A number of Whitehall track and field athletes used this winter to sharpen their skills in preparation for the upcoming season.

They participated in a number of events that should help bridge the gap between the offseason and the spring season which is just around the corner.

Whitehall head coach Jim Sebesta said that it was a good opportunity to get a lot of their younger kids some experience.

“It was the first time on a track for a lot of these kids,” said Sebesta.

Sebesta said that they had 45 student-athletes come out for winter track, and of that number, usually 25 or so saw action in their meets.

It began with the Maroon and Gold Invitational on Dec. 19 at Kutztown University. They were competing against 49 teams at Kutztown’s O’Pake Fieldhouse.

Calvin Schneck turned in a excellent performance in the 800 meters, finishing second in 2:07.16. Andrew Hawk finished 15th in the same race, crossing the line in 2:17.58.

Those two would also compete in the high jump, with Hawk nailing down the 12th spot with a 5-2 mark, while Schneck was next at 13 with the same height.

The Zephs also got a top-ten finish from Elliot Miller who finished eighth in the pole vault. He cleared the bar at 11-0.

Jahrod Amoroso also earned a top-ten finish. He did so in the 55-meter hurdles, taking the tape in 8.92 which earned him the 10th spot.

The Zephs were also among the teams in the top ten in the 4x400 meter relays. The group finished in 3:54.55.

For the girls, Vanessa Hadeed broke into the top ten in the shot put. She was 5th with a 31-01 toss.

In the 800 meters, Autumn Dragovits cracked the top 20 with a 2:44.47 mark which put her 17th.

A few days later they competed in the Robert J. Burdette Indoor Classic at Philip Rauch Fieldhouse on the campus of Lehigh University.

In that meet, Miller and Hadeed are able to break into the top ten, Miller in the pole vault and Hadeed in the shot. Miller was third with an 11-6 mark, while Hadeed was fifth with a 32-5 toss.

In the 55-meter dash, Brandon Jones broke into the top 20, crossing the line in 7.14. That was good for 16th. He also cracked it in the 200 meters, finishing 13th in 25.44.

They began the new year by participating in the Lebanon Valley College High School Invitational on Jan. 16. This meet featured 47 area teams. In that meet, Schneck once again served notice that he’s rounding into shape, finishing third in the 400, crossing the line in 56.35. Hawk was ninth in that race, clocking in at 58.10, while Jonathan Cordero was 19th with a time of 1:00.37.

Schneck continued his good day by coming in ninth in the 1,600. He finished that race in 4:53.23.

Gavin Wood was another top-ten finisher for the Zephyrs. He came in eighth in the pole vault, clearing the bar at 10-6.

Amoroso also cracked the top ten. He finished eighth in the 55 meter hurdles with an 8.82 mark.

Sebesta said that Amoroso was coming on strong toward the end ofd last season and has picked up where he left off this winter.

On the girls side, Hadeed was a solid finisher in the shot put again, finishing 12th with a 29-11.5 toss. Juanita Flores was 13th in the 800 meters, finishing the race in 2:51.56, while Hayley Fenstermaker was 19th in the triple jump with a 25-2 mark.

Sebesta said that Hadeed is a hard worker who was one of their top point people in the field events last season.

“Vanessa really had a good indoor season,” he said.

Their next stop was the Albright College High School Invitational on Jan. 19.

Helen Davis had a solid meet for the Zephs, getting a top ten finish in the 55-meter hurdles (8.74), and top 20 finishes in the 200 and 400 meters, finishing 17th and 12th, respectively.

Rebecca Ganthier was 14th in the 200 meters, crossing the line in 31.47.

Flores finished ninth in the 800 meters (2:51.96), while Fenstermaker was fifth in the high jump at 4-2.

Rachel Herr was eighth in the mile, hitting the tape in 7:19.56, while Hadeed was third in the shot with a 29-11.25 mark.

For the boys, Martin Labib was seventh in the 200 meters, finishing in 26.17.

Whitehall also came in third in the 4x400 relay as they finished in 4:04.30.

Amoroso continued to have a good indoor season, grabbing a first-place finish in the 55 hurdles. He crossed the line in 8.82. Zach Pantoni came in sixth in the same event, finishing in 9.62.

Pantoni finished fifth in the 55-meter dash (7.28), while Jerome Wah was 11th (7.45).

Schneck won the 800 meters, hitting the tape in 2:12.28.

Miller was strong in the pole vault finishing third (12-0), while Wood and John Stires were fifth and sixth, respectively.

Finally, three Zephyrs competed in the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association Indoor Track Carnival at Rauch Fieldhouse on Feb. 13. Each athlete has to qualify for this event, and the Zephs were represented by Schneck, Miller and Amoroso. Schneck was the tops among the Whitehall contingent, finishing seventh in the 800 with a 2:03.43 mark.

Sebesta said that Schneck also ran at the Armory in New York City where the some of the best track and field athletes from the Northeast assemble each year. Out of 275 runners competing, Schneck finished 20th in the 800, said Sebesta.