Newcomers who dominated the headlines throughout the high school track and field season are set to have an impact at the 20th Robert Spagna Championships.

Mid Valley freshman Olivia Thomas and Abington Heights freshman Aliya Lucarelli came into this season with glowing resumes at the junior high level. They have exceeded expectations, emerging as top-level talent in the Lackawanna Track Conference. Both will showcase their unique abilities at Scranton Veterans Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, starting at 4 p.m. The meet is scored straight with no separation according to a school’s classification.

Thomas ambushed the Mid Valley school record book from the first meet, excelling in the 100-meter hurdles, long jump, triple jump and high jump, and has put the 400 relay team in the conference’s upper echelon.

Thomas has a leap of 19 feet, 5.5 inches, which is the best school-record distance in LTC history. Her record of 38-8.75 is third-best, behind Montrose’s Julia Koloski’s 39-0 and Wallenpaupack’s Anastasia Ioppolo’s 38-9.75. She also has a fully automatic time (FAT) of 14.73 seconds and a school-record converted time of 14.44 for the 100 hurdles, which is second to Lakeland’s Cassidy Jenkins’ FAT time of 14.28.

Lucarelli played a key role in Abington Heights winning a 19th straight Division I girls championship. She posted the fastest hand-held times in the conference for the 100 (12.34) and the 200 (25.94) during the regular season. Both of her FAT times of 12.47 and 25.59 rank first in the LTC.

Abington Heights is the overwhelming favorite to win its fourth straight Class 3A girls title. Montrose, Mid Valley, and Lakeland, last year’s champion, are the top contenders in the girls’ Class 2A team race.

Abington Heights’ senior Anna Pucilowski is the returning champion in the 1,600 and 3,200, and Kiana Seid is the returning champion in the high jump. Lakeland’s Kaylyn Davis is the returning champion in the javelin. Mid Valley’s Natalie Talluto, who has missed several meets with an injury, won the 100 hurdles last season.

In the boys’ meet, Dunmore and Riverside are expected to be in a heated battle for the Class 2A team championship. Abington Heights, the LTC Division I champion, and Wallenpaupack, the LTC Division II winner, will battle for the Class 3A crown.

While not a newcomer to varsity competition, Dunmore’s Weston Yannone is one for his team. The former Susquehanna standout could not participate at the Spagna Championships last year after moving to Dunmore and transferring after the final regular-season meet.

This spring, after owning the spotlight with school-record-setting performances in the 110 hurdles (14.24), 300 hurdles (38.24), and 200 (22.54), Yannone is expected to keep the Bucks in the thick of the Class 2A team chase. They are the defending champions.

Dunmore teammate Carter Sload, who set a school record in the high jump at 6-6, is the returning champion.

Riverside, which won its first Jordan Relays Class 2A team title last week, appears to be the top challenge to Dunmore. The Vikings are led by school-record-setting distance runners Michael Schimelfenig (4:29.44 in the 1,600) and Michael Connor (2:02.44 in the 800).

Riverside’s Brayden Rose won the long jump last season.

Abington Heights has strength in the field. Carter Plantz is one of the top athletes in the shot put and discus, and Derek Williams had the top distance in the LTC Division I for the javelin (153-5).

Wallenpaupack’s Aiden Janowicz had the fastest school record in LTC history for the 800 (1:53.14) in the regular-season finale against North Pocono. He is also part of the Buckhorns’ 1,600 relay team that includes Bryce Pagano, Izael Rodriguez, and Dawid Mrowka, which set a Jordan Relays record of 3:24.40.

Wallenpaupack’s Ryan Vargo is the defending champion in the discus.

In addition to Sload, Rose, and Vargo, there are six other returning champions. Mid Valley’s Matthew Repecki won the 1,600, Lakeland’s Rocco Spataro won the javelin, Scranton Prep’s Vincent O’Malley won the 800, Lackawanna Trail’s Avery Ronchi won the 3,200, Holy Cross’ Kevin Vincent won the triple jump, and Western Wayne’s Anthony Yannone won the pole vault.

20th SPAGNA CHAMPIONSHIPS

When: Tuesday, 4 p.m.

Where: Scranton Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Defending champions: Abington Heights (Girls 3A), Lakeland (Girls 2A), Abington Heights (Boys 3A), Dunmore (Boys 2A).