When Alex Partington and Trista Cunningham graduated last year, the two also took a gold medal and two silvers with them in throwing events from the District 11 Track and Field Championships.

Not only did they have successful throwing careers at Northwestern and as members of District 11, but both had solid outings at states, too. Partington finished in the top five in the discus at the PIAA Track and Field Championships.

But those two, as well as throwers Hanna Masenheimer and Justin Betz, who also graduated, are no longer with the Tigers.

As the 2015 track and field season got underway, throwing events for both boys and girls were one of the Northwetsern track team's biggest question marks. Who would step up and fill the voids left of those graduates?

Northwestern may only be a few meets into the Colonial League season, but the Tigers are getting a clear look at a few of the athletes ready to take over.

In Tuesday's trimeet with Palisades at Salisbury High School, one in which suspended due to rain, juniors Vanessa Blose and Eddie Parrish posted personal bests in their throwing events.

"I'm very happy with it," Blose said after throwing a previous best of 31-03 in the shot put a week prior. "I'm very proud of myself."

Without Cunningham, Blose is one of a number of throwers taking on more of a leadership role this year.

"We've really been stepping up to kind of fill that void," Blose said. "We're working hard every day at practice, and supporting each other a lot to try and get our younger people up to that level.

Senior Lauren Hill (shot put), freshman Jessie Williams (shot put), sophomore Hannah Gough (discus), senior Rosie Pergosky (javelin) and senior Sarah Overstrom (javelin) have been top finishers in their respective events.

Both boys and girls discus and pole vault events were postponed on Tuesday, as well as a number of jumping events. A time and place to finish the meet is yet to be determined.

Through their first two completed meets, Northwestern's boys and girls are unbeaten in the Colonial League at 3-0. The girls, along with both of Tuesday's competitors in Palisades and Salisbury, are the only three unbeaten squads remaining.

"I think we're doing great this year," Blose said. "We lost seniors, but we just keep stepping it up and keeping tradition going."

Against Notre Dame (Green Pond) last week, Parrish set a personal best in the shot put at 40-03. Not even a week later, the junior improved to around 41 feet.

"As soon as it started raining is when I got my PR," Parrish said. "I was pretty lucky that I had good conditions at the time. I'm glad about it because I improved so much so far."

Parrish has been a steady contributor among the boys' top throwers that are stepping into Partington's role as a leader last season.

"I didn't expect it [a leadership role], but it's definitely nice," Parrish said. "I would watch him [Partington] in practice, and in the meets he would throw so far. Of course I would go up to him and ask him what he's doing. He gave me some pointers on being explosive and getting through the circle as fast as you can."

Losing the talent of a thrower like Partington is tough to overcome, but Parrish sees a collective crop of Tigers already asserting themselves.

"It's a little iffy to see how we're going to play out this year," Parrish said, "but so far it looks like me Chet [Karpyn] and Zane [Struss] are doing really good."

Senior Eli Gough has been a top finisher in the discus, while senior Anthony Brasten and junior Jacob Schellhamer are leading the javelin event.