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LEHMAN TWP. – Even with a queasy stomach, Tyler Burger was displaying his uncanny ability to make the rest of the field look weak on a track.
Over in the field events, Emily Johns was showing off signs of her awesome strength.
Together, they flipped the switch on the 2015 track and field season and triggered an evening of electricity.
Burger barreled his way to victory in the 110 hurdles and long jump Thursday while leading the Northwest boys to a 95-47 victory over Lake-Lehman while Johns set a new Lake-Lehman girls record in the shot put while sparking the Black Knights to a 98.5-51.5 win over Northwest.
“The girls team, in field events and running events, we’re pretty strong,” Johns said. “I take pride in being on the team and being able to contribute.”
Her contributions Thursday were history making.
Johns actually broke a Lehman girls record that stood since 2002 with her first shot put throw of the season, then topped that with a distance of 42 3/4 feet to set the new school standard. Her third and final throw wasn’t quite as far, but would have also beaten the old Black Knights mark of 39.6 feet.
The scary part is, the sophomore may not be done topping herself.
“This is a record I think I can break again and again,” Johns said, “and keep improving upon it.”
Johns also placed first in the discus and finished second in the javelin throw behind senior Cayle Spencer, who already holds the school record in that event.
The field performances teamed nicely with some strong running performances by the Lehman girls, who were also boosted by three wins by sprinter Katie Supey (in the 100 dash, 200 dash and as part of the 400 relay team).
“Honestly, there’s a lot of talent on the team,” Lehman coach John Sobocinski said. “There are some holes in the lineup. We wanted to find out about ourselves. If we can find the right lineup, we could be on to something.”
For a little while before the opener, Burger was on his back while trying to shake off an upset stomach.
“I think it was something I ate, I’m feeling really bad,” Burger said.
His season debut was pretty good, though.
Although his illness kept him from running the 300 hurdles – an event that brought him a Class 2A bronze medal at states last season – Burger picked up victories in the 110 hurdles, long jump and high jump.
“I think I did OK for being sick,” Burger said.
The Rangers, who went unbeaten through the last two Wyoming Valley Conference Division II seasons, also rode a couple other big winners to keep their league winning streak rolling.
Austin Mazonkey captured the 100 dash, discus and javelin events and junior Tanner Kennedy finished first in the triple jump and 200 dash and was part of two winning relay teams.
“It’s awesome to be on a good surface and run our full events,” Northwest coach Todd Culver said. “Burger’s a little under the weather today. He’s a competitor, he’s going to compete where he can. We had to count on some other guys to come through.”
Dominic Hockenbury came through with a victory for the Lehman boys in the 1,600 run, but wasn’t on the track for the 3,200 – where he won a PIAA Class 2A gold medal last season.
“He ran the mile in 4:30 flat and we sent him out on a run (of his own),” Sobocinski said. “He’s got big things on the horizon.”
Lehman’s Matthew Edkins – coming off a state diving bronze medal in swimming and diving – finished first in the event Burger skipped, the 300 hurdles. And Penn State football recruit Connor McGovern flung the boys shot put 45 1/4 feet to give the Black Knights promise in that event.
“Last year he threw 44 at districts and took third place,” Sobocinski said. “This should put him in the mix as one of the top (Class 2A) boys at districts. Connor’s a big, strong kid. Once he develops his legs and learns to use his legs and learns his technique, we think he’s going to throw it over 50 feet this year.”
BOYS
Northwest95, Lake-Lehman 47
3,200 relay — 1. LL (Chris Sabol, Crous, McMonagel, Arwaugh), 11:30; 110 hurdles — 1. NW, Tyler Burger, 15.0; 2. NW, Jacob Anderson; 3. LL, Chaga; 100 — 1. NW, Austin Mazonkey 11.5; 2. LL, Ouladelhad; 3. LL, Trey Borger; 1,600 — 1. LL, Dominic Hockebury 4:30; 2. LL, Chris Sabol; 3. NW, Jebb Klock; 400 — 1. NW, Zach Briggs, 57.8; 2. NW, Austin Simonson; 3. LL, McMonagel; 400 relay — 1. NW (Tanner Kennedy, Ben Krouse, Zach Briggs, Austin Simonson) 47.2; 2. LL; 300 hurdles — 1. LL, Matthew Edkins 45.8; 800 — 1. NW, Jebb Klock 2:19; 2. LL, Newman; 3. NW, Robert Gallopo; 200 — 1. NW, Tanner Kennedy 23.4; 2. NW, Zach Briggs; 3. LL, Zach; 3,200 — 1. LL, Chris Sabol 11:13; 2. NW, Jebb Klock; 3. NW, Robert Gallopo; 1,600 relay — 1. NW (Austin Simonson, Austin Mazonkey, Tanner Kennedy, Zach Briggs) 3:17; 2. LL.
High jump — 1. NW, Tyler Burger; Pole vault — 1. NW, Ben Krouse 11-0; 2. NW, Noah McGovern; 3. NW, Austin Simonson; Long jump — 1. NW, Tyler Burger 19-11 1/2; 2. LL, Weaver; 3. NW, Jacob Anderson; Triple jump — 1. NW, Tanner Kennedy 37-10 1/4; 2. NW, Jacob Anderson; 3. LL, Weaver; Shot put — 1. LL, Connor McGovern 45-5 1/4; 2. NW, Curtis Whitmire; 3. LL, Hoyt; Discus — 1. NW, Austin Mazonkey 132-3; 2. LL, Connor McGovern; 3. NW, Curtis Whitmire; Javelin — 1. NW, Austin Mazonkey 147-9; 2. LL, Kinney; 3. NW, Curtis Whitmire.
GIRLS
Lake-Lehman 98.5, Northwest 51.5
3,200 relay — 1. LL (Vasey, Jade Fry, Krystin Chaga, Julia Hutsko) 10:41; 2. NW; 100 hurdles — 1. NW, Sarah Zultevicz 18.3; 2. LL, Marie Johns; 3. LL, Lundley; 100 — 1. LL, Katie Supey 13.4; 2. LL Kubiski; 3. NW, Emma Wyllie; 1,600 — 1. LL, Jade Fry 6:00; 2. LL, Pembleton; 3. LL, Julia Hutsko; 400 — 1. NW, Jordan Everett 68.4; 2. LL, Katie Bartuska; 3. LL, Kimble; 400 relay — 1. LL (Kubiski, Ayers, Lynea Gregory, Katie Supey) 53.5; 2. NW; 300 hurdles — 1. LL, Garnide 53.7; 2. LL, Marie Johns; 3. NW, Ella Coppola; 800 — 1. LL, Vasey 2:24.2; 2. LL, Jade Fry; 3. LL, Pembleton; 200 — 1. LL, Katie Supey 29.9; 2. NW, Emma Wyllie; 3. LL, Garnick and NW, Landree Wilkin; 3,200 — 1. NW, Katie Jones 13.32; 2. LL, Hutsko; 3. LL, Krystin Chaga; 1,600 relay — 1. NW (Haidyn Weber, Emma Everett, Ashley Brubaker, Jordan Everett) 4:40; 2. LL.
High jump — 1. NW, Taylor Pawlik 4-10; 2. LL, Lindley; 3. LL, Martin; Pole vault — 1. LL, Julia Hutsko; 2. LL, Marie Johns; 3. NW, Haidyn Weber; Long jump — 1. NW, Taylor Pawlik 14-5; 2. NW, Sarah Zultevicz; 3. NW, Maggie Dow; Triple jump — 1. NW, Sarah Zultevicz 28-4 1/2; 2. NW, Ella Coppola; 3. LL, E. Bartuska; Shot put — 1. LL, Emily Johns 42-0 3/4; 2. LL, Cayle Spencer; 3. NW, Kennedy MacLean; Discus — 1. LL, Emily Johns 119-0; 2. LL, Cayle Spencer; 3. NW, Katie Noss; Javelin — 1. LL, Cayle Spencer 111-0; 2. LL, Emily Johns; 3. NW, Kennedy MacLean.