ALTOONA — The Clearfield Bison boys and girls track teams opened their 2015 season at the 40th Annual Altoona Igloo Invitational Track Meet on Saturday.
Clearfield Head Coach John Jacob filed the following report about his team.
“The first meet of the season was a big surprise for the Clearfield Girls and Boys Track and Field Teams. With limited time on the track and frigid temperatures at the meet, both teams battled through adversity to make the day very successful.
“Rachel Glenny came away with the team’s only gold of the day when she upset the top seed from Penns Valley in the 300 hurdles. Rachel took control of the race early and never looked back. She has taken three years of experience and countless miles of practice to win the race. She was also very instrumental in helping two of our girls relay teams come away with their third place medals. She led off in the girls 4×800 relay team of Paige Mikesell, Jacquelyn Freeman and Raquel Grice and also ran a great leg on the girls 4×400 relay consisting of Claire Mikesell, Macy Forrest and Raquel Grice.
“Claire Mikesell and Macy Forrest also came away with two individual medals in the 400m. Both girls had very nice races and ran terrific legs in the relay. Freshman Paige Mikesell also medaled in the 800m, coming from last place on the first lap to battle for the lead going into the last straight away. She almost came away with the gold but came up a little short. With limited miles this season we are looking for her times to come way down.
“In the field events Sarah Lash was the top place winner with a second place finish in the javelin.The cold temperatures really took its tool in the field events, but all of the kids placed where we thought they should. In meets like this it is about competing – not personal bests. Macy Forrest placed sixth in the girls high jump with only one day of high jump practice and new comer Denise Stephens was able to get eighth place in the shot.
“For the boys Mason Royer and Jake Wingate picked off where they left off last season as they came away with two third place finishes in the sprints and hurdles. They knocked off the cobwebs and were able to match their best times from last season. Mason was also able to come away with another third place in the 300 hurdles later in the meet. A very young and inexperienced distance team was also able to capture a place in the boys 4×800 relay. The team of Ryan Chew, Alec Coval, Peyton Priester and Kyle Bancuzzo put together an impressive eighth place.
“In the field Matt Collins took an unexpected seventh place in the javelin. Matt threw almost 30 further than he did at the end of last season. Also placing seventh was Grant Climie in the triple jump. Grant did a nice job going down and improving on each of his jumps to make the finals. He was able to move up one spot in the overall standings on his second to last jump.”
Both teams will kick off the dual season with Mountain League action on Tuesday March 31 at Tyrone.
Click here for complete results of the Igloo Invitational.
Track Scoreboard:
| Boys | Girls | ||||
| Date | Opponent | Score | Record | Score | Record |
| 3/28 | @ Altoona Igloo Invitational | xxx | 0 – 0 | xxx | 0 – 0 |
| 3/31 | TYRONE | ||||
| 4/02 | TRI-MEET @ HOME | ||||
| 4/02 | vs. Brookville | ||||
| 4/02 | vs. DuBois | ||||
| 4/08 | Tri-Meet @ Penns Valley | ||||
| 4/08 | vs. Penns Valley | ||||
| 4/08 | vs. Bellefonte | ||||
| 4/14 | Tri-Meet @ BEA | ||||
| 4/14 | vs. Bald Eagle Area | ||||
| 4/14 | vs. Huntingdon | ||||
| 4/17 | @ Bald Eagle Invitational | ||||
| 4/21 | TRI-MEET @ HOME | ||||
| 4/21 | vs. Central | ||||
| 4/21 | vs. Philipsburg-Osceola | ||||
| 4/28 | TRI-MEET @ HOME | ||||
| 4/28 | vs. Hollidaysburg | ||||
| 5/01 | West Central Coaches Inv (Altoona) | ||||
| 5/07 | @ Mountain League Champs (at home) | ||||
| 5/13 | District 9 AAA Champs at Kane HS | ||||