The annual Igloo Invitational was held at Altoona’s Mansion Park on Saturday, April 2, 2005 with 29 schools entered in both the boys and girls competition. There was no team scores kept and all competitors were in one bracket, regardless of size of school. At least one Maryland school, Bowling Brook was among the AA and AAA entrants.
Several area individuals and relay teams did very well.
Tyrone’s Emily Ingle was the highest scorer with a timing of 5:38.80 in the 1600 run that was second only to a State College runner. Ingle also placed sixth in the 800 with a time of 2:39.30. Lady Eagle teammate Emily Lloyd tied for sixth place in the 100 high hurdles with an 18.10 time and sophomore Liz Tepsic was eighth in the triple jump with a combined leap of 31-11 and 1/2.
On the boys side, with a team of Billy Dean, Trey Brockett, Shane Barr and Leonard Wilson, Tyrone placed third in the 400 relay in 46.10, Wilson was fifth in the triple jump with a jump of 40-3 and 1/2 and Adam Shaffer was fifth in the javelin with a heave of 152-8.
“Emily Ingle was just two-tenths off the school record in the 1600 and that is just the second time she has run the 1600 in competition,” explained Tyrone coach Tony Yaniello. Going against bigger schools like Altoona, State College and teams from Maryland, this is the most places we have had at the Igloo Meet in a long time. I was very excited about the 400 relay. That is the first time that group ran together. I’m very excited about what our kids are doing.”
Bellwood-Antis had just one girl place at the Igloo. Allison Sinisi was fourth in the pole vault with a vault of 8-0.
The Blue Devil boys were led by a third place finish for Tony DelGrosso in the discuss with a throw of 128-1. Brandon Pruznak was tied for fourth in the 400, with a time of 53.30. B-A Freshman Ben Hatch continued a fine early season with a sixth in the 400 in 53.60. Dustin Harris was sixth in the javelin with a throw of 152-8, and Aaron Bell finished seventh in the 1600 in 4:51.10.
All three of the B-A relay teams placed. The 3200 team of Evan Hughes, Chris Edmiston, Hatch and Bell finished fourth with only Altoona, State College and Bowling Brook, Maryland ahead of them. Both the 400 relay team of Devon Clapper, Jonathan Davila, Harris and Brandon Eger (47.90) and the 1600 team of Evan Celmo, Edmiston, Hatch and Pruznak (3:43.70) finished eighth.
“That was a pretty good showing for a AA school against the bigger school competition like Altoona, State College and Clearfield,” said Bellwood-Antis boys coach Nick Lovrich. “Brandon Pruznak has been running some very good times for a sophomore, and Ben Hatch has really stepped it up and been a very pleasant surprise for us. Our 3200 relay has three veterans back from last year and Hatch. It was nice to get the field placements, probably the best in the time, I have coached here.”
