UNIVERSITY PARK - Wade Endress had a memorable day for the Altoona High School indoor track and field team on Saturday.
The senior runner was named the Pennsylvania State Track and Field Coaches Assoication outstanding runner and athlete of the year, thanks to his performance at the state indoor meet held at Penn State University.
"This was an impressive feat. This is right up there with what [Altoona graduate] Brady Gehret had done in the past for us," Altoona coach Mike Adams said.
Endress won the mile in 4:13.34. It is now the fourth best time in the country. He came back and won the 800 meters in 1:51.73. That is now the best time in the country and a new state record.
"I knew his goals were to win both, even though he knew it was going to be tough," Adams said. "The times he ran were just truly amazing. To get the fourth-best time in the mile, and then come back and get the best time in the 800, it was impressive."
Teammate Ryan Steinbugl finished third in the pole vault with a 14-feet-6 inches.
"[Ryan] wasn't even seeded in the top eight so he had a really nice meet for us," said Adams, whose team finished fourth overall in the standings. Altoona was the two-time defending state champ.
