Each season, some track and field athletes try new events to see what might be the best fit for them.

That was no different for some of the members of the Salisbury girls track and field team as this season got underway.

The Lady Falcons’ 4x100 meter relay team — composed of Isabella Nimeh, Emma Yakaitis, Izabella Gonzalez, and Kendra Morgan — were never a relay team before. A number of them had sprinted in the past, while for others this season was their first time.

The result was a special accomplishment for the relay team in its opening meet against Northern Lehigh.

Not only did the unit defeat the Bulldogs in that 4x100 event back on March 18, it also broke a 43-year old school record for the Falcons with a time of 52.6 seconds.

“Some of the girls sprinted before, but they were never a relay team before,” Salisbury head coach Alex Hess said. “We started the year encouraging kids to step out of their comfort zone and try new events, and it paid off for them.

“None of them were aware that they broke the record. In fact, Coach Mixa and I didn’t even realize it until the following day when I was going through the results and happened to have the records open.”

The relay team broke the 1982 record of 52.6 seconds set by the foursome of Sandy Santiago, Heidi Fritzinger, Sally Ann Lentz and Kirsten Ebersole.

“I’m really happy for them,” Hess said. “Doing that in the first meet is quite a feat, and I think that they could even improve upon that time throughout the season.”

It was a pleasant surprise for Hess and the Falcons when the news broke. However, he expects a number of other Falcons to possibly have the opportunity to set a few more records this spring.

“I think we can get a few wins this season, and I know a few other kids are chasing school records as well,” Hess said. “I also need to give credit to my coaching staff for really pushing these kids to continue pushing themselves to get better each and every week.

“I know we are only a few weeks into the season, but I couldn’t be happier with how this team is doing so far this year. I really believe this is just the beginning.”

Results from the Falcons’ loss to Palmerton are listed below, while results from Tuesday’s meet against Northwestern Lehigh were not available at time of press.

GIRLS

Palmerton 116, Salisbury 34

100: 1. Nataly Walters (P) 12.20, 2. Erin Gombert (P), 3. Sarah Sabo (P);

200: 1. Erin Gombert (P) 26.30, 2. Kendra Morgan (S), 3. Sarah Sabo (P);

400: 1. Claire Thomas (P) 1:06.80, 2. Chelsea Brown (P), 3. Bella Lombardi (P);

800: 1. Payten Fornaro (P) 2:51.10, 2. Kaitlyn Neuhs (S), 3. Chelsea Brown (P);

1600: 1. Cassidy Merkel (P) 7:04.70, 2. Faith Rudalavage (P), 3. Samantha Conrad (S);

3200: 1. Lydia Fogel (S) 14:46.40, 2. Payten Fornaro (P), 3. Shely Tenzer (S);

100H: 1. Ruby Walters (P) 16.60, 2. Claire Thomas (P), 3. Allison Herrmann (P);

300H: 1. Ruby Walters (P) 48.50, 2. Emma Yakaitis (S), 3. Izabella Gonzalez (S);

4x100 relay: 1. Palmerton 50.20, 2. Palmerton, 3. Salisbury;

4x400 relay: 1. Salisbury 5:06.90;

4x800 relay: 1. Palmerton 12:45.20, 2. Salisbury;

Shot put: 1. Cate Morgan (P) 27-2.5, 2. Takira Jones (S), 3. Mikayla Maxwell (P);

Discus: 1. Gabriella Pena (S) 81-0, 2. Anna Borger (P), 3. Cate Morgan (P);

Javelin: 1. Mikayla Maxwell (P) 73-0, 2. Cate Morgan (P), 3. Kacie Kaough (S);

Long jump: 1. Allison Herrmann (P) 15-11, 2. Annalise Shelly (S), 3. Payten Fornaro (P);

Triple jump: 1. Nataly Walters (P) 39-8, 2. Gabby Lucas (P), 3. Julianna Snyder (P);

High jump: 1. Nataly Walters (P) 4-11, 2. Julianna Snyder (P), 3. Kamarrah Saslo (P);

Pole vault: 1. Ruby Walters (P) 8-0, 2. Rylee Roman (P), 3. Maddy Bennyhoff (P);