Both local schools competed in the prestigious Igloo Invitational at Altoona’s Mansion Park on Saturday. The meet drew some 24 boys schools and 26 girlsschools, from Double-and Triple-A levels, including several returning individual PIAA state medalists, and nearly 1,620 athletes in all. No team scores are kept and Class AA and Class AAA athletes run against each other. This meet gives athletes a chance to see where they stand across central Pennsylvania.
Tyrone senior Liz Tepsic had the highest girls finish with her leap of 34-3 1/2 in the triple jump, that was good for third place. Liz was also eighth in the 100 intermediate hurdles (second going over the next to last hurdle and fell), with a 19.79, after running a 17.22 earlier in a preliminary heat, and eighth in the long jump. Tepsic was also 124th in the 300 low hurdles in 53,49.
Lady Eagle freshman Rachel Emigh was fifth in the pole vault with a vault of 9-0.
“We trained through this meet and all our kids legs were tired but we had a few bright spots,” explained Tyrone coach Tony Yaniello.
John Franco was eighth in the 100 meter dash for the Tyrone boys.
“Johnny has been working very hard and legs were tired and sore,” said Yaniello.” We had to scratch him from the 200 and 400 relay. He will be fine with rest.”
Two freshmen pole vaulters Levi Reihart and Robbie Hopkins did 10-6 for Tyrone. “Phil Kreckel, our state qualifier in the PV was on a college visit at Pitt,” said Yaniello.
Bellwood-Antis boys claimed points in seven events for what would have been fourth place among the 24 schools had a score been kept, behind Altoona, State College and Williamsport, topped by a first place leap of 21-5 for Brandon Pruznak in the long jump.
In addition, Ben Hatch was second in the 800 in 2:02.45, behind only Peter Wardell (1:57.73) of State College, who broke an Igloo Invitation record that had stood for 28 years. ‘Adam Mueller (15.83) was fourth in the 100 high hurdles, Pruznak was third in the 400 and fourth in the 200, and the Bellwood-Antis 1600 relay team of Jeremy Tomchick, Kyle Canfield, Hatch and Pruznak was third in 3:40.44, and the 3200 relay team composed of Tomchick, Alan Wertz, Dustin Pruznak and Hatch was sixth.
“The kids did pretty well,” said Bellwood-Antis boys coach Nick Lovrich. “Whenever you run against that kind of competition and do that well, you feel real good. The kids all competed well, it’s been awhile since we have had a winner (at the Igloo Invitational) Brandon placed in everything he entered, and Ben Hatch placed in three events. Adam Mueller has been real steady, despite not feeling well on Saturday.”
On the girls side, Bellwood-Antis freshman Emily Crook was fourth in the 400, Lauren Leap was eighth in the 300 hurdles (51.73) and the Lady Blue Devils 400 relay team was sixth (53.99).
