SCRANTON — Ryan Mecca, Carter Sload, Weston Yannone and Jacob Costanzo each sprinted with confidence and determination and finished off an onslaught at the District 2 Class 2A Track and Field Championships in style.

The foursome stormed to a win in the 1,600-meter relay, closing out with a time of 3 minutes, 25.20 seconds, to conclude two days of dominance at the Scranton Veterans Memorial Stadium.

By adding the fifth gold medal to their haul, the Bucks totaled 124 points to win the program’s first team championship since 1991. Elk Lake was second with 87 points; Riverside finished third with 76.33 points; and Mid Valley, which had won the last three titles, was fourth with 66 points on a successful meet for teams from the Lackawanna Track Conference.

“This means a lot to us all,” said Dunmore senior Ryan Mecca, who ran a blistering first 400 meters in the final race of the afternoon. “I had to decide on what events I wanted to run, but I ultimately wanted to only run the 4 by 4, so I saved myself. We have three of the best 400 runners in the state, and I had the utmost confidence in them.

“It feels great.”

While Dunmore athletes paraded to the top step on the award’s podium, the Montrose girls team had balance and consistency throughout the meet. The Lady Meteors also finished with a gold in the 1,600-meter relay to capture their second team championship in the last five years with 125 points.

Mid Valley and record-breaker Olivia Thomas totaled 97.5 points to finish second; Western Wayne had 94.5 points; and Lakeland, last year’s champion, finished with 85.33 points.

“It is so amazing to have a team with so much depth in talent,” said Montrose junior Sadie Jones, who ran the anchor leg of the champion relay for the Lady Meteors. “Everyone was willing to put in the work. Even if they have to do multiple events in a day, we all pull it all together, and we are very happy with how everybody performed.”

Dunmore had a second straight gold rush
Weston Yannone won the 110 hurdles in 14.74 seconds, finishing ahead of teammate Xavier Burke, and the 100 in back-to-back events, and with his contribution on the 1,600 relay, he collected four gold medals overall. He won the 300 hurdles Monday. 

“This means the world to me,” Yannone said. “I got the opportunity to run in both with good preliminary times. After running the 110s first today, I was a little gassed. My top speed got going, and I won the 100. Winning the 110s was an amazing race. My teammate, Xavier, got me into hurdling. I am glad that I got the chance to be out here.”

Jacob Costanzo established a big lead early and closed with a burst of power to set a District 2 record in the 400 meters. He won in 48.88 seconds to beat the previous mark of 49.34 held by Bishop Hoban graduate Ed Desciak since 1988.

He was able to avenge a loss to Montrose’s Nico Christian, who qualified for the state meet in 49.39.

Later, Costanzo tied his school record, which he set in the preliminaries, to win the 200 in 22.29 for a third gold medal.

“It is a great feeling, and I didn’t even know that I was capable of doing this,” Costanzo said. “Just hearing that time of 48.88 is unbelievable. When I looked at the scoreboard and saw that, I was in shock.”

While Dunmore’s talent stole the show, Elk Lake’s Kendel Jones impressively put a bow on his District 2 Class 2A career.

Last year’s Times-Tribune Boys Track and Field Performer of the Year started his final district meet with a meet record in the 1,600. Pushed by teammate Cody Adams and a field of competitors that featured six finishing better than 4:30, Jones won in 4:14.84. He eclipsed the meet record of 4:17.44 held by Meyers’ Mark Merlie since 1982 and equaled by Dallas’ Hugh Mundy in 1989.

“I was really happy with how this turned out,” Jones said. “I was hoping for a 4:10, but I am just so thankful for the record. I ran a couple of tough events on Monday. I am excited to see what I can do at states.”

In his fourth and final event, Jones darted out to a quick lead in the 800 and pulled a collection of runners along, trying to challenge him. He came across in 1:54.86, and the next six runners — Lake-Lehman’s Bodhi Cronin (1:55.26) and Finn Cronin (1:58.03), Holy Redeemer’s Joshua Cackowski (1:58.09), Susquehanna’s Maxx Kelly (1:58.36), Elk Lake’s Trevor Upright (1:58.46), and Lake-Lehman’s Stephen Martin (1:58.50) — surpassed the state qualifying standard.

“All of my main events were done, so I wanted to try the 800 this year,” Jones said. “I felt really good. I knew there would be great competition, so I was really happy to compete. My career means a lot to me, as does competing in a very competitive district. I also want to give all the glory to God for all that I have accomplished.”

Montrose pulls away in girls team race

Montrose capped its performance and championship postseason that included wins at the Jordan Relays and Robert Spagna Championships with a win in the 1,600 relay.

Avery Kerr, Molly Weller and Carly Frey joined Sadie Jones on the winning team that had a time of 4:09.83.

“There are a lot of us going to states,” said Sadie Jones, who won the javelin Monday and qualified for the state meet in the long and triple jump. “We are looking forward to it.”

Anna Tillotson captured the shot put with a mark of 32-9.25. The event included her sister, Erin Tillotson, finishing fourth (31-10.25) and teammate June McGee sixth (29-7.5) for a valuable 18 team points.

“I am very excited to win this gold medal,” Anna Tillotson said. “I had a good tennis season, and I weightlifted, which really helped me win this medal.”

Once again, Thomas ripped up the pages of the record book.

After setting a mark in the long jump and the 100 hurdles in the preliminaries Monday, she added the triple jump with a massive distance of 40-10.75. It beat the record of 38-8.5 held by Montrose’s Julia Koloski, a former state champion, since 2010.

“I think this was an absolutely amazing experience,” Thomas said. “Having my teammates, my family, and my coaches here supporting me was great. It is really exciting for me.”

In addition, Thomas also won the 100 hurdles (14.60), then teamed with Madison George, Karsyn Caines and Keri Michaels to win the 400 relay (50.19). A freshman, she earned four gold medals and set three meet records.

Olivia Haines and Olivia Moyer led Western Wayne to its third-place team finish.

In the sprints, Haines swept the 100, where she was the defending champion, in 12.70 and the 200 in 25.92.

“This is amazing to know that all my work paid off to defend my title,” Haines said. “I hit the weights a lot. It is my favorite thing to do. That helped me a lot. I felt quick.”

Western Wayne has the most successful pole vault program in Class 2A. That was proven, again, as Moyer captured the event with a height of 10-0.

“I am excited,” Moyer said. “I was extremely happy with my jumps. This is great.”

Lakeland sophomore Bria Hill won her first career individual gold medal in the 400 in 58.49 seconds. She also won silver medals in the 100 and 200 and a bronze as a member of the 1,600 relay for the Lady Chiefs.

“I am ecstatic,” Hill said. “I am looking forward to seeing what I can do at states.”