DELAWARE STATE MEET 

Juliana Balon Wins Four Events As Pandas Pad State Streak

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

The Padua girls track and field legacy continued to grow at the Delaware State Track and Field Championships. Held May 19-20 at Dover High School.

The Pandas rolled to their 11th straight state championship, including nine straight in Division I, with 187.6 points. Junior Juliana Balon won the 100 meter dash (11.98), the 200 (24.75), the 400 (55.67) and long jump (19-2.25) for a perfect 40 points. A year ago, Balon won the three track races but finished second in the long jump.

Smyrna finished second place in the team standings for the seventh straight year. 

In boys Division I action, the Salesianum boys scored 124 points to easily win the championship again. Junior Jason Truitt won the 200 (21.60) and finished second in the 100 (10.83). Salesianum also won the 4x100 and 4x200 relay titles. 

After a tie last year with St. Mark’s, the Tatnall girls didn’t leave anything to chance. The team scored 162 points to win the Division II title. St. Mark’s was second with 123 points. Tatnall sophomore Katie Payne placed first in the 800 (2:17.06), 1,600 (5:00.59) and second in the 3,200 (10:54.42).

Caravel Academy’s Kennedy Smith, a freshman, had a big day, winning the 300 hurdles (44.56) and placing second in the 100 hurdles (14.81). She also won the 100 (12.20) and 200 (25.24) dash finals.

The Alexis I. DuPont High boys scored 106 points to win the Division II title. It was an exciting finish as the team secured the win when senior Dallas Parker won the pole vault at the end of the meet, clearing 13 feet.

Delaware Military Academy was second with 99 points as sophomore distance star Ethan Walther completed the triple, winning the 800 (1:56.65), 1,600 (4:21.24) and 3,200 (9:39.07). 

Team Champions 

Division I- Salesianum boys 124 points, Padua girls 187.6 points -  RESULTS 

Division II - Alexis DuPont boys 106 points, Tatnall girls 162 points - RESULTS