Fifty one teams and more than 2000 athletes converged on Altoona’s\’ Mansion Park Friday night for the prestigious West Central Coaches Meet. At least one team had a five hour trip to Mansion Park from their school – Northeast High School, near Stroudsburg. This was the 52nd annual West Central Coaches, the meet beginning over 50 years ago in Bellwood. Barnesboro’s Dan Miller, who grew up and graduated in Altoona is credited as one of the original organizers.
The two Herald coverage area teams of Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis finished in a tie for 10th with 28 points a piece. While Tyrone has been struggling of late to retain a little consistency in some areas, two comforting constants has come to the forefront. Tommy Crowl will be around the front of the pack in the 400, and Tyrone will get points in the field. Tommy Crowl, as he has in every 400 race this season since the Igloo Meet, broke the tape in the quarter mile to claim the WCC title in the 400. Crowl also added an eighth place in the 100 to be the Golden Eagles only double placewinner in Altoona.
Another steady performer, sophomore Adam Shaffer added nearly two feet to his personal best throw in the javelin (165-9) to claim a second place. Steadily improving Evan Stover finished in a four-way tie for the top vault at 12 feet three inches, but by the number of misses criteria wound up in fourth place. Junior David Miller also placed in the pole vault (seventh) for the Eagles. Miller\’s classmate, Billy Dean added a seventh place in the 200 dash to round out the list of placewinners for Tyrone.
The only Tyrone Lady Eagle who could crack the awfully tough competition was Emily Lloyd who placed sixth in the 100 intermediate hurdles.
The B-A boys were led by senior speedster Dan Houser, who was the only local athlete to place in three individual events. Houser was fourth in the long jump, fourth in the 200 dash and fifth in the 100 dash.
Matt Plummer was fifth in the 300 intermediate hurdles and Aaron Bell was sixth in the 3200 and two of the Bellwood-Antis relay teams also placed, the 3200 team took fifth and the 400 relay placed sixth.
The Lady Blue Devils finished 18th out of 31 girls Double-A schools.
Allison Sinisi had the highest local girls finish with a third place in the pole vault. Stephanie Hatch was seventh in the high jump and Allison Cherry placed eighth in the 1600. The Bellwood-Antis girls 3200 relay team finished fifth.
Meet Notes: The Altoona School District had to take out a $600 terrorism policy for the meet….the meet started at 1:30 p.m. and lasted until nearly 11 p.m….to help time-wise, only one participant from each team per event was allowed, except where the athlete met a qualifying standard….Both Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis squads will compete in the Mountain Conference Championships at Bellwood today.
