The Parkland girls track and field team offered various strong individual performances during the District 11 Class 3A track and field championships held last week at Whitehall High School.

Two Trojans stood out by offering superlative performances in each winning gold. Coral Shivok won the pole vault with an 11-foot, 9-inch mark, while Grace Nation finished first in the triple jump.

Shivok and Nation both earned a trip to compete at this weekend’s state championships meet, held annually at Shippensburg University’s Seth Grove Stadium. They will have some teammates to keep them company as the Parkland girls team is sending five individuals and two relay teams to the state meet.

Speedy Naeema Salau finished third in two races - the 100-meters at 12.36 and the 200-meters at 25.67. She ran times meeting the state qualifying standard in both events to earn a trip to Ship.

Lucy Tobia took second place in the 400-meter run to secure a spot in the state championship races, while Madeline Batista battled through a jumpoff before taking second place in high jump.

Both Batista and Northwestern Lehigh’s Faith Yost cleared 5-3 but missed their first three tries at 5-5 to send the contest to a jump off. Yost cleared 5-5 on her first extra attempt to win the title.

“I’m happy that I jumped qualifying height,” said Batista. “That was a big goal of mine. Not jumping 5-5 again was kind of a bummer. You can’t win them all is what I tell myself.”

A senior who just started jumping during her junior year, Batista is looking forward to capping her high school track career in Shippensburg.

“I didn’t think it was something I could do,” she said. “I’m a full-time dancer. I dance competitively. That was my main focus. Track was just to try something.”

n the 100-meter hurdles, Madison Bowman claimed seventh, while Lana Hurwitz finished third in the 800 meters and the 1,600 meters.

Parkland’s relay teams were competitive also, claiming third in the 100- and 400-meters and second in the 800-meters.

Hailey Sammarco finished third in the long jump.

At the season’s outset Parkland coach Stephen Ott said he hoped his coaching style would enable his athletes to believe in themselves.

“I have a positive mindset,” Ott said. “It is important for each student-athlete to have personal and team goals that are specific. I try to be the positive influence in their lives. All of our coaches work toward that goal. Success will come as long as the athletes believe in themselves and train hard.”

The PIAA Track and Field Championships are set for May 27.