There might have been some pre-meet jitters Friday night ahead of Tamaqua’s Blue Raider Invitational.

But it certainly didn’t look like it once the 11th annual event got underway.

Times News area athletes were crowned champions in nine individual events and one relay.

Jim Thorpe had six different champions, with Laura Clarke placing first in two events.

“Just happy,” Clarke said. “It’s the first invite, so with all the nerves, it’s nice.”

In addition to Clarke, Jim Thorpe’s David Richards, Aiden Clements, Ryan Bailor, Nicole Carroll and Katrin Cavanaugh, Lehighton’s Haley Ginder and Brittney Bartasavage, along with the Weatherly boys 3200 relay all picked up wins.

“It feels good, honestly,” said Clarke. “I’m happy with how I performed, and also how my teammates performed. It was really nice. But I’m very happy. Looking to improve, but happy with how I did.”

Clarke’s mark of 33-10.75 won the shot put, and her throw of 100-11 helped her secure first in the discus.

“I hoped that I would get first, and I am very happy that I was able to do that today,” said Clarke of the shot put. “But I was looking for a PR, which I was a little bit short of. But we’ll keep working after it.”

The senior hit 34-1 in the team’s scrimmage.

She threw 100-11 to win the discus.

A victory in the shot put served as motivation as Clarke moved forward in the meet.

“It really pushes me to do better in each event,” Clarke said. “Because I know if I can do good in one event, I know I can do good in all events. So it’s a balance of all three.”

Clarke has made tremendous progress in each of her events.

“I am feeling more comfortable in discus at this point, just because I have been really working on my full spin, and getting my footwork down. It’s now finally starting to click.

“They’re both similar, one I’m just progressing a little faster than the other. So shot I’m a little behind.”

Clarke is also an avid snowboarder, spending about five months of the year on the slopes, something she believes helps her in discus.

“I can do 360s and all sorts of stuff,” she said. “I feel more comfortable spinning and doing those things.

“In shot put it’s definitely more power. But discus is a little more technique.”

Clarke also recorded a second-place finish in the javelin with a throw of 107-03.

Cavanaugh soared over 8-6 to win the pole vault.

Richards cleared 6-0 to win the high jump. Marian’s Jose Ramirez also cleared 6-0 to finish second.

Richards was first in the high jump at last year’s Schuylkill League meet.

“It was awesome to see him jumping so well and getting PRs,” said Richards. “Having that competition really helps me. It pushes me. I wanted to go a little bit higher today, but that’s OK.”

Richards also ran to a second place finish in the 110 hurdles with a time of 16.26.

Clements won the pole vault, clearing 12-0.

“I’m really happy. I’m glad that I got first place,” said Clements. “But I’m really shooting to PR. I just got 13-0 in our first meet. So I need some practice with this newer pole to get higher. But I’m hoping to get consistently higher and higher as we go. Right now, my PR is 13-0, but I’m hoping to just keep getting better.”

Clements punched his ticket to states last season with a runner-up finish in the pole vault, clearing a personal best 12-9, in Class 3A.

“I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it wasn’t for last season,” said Clements. “Luckily, I managed to pick up where I left off, which has been tremendous, and I’m tankful for that.”

Bailor cruised to a win in the 1600 with a time of 4:40.35.

“It feels great,” said Bailor. “I’ve really put in a lot of work in the weight room, cleaning up my diet and just adding more miles. I think that’s really helped me in this race.”

Bailor was a state qualifier in cross-country this past fall.

Carroll won the 400 with a time of 1:04.72.

She was also a state qualifier during this cross country season.

Ginder jumped 4-10 to win the high jump.

“My PR in a meet is 5-0, so it’s very good to be getting up there,” said Ginder. “But it feels good. It feels like I already have a jump start, so that helps.”

Ginder hit her personal best at Tamaqua last year during the league meet.

Bartasavage was second in the event (4-8).

“We push each other, we motivate each other,” said Ginder. “It’s very fun to have her with me.”

Ginder has worked to increase her vertical, and credits doing gymnastics growing up for helping her in the event.

“I did it for about 10, 12 years,” said Ginder, who also plays volleyball. “So I think it really helped me out a lot.

“I really hope to advance to 5-4 by the end of the year, and hopefully someday break our school record, which is 5-6.”

The school record is held by current high jump coach Vanessa Rimbey.

“She helps me tremendously when we work together,” said Ginder. “She gives me great advice.”

Bartasavage ran a 16.25 in the finals to win the 100 hurdles.

“I’m very happy,” said Bartasavage. “It’s been a tough start to the season. I haven’t really been running my usual times; I’ve had some shin problems, but I just have to push through.

“Today was some good competition, and it pushed me to get through it. I was looking to stay under a 16.2. Sadly, that didn’t happen, but we were close. Hopefully I’ll be able to keep improving that.”

Bartasavage advanced to states in the 100 hurdles with a second-place finish at districts in 15.61. At leagues she placed first in both the 100 hurdles and the 300 hurdles.

In a meet like Friday’s, Bartasavage pushed herself to do the best that she could.

“The competition is good for me,” said Bartasavage, who ran a 16.81 in the prelims. “I saw Abby Frew coming, and I was neck and neck with her, and I knew I had to pick it up.”

Frew was second with a time of 16.8.

The team of Frankie Willis, Michael Berger, Jacob Parker and Ricky Ray cruised to a win in the 3200 relay with a time of 8:47.09, just off their school record, which is 8:46.

The camaraderie of the group has made them a formidable pairing.

It also doesn’t hurt that they all went to states together as a team during cross country season.

“We’re together pretty much all year,” said Parker. “They all play basketball; I’m the only one that doesn’t. But pretty much all year we’re together.”

“We just have that focus from cross country. We never want to not get first place at any race. Every race, we want to win it, and we train for it, and we just give each other that drive and emotion to go out and compete hard, every day.”

MEDALISTS

... The following area athletes recorded second-place finishes: Lehighton’s Richard Houser (shot put, 43-0) and Isabella Mystkowski (pole vault, 7-6) and Tamaqua’s Kaziah Streisel (shot put, 32-11.5). The following athletes finished third: Jim Thorpe’s Katelynn Bos (3200, 12:54.49), Lehighton’s Ethan Buchert (100, 11.61). Zander Bauer (discus, 114-9), Brayden Lutz (triple jump, 39-11) and the girls’ 3200 relay (10:52.03), Panther Valley’s Austin Hadley (shot put, 40-06.25), Tamaqua’s Ashley Jones (100 hurdles, 17.0), Grace Stegemerten (1600, 5:55.46) and Shyann Weighknecht (discus, 90-11)

HOW FAST?!

... Blue Mountain’s Olivia Haas won the 1600 with a time of 4:55.43. Minersville’s Paige Mitchell was second with a time of 5:54.29.

THAT’S ALL!

... The meet was called early after a heavy rain storm moved through the area while the boys’ 400 was still being contested. The boys and girls 300 hurdle finals, 800 finals, 200 finals, 1600 relay and boys 3200, along with the 400 tanker relays, were not run.