The Salisbury track and field team produced two district champions last season. Both are returning in 2026 to lead the Falcons under head coach Alex Hess.

Leading the boys side is senior Steven Lozada, last year’s Colonial League and District 11 Class 2A champion in pole vault.

Lozada, who went on to place third at the PIAA Class 2A Track and Field Championships, jumped 14-6 and is nearing the school record.

Lozada also made a name for himself in the triple jump event. He placed second in all three postseason meets—leagues, districts and states—with his 44-9 3/4 mark at districts being his career-best.

“We made huge strides last year in getting team wins on both the boys and the girls sides,” Hess said. “We were also competitive every week. I would love to see the boys and girls both get more wins.

“We also had two district champions and sent three kids to states. Our girls relay team missed out going to states by 0.03 seconds last year. That being said, I would love nothing more than to see a huge group of these kids go compete at the state meet in Shippensburg. I feel that this is a very realistic goal for our athletes and coaches.”

Senior Jamanni Cruz also returns on the boys side after top-10 finishes at districts in the 200-meter dash (sixth, 23.33 seconds) and 100-meter dash (eighth, 11.50 seconds). Cruz, along with Lozada, will be instrumental in leading this group after a number of key graduates left the program last year, including another state-qualifier.

Josh Hudak—who placed in the top 12 at districts in the triple jump (third), high jump (seventh) and long jump (12th)—has graduated. He placed 13th at states in the triple jump with a mark of 42-9 1/4. Gregory Tenzer, a distance runner from last season, also leaves a void in a few events.

“Our numbers are good this year on both the boys and the girls sides,” Hess said. “I’m hopeful that we can be just as competitive, if not more so, than last year. I feel that we have a lot of highly-motivated kids that realized the potential that they have after their performances last year.”

Senior Emma Yakaitis represented Salisbury on the girls side at states after she became the District 11 Class 2A champion in the 300-meter hurdles in a time of 47.16 seconds. She placed 16th in the event at states, and is about a half-second off the school’s record.

Yakaitis was also a member of the girls’ 4x100 meter relay team that placed third at districts in 50.84 seconds, just fractions of a second from qualifying for states in that event as well.

Kendra Morgan, who was also a leg of that 4x100 meter relay team, was knocking on the door of states as well. The Falcon senior placed fourth in both the 100-meter dash (12.90 seconds) and 200-meter dash (26.38 seconds) events. She tied the school’s record in the 100-meter dash and is eyeing on breaking that mark this spring.

Annalise Shelly rounds out the top returners on the girls side after she placed seventh in the long jump (14-9 1/2) and eighth in the high jump (4-4) events at districts.

Gabriella Pena graduated after a season in which she placed second in the pole vault event at districts with a mark of 8-0. She placed eighth in the discus with a throw of 79-2.

“Rather than focusing on improvement in one specific event or area, our goal this season is to build overall confidence,” Hess said. “These athletes are capable of competing at a high level, and we want them to truly recognize and believe that.

“As coaches, we plan to challenge them throughout the year, not only in practice and our regular meets, but also by exposing them to different levels of competition through various invitationals.”

A number of newcomers, or others trying new events for the Falcons this season, expect to have a big impact.

Molly Foley, Rhya Jones, Keaton Frye, Jeramiah Bell and Damon Heard will largely compete in the sprint and hurdle events; Frye will also compete in the jumps; Ellie Schneider and Owen Zambelli figure to see time at the pole vault; and Isaac Lakics and Grayson Gnall will focus on throwing events.

Salisbury opened the season on Tuesday against Northern Lehigh. Results were not available at time of press.

The Falcons will host Palmerton on Tuesday.