kaminski 15l5; 2. WA, Stackhouse; 3. WA, Spak. 100 — 1. WA, Bednarski 12.6; 2. WA, Rhodes; 3. HR, Kaminski. 1,600 — 1. HR, Williams 5:34; 2. HR, Holmes; 3. HR, Greer. 400 — 1. WA, Shedlock 61.8; 2. HR, Banas; 3. HR, Cavanaugh. 400 relay — 1. WA (Rhodes, Spak, Kranson, Bednarski) 51.2; 2. HR. 300 hurdles — 1. HR, Kaminski 47.3; 2. WA, Spak; 3. WA, Astolfi. 800 — 1. HR, Mullery 2:30; 2. HR, Hons; 3. HR, Holmes. 200 — 1. WA, Bednarski 26.1; 2. HR, Banas; 3. WA, Rhodes. 3,200 — 1. HR, Williams 11:47; 2. HR, Greer; 3. HR, Manley. 1,600 relay — 1. HR (Kaminski, Holmes, Cavanaugh, Banas) 4:20; 2. WA.

High jump — 1. HR, Banas 5-4; 2. WA, Stackhouse; 3. HR, Dolan. Pole vault — 1. WA, Stackhouse 9-0; 2. WA, Kopetchney; 3. WA, Pettit. Long jump — 1. WA, Stackhouse 16-3; 2. WA, Gurchak; 3. WA, Shedlock. Triple jump — 1. WA, Shedlock 34-4; 2. WA, Gurchak; 3. HR, Dolan. Shot put — 1. HR, Christian 34-2; 2. WA, Rescinti; 3. HR, Soboleski. Discus — 1. HR, Hilenski 106-0; 2. HR, Tomassura; 3. HR, Christian. Javelin — 1. WA, Bednarski 109-0; 2. WA, Coolbaugh; 3. WA, Wright.

Boys

Wyoming Area 103, Holy Redeemer 46

3,200 relay — 1. HR (Brown, Volpetti, Weybrecht, Capaci) 9:06; 2. WA. 110 hurdles — 1. WA, Shaver 18.2; 2. WA, Semanek; 3. HR, Benway. 100 — 1. WA, R. Murphy 11.8; 2. WA, Giordano; 3. WA, M. Murphy. 1,600 — 1. HR, Hoda 4:45; 2. HR, Williams; 3. HR, Volpetti. 400 — 1. WA, Chronowski 53.3; 2. HR, Banas; 3. HR, Fahey. 400 relay — 1. WA (Angeli, Giordano, M. Murphy, R. Murphy) 45.8; 2. HR. 300 hurdles — 1. WA, Shaver 46.9; 2. HR, Benway; 3. WA, Semanek. 800 — 1. HR, Capaci 2:07; 2. HR, Weybrecht; 3. HR, Brown. 200 — 1. WA, Chronowski 23.7; 2. WA, M. Murphy; 3. WA, R. Murphy. 3,200 — 1. HR, Hoda 10:50; 2. HR, Stevens; 3. HR, Strish. 1,600 relay — 1. WA (R. Murphy, M. Murphy, Chronowski, Buczynski) 3:41; 2. HR.

High jump — 1. WA, Murray 5-6; 2. WA, Buczynski; 3. HR, Aiello. Pole vault — 1. WA, Klaproth 12-0; 2. WA, Lagrue. Long jump — 1. WA, Murray 19-0; 2. WA, Acacio; 3. WA, Ansuli. Triple jump — 1. WA, Acacio 38-7; 2. WA, Murphy; 3. WA, Ansuli. Shot put — 1. HR, Brennan 36-9.50; 2. WA, Burton; 3. WA, Carr. Discus — 1. WA, Carr 121-3; 2. WA, Minnick-Sokach; 3. WA, Blannett. Javelin — 1. WA, Minnick-Sokach 144-10; 2. WA, Acacio; 3. WA, Higley.

Sal Aiello of Holy Redeemer competes in the triple jump Thursday at Pittston Area High School.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_waredeemertrack02-1.jpg.optimal.jpgSal Aiello of Holy Redeemer competes in the triple jump Thursday at Pittston Area High School. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader

Bobby Acacio of Wyoming Area competes in the triple jump on Thursday at Pittston Area High School.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_waredeemertrack03-1.jpg.optimal.jpgBobby Acacio of Wyoming Area competes in the triple jump on Thursday at Pittston Area High School. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader

Nick Brown of Holy Redeemer leads David Alberigi of Wyoming Area in the first leg of the 3200m relay at Pittston Area High School on Thursday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_waredeemertrack01-1.jpg.optimal.jpgNick Brown of Holy Redeemer leads David Alberigi of Wyoming Area in the first leg of the 3200m relay at Pittston Area High School on Thursday. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader
State bronze medalist’s dramatic victory in high jump secures 1st place for Redeemer

By Paul Sokoloski

[email protected]

Patriots run ends at Jordan Relays

By Tom Robinson

For Times Leader

SCRANTON — Pittston Area’s three-year run as Class 3A girls champion came to an end Thursday night in the 61st annual Jordan Relays at Memorial Stadium.

The Patriots wound up fifth out of 11 teams, but did return home with one silver medal.

Jenna Smith, Jessica Tighe, Jamie Chisdock and Angelica Singer finished the 4×100-meter relay in 51.45 seconds to finish second in 3A behind team champion Wallenpaupack.

Pittston Area and Tunkhannock joined the 22 Lackawanna Track Conference schools for the event, which consists of six relays – the three held throughout the season and three medley races that feature legs of different lengths.

The Patriots finished with 24 points in the girls standings. Wallenpaupack outscored Abington Heights, 51-42, for the title. Tunkhannock was ninth with eight points.

Host Scranton beat Wallenpaupack, 42-41, for the Class 3A boys title. Pittston Area tied for 10th with four points. Tunkhannock did not enter the boys races.

The Pittston Area girls had fourth-place finishes in the two longest races of the night, the distance medley and the 4×800 relay.

Tara Johnson, Sam Mayers and Maddy Mimnaugh ran both events. Mia Barbieri led off the distance medley while Arianna Boccardi led off the 4×800.

The best Pittston Area boys finish came in the 1,200 sprint medley where Matt Ambrose, Kemar Woodruff, Richard Wallace and Naseem Guillaume placed seventh.

Tunkhannock also picked up one medal. Gianna Scotti, Kayla Sholes, Sarah Ross and Morgan Manglaviti took third in the 1,200 sprint medley.

Reach Paul Sokoloski at 570-991-6392 or on Twitter @TLPaulSokoloski