Both Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis track squads competed on Saturday, April 1, 2006, at the prestigious Igloo Invitational at Mansion Park, Altoona.
With very stiff competition, placewinners earn every bit of respect for their early season efforts at this annual event. The weather was milder than most Igloo Invitationals, and times and distances indicated that was a help, but raw talent in droves was the key factor that contributed to six meet records being set and another tied.
A total of 53 schools, 26 in the boys competition and 27 on the girls side participated, with no team scores being kept and everybody in one classification, whether you were Altoona, State College or Bellwood-Antis, Tyrone or Northern Cambria or West Branch.
Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis each claimed 11 placewinners, including a pair of relay teams for each school.
Lady Eagle junior Liz Tepsic led the way by claiming four places, including the highest places for Tyrone, with third place finishes in both the 100 low hurdles (16.79) and triple jump (34-1 1/2). In addition, Tepsic placed sixth in the 300 intermediate hurdles (52.65) and eighth in the long jump (15-0 1/2)
Senior Lady Eagle teammate Emily Ingle broke her own school record in the 1600, with a time of 5:18.59 that was good enough for third place to tie Tepsic for highest finish, and ran a 12:08.26 that was fourth in the girls 3200.
On the boys side for the Eagles, sophomore Johnny Franco was fifth in the 100 dash (11.95) and senior Trey Brockett was fifth in the triple jump (41-5). The Golden Eagle 400 relay team of Franco, Brockett, Matthew Lauder and Tyler Gillmen placed fifth (46.79), and the 3200 relay team composed of Aaron Houck, Nathan Barber, Chris Bradigan and Ben Ingle finished seventh (9:15.76). Junior Phil Kreckle vaulted 11-6 in the pole vault for an eighth place finish.
Bellwood-Antis junior Brandon Pruznak had the highest place for local athletes at the Igloo Invitational, with a second place in the boys 400. Pruznak was second in 51.60 to Ehrensberger of Elk County Catholic, who set a meet record to win that event in 50.41. Pruznak also placed sixth in the 200 dash.
Tony DelGrosso was a three-time placewinner for the Blue Devils with a throw of 130-4 for fifth place in the discus, a heave of 41-1 3/4 in the shot put for sixth, and a throw of 151-3 in the javelin for sixth place in that event.
The 1600 relay team of Evan Celmo, Josh Ervine, Brandon Humpreys and Pruznak, was fifth in 3:51.46.
On the girls side, the Lady Blue Devils Lauren Leap had a sixth place in the long jump (15-3) and tied teammate Chelsea Wilson for eighth in the high jump (4-6). Lauren Carter was eighth in the 400 dash (1:05.6) and Ashley Mueller was eighth in the 100 low hurdles (18.48).
The highest Igloo finish for the Lady Blue Devils was their 400 relay team of Leap, Carter, Erica Greene and Mueller, with a fifth place time of 54.31.
