A small contingent of Tyrone track and field athletes made the trip to Bison country to participate in the Bedford Giant Eagle Track Invitational Saturday and came home with some impressive performances.
Johnny Franco continues to improve winning the 100 (11.33) and the 200 (23.03).
“Johnny had a great start in the 200 and finished strong to edge Allegany Maryland star sprinter at the finish line,” Coach Yaniello said. “I wanted to get out of the blocks and run as hard as I could to the finish line,” said a jubilant Franco. I wasn’t happy with my start in the 100 and had to come from behind to win.
Senior pole vaulter Phil Kreckel knows what it’s like to win from behind after having to make a personal best 12-0 jump to win over Appleby of McConnellsburg. “Right now I am on a 13-foot pole and waiting for my new 14-6 pole to come in,” Kreckel said. For me to get my personal record in a meet like this and win was exciting.”
Sophomore Ben Ingle went out quick and led state place winner Donaldson (Northern Bedford) for the first half of the race only to see the NB star race to a New Meet Record as Ingle ran his personal best (204.1) and placed fourth. “I knew the 800 field was one of the toughest I was going to face this year,” Ingle said. I wanted to go out quick and see what I had left to finish.
Tyrone enjoyed a banner day for personal records as almost all those who competed had their best performances of the season. John Shaffer placed second in the javelin (138-11), Ross Black was sixth in the 300 hurdles (46.1), Dustin Elder seventh- 3200 (11:10), Ty Wilson seventh-Discus (116-7) and freshman Nathan Kruis was eighth-1600 (5:10).
The Lady Eagles with only three girls competing were led again by Liz Tepsic. Liz placed first-Triple Jump (34-5), second-300 Hurdles (51.3), third-100 Hurdles (16.7), and sixth-Long Jump (14-2). “Right now I am struggling in the hurdle,” Tepsic said. “I am hopping over them instead of running hard between them. I was happy with my triple jump.”
Liz bested the triple jump second place winner by over a foot.
Although not placing, Christina Daugherty took off 15 seconds off her personal best in the 1600 running a 6:15.
The Golden Eagles will continue there dual meet season this Tuesday, April 17 at home with Juniata Valley.
All home meets begin at 4:00 pm.
