Kelly Davis and Nikki Kerns are very important members of the Altoona Area High School girls track and field team.
With another very important member, Lysa Mealing, now out for the track season after undergoing surgery on a hand injury she sustained during basketball season, the contributions of Davis and Kerns will be magnified this spring.
Both Davis and Kerns did their parts Saturday in the 36th annual Altoona Igloo Track and Field Invitational at Mansion Park. Davis, a senior, won individual titles in the 100 and 200 dashes, while Kerns, a junior, took first in the 100 hurdles and triple jump.
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Davis won the 100 dash in 12.78 and the 200 dash in 26.91, while Kerns captured the 100 hurdles in 15.98 and the 300 hurdles in 47.45. Davis was a District 6-AAA champion and state tournament qualifier last spring in both the 100 and 200, while Kerns won the district title and qualified for states in the 300 hurdles.
"Kelly Davis is our leader and senior veteran, and Nikki Kerns is much stronger at the beginning of this season than she was at the beginning of last season,'' Altoona girls coach Steve Rhodes said. "We attribute that to the hard work she put in this past offseason as a member of the cross country and indoor track teams. We expect big things from both Kelly and Nikki this year.''
Mealing's absence will shift a bigger spotlight on Davis and Kerns. Mealing won the district title and qualified for states in the long, triple and high jumps a year ago as a junior, but the hand injury this year puts an end to her high school track and field career.
"The shame of it is, she's a state-caliber jumper,'' Rhodes said of Mealing. "She suffered ligament and tendon damage in her hand during basketball season, had surgery last Tuesday, and was told not to engage in any activity for two months. It's very unfortunate.''
No team scores were kept at the Igloo, but Davis and Kerns would have both racked up a ton of team points had there been.
"My block start was the key for me today,'' Davis said. "I worked all last season and this season to perfect my block start.''
On a chilly, partly sunny day in which snow flurries and heavy wind gusts were also in the mix, Kerns warmed up well.
"It was definitely really cold today, but it felt good to get back on the track,'' she said. "I've been training all winter during the indoor track season, and I'm definitely ready for this [outdoor] track season.''
Kerns and Davis were joined as individual Igloo girls champions by Bedford senior Brittany Kidd, who won the pole vault title with a 10-6, and Huntingdon senior Bethany Ledford, who won the high jump with an effort of 5-0.
In the boys competition, Bellwood-Antis' senior jumping standout, Brian Leap, won the high jump with a 6-2 and the triple jump with a 45-2. Leap was a Class AA state qualifier in both events last spring, winning districts in the triple jump and taking an eighth-place medal at states.
"To place this high today against some Class AAA competition says a lot about the talent that he has,'' Bellwood-Antis coach Nick Lovrich said of Leap. "We're looking for big things from him.''
Tyrone junior sprinter Nick Patton should also draw a lot of attention as the postseason meets approach. Patton was a District 6-AA champion and state qualifier in the 200 dash last year, and won that event Saturday with a time of 22:30.
"This is one of the big events of the season,'' Patton said of the Igloo meet. "I felt strong today. I wasn't slowed up by the weather.''
Altoona junior Rafeeq Barnes also won the 100 dash in 11:07, and anchored the Mountain Lions' winning 400 relay team of Danny Moyer, Deron Lee, and Uthman Hill that won that event in 43.71.
Altoona senior distance standout Wade Endress, who participated in the Nike Indoor Nationals in New York City last month, was given Saturday off to rest by Mountain Lions' coach Mike Adams.
Homer-Center junior Angel Piccirillo won three girls distance events - the 800, 1600 and 3200 runs - and set an Igloo girls record in the 800 with a 2:16.33.
TEAM KEY: AA-Altoona Area; AAF-Altoona Area Freshman BEA-Bald Eagle Area; BF-Bedford; BA-Bellwood Antis; CM-Central Mountain; CF-Clearfield Area; ECC-Elk County Catholic; HB-Hollidaysburg; HC-Homer Center; HD-Huntingdon; J-Juniata; KA-Kane Area; KI-Kiski Area; MC-Marion Center; NC-Northern Cambria; PM-Penns Manor; PV-Penns Valley; PO-Philipsburg-Osceola; PL-Purchase Line; SM-Saint Mary's Area; SC-State College; TY-Tyrone; UNA-Unattached; U-United; WP-Williamsport.
100 dash: 1, Barnes, AA,11.07 ; 2,Shrift, HB, 11.56; 3, Rizzo, WP, 11.57; 4, Haines, KI, 11.71; 5, Hill, AA, 11.77; 6, Franco, TY, 11.83; 7, Fisher, WP, 12.06; 8, Smith, CM, DQ. 200 dash: 1,Patton, TY, 22.30; 2, Barnes, AA, 22.89;3, Mccorey, WP, 23.28; 4, Worthing, BA, 23.90; 5, Svecke, KI, 24.09; 6, Kellar, SC, 24.17; 7, Stamford, AAF, 24.18; Hill, AA, 24.23. 400 dash: 1, Shisler, SC, 50.19; 2,Mccorey, WP, 50.34; 3, Patton, TY, 50.37; 4, Bearer, NC, 52.17; 5, Shrift, HB, 52.18; Steudler, ECC, 53.38; 8, Emanuel, WP, 53.46. 800 run: 1, Jordan, SC, 2:03.52; 2, Blose, PL, 2:04.25; 3, Montgomery, BA, 2:06.13; 4, Price, AA, 2:07.86; 5, Decker, PV, 2:08.33; 6, Kennedy, KI, 2:08.47; 7, Kitchen, CM, 2:08.68; 8, Reade, AA, 2:08.88. 1600 run: 1,Kennedy, KI, 4:35.21; 2,Lidwell, AA,4:37.87; 3, Lednak, KI, 4:41.61; 4,Kanavy, UNA, 4:42.15; 5, Woelfel, SM, 4:43.67; 6, Woodrow, MC, 4:46.36; 7, Brown, PV, 4:49.41; 8, Stelly, WP, 4:50.98. 3200 run: 1, Wilkinson, UNA, 9:50.42; 2, Replogle, AA, 9:57.71; 3, Woodrow, MC, 10:04.01; 4, Crowe, SC, 10:05.60; 5, Ofman, U, 10:14. 38; 6, Woelfel, SM, 10:21.96; 7, Brown, PV, 10:25.63; 8, Park, SC, 10:32.39. 110 high hurdles: 1,Devine, WP, 15.18; 2, Collins, SC, 15.72; 3, Mandley, AA, 16.14; 4, Graham, KI, 16.16, 5, Nyman, CM, 16.43; 6, Wakefield, BF, 16.60; 7, Sinisi, BA, 16.92;8, Davensizer, BA, DQ. 300 intermediate hurdles: 1,Devine, WP, 41.31;2, Collins, SC, 41.93; 3, Mandley, AA, 42.33; 4, Frye, KI, 42.53; 5, Schaut, ECC, 42.79; 6, Wakefield, BF, 42.99; 7, Arnold, BF, 43.71; 8, Sinisi, BA, 44.50 .
400 relay: 1, Altoona Area, 43.71; 2, Williamsport Area, 44.73; 3,Kiski Area, 45.11; 4, Tyrone Area, 45.33; 5, Bellwood Antis, 45.81; 6, State College, 45.94; 7, Central Mountain, 46.15; 8, Kiski Area B, 46.62 . 1600 relay: 1, Williamsport Area, 3:33.74; 2, Altoona Area A, 3:34.70; 3, State College A, 4, Altoona Area B, 3:43.18; 5, Elk County Catholic, 3:43.72; 6, Tyrone Area, 3:43.98; 7, Hollidaysburg Area, 3:44.19; 8, Bedford, 3:44.43 . 3200 relay: 1,Kiski Area, 8:14.88; 2, Altoona Area, 8:26.96, 3, State College A, 8:40.38; 4, Elk County Catholic, 8:45.25; 5, Tyrone Area, 8:56.39; 6, State College B, 9:02.40; 7, United, 9:03.29; 8, Purchase Line, 9:05.42 . High jump: 1, Leap, BA, 6-02; 2, McCloy, CM, 6-00; 3, Posey, HD, 6-00; 4, Wilson, TY, 6-00; 4, Herbstritt, ECC, 6-00; 6, Evans, KI, 5-10; 6, Lee, AA, 5-10; 8, Frye, KI, 5-10 . Long jump: 1,Rizzo, WP, 21-00.25; 2, Randecker, CM, 20-06.50; 3, Johnson, AA, 20-03.00; 4, Leap, BA, 20-02.50; 5, Moyer, AA, 19.11.50; 6, Smith, HC, 19-10.50; 7, Posey, HD, 19-10.00; 8, DeGol, BA, 19-07.50 Triple jump: 1, Leap, BA, 45-02.75; 2, DeR. Lee, AA, 44-03.50; 3, Johnson, 43-11.00; 4, Wagner, SC, 43-08.00; 5, Randecker, CM, 42-04.25; 6, Belle, WP, 41-09.00; 7, Des. Lee, AAF, 41-04.75; 8, Bytner, PM, 41-01.00. Shot put: 1, Moreau, U, 48-03; 2, Consentino, KI, 47-04.50; 3,Beals, BEA, 45-03; 4, Hawkins,AA, 44-08.50; 5, Walsh, PM, 43-09; 6, Newhouse, HC, 42-11.50; 7, Werner, SM, 42-05;8, Price, PL, 42-03. Discus: 1, Beals, BEA, 166-06; 2, Dabella, PM, 160-07; 3, Walsh, PM, 139-02; 4, Werner, SM, 134-01; 5,Moreau, U, 132-11; 6, Minori, BA, 124-10; 7, Thompson, BA, 124-00; 8, Newhouse, HC, 118-10. Javelin: 1, Hefkin, SC, 190-11; 2, Minori, BA, 175-05; 3, Leskovansky, BEA, 167-11; 4, Vogel, KI, 161-05; 5, Anderson, U, 161-03; 6, Dabella, PM, 160-08; 7, Hicks, BEA, 158-02; 8, Houck, HD, 150-09. Pole vault: 1, Anderson, KA, 15-30.50; 2, Steinbugl, AA, 13-06; 3, Falbo, AA, 12-06; 4, Noye, BA, 12-06; 5, Stratton, AA, 12-06; 6, Baser, HB, 12-00; 7, Swisher, SC, 12-00; 8, Rocco, NC, 12-00.
Girls
100 dash: 1,Davis, AA, 12.78; 2, Toretti, SC, 13.01; 3, Darr, PV, 13.13; 4, Waugerman, BF, 13.32; 5, Hay, SC, 13.37; 6, Witter, PV, 13.41; 7, Bonness, SC, 13.47; 8, Toner, DQ. 200 dash: 1, Davis, AA, 26.91; 2, Darr, PV, 27.30; 3, Toner, CM, 27.57; 4, Hay, SC, 27.64; 5, Bonness, SC, 27.89; 6, Patrick, PO, 27.92; 7, Waugerman, BF, 27.97; 8, Isett, HD, 28.23. 400 dash: 1,Toretti, SC, 61.17; 2, Preston, HB, 62.96; 3, Bland, SC, 62.00; 4, Book, SC, 63.74; 5, Patrick, PO, 64.53; 6, Stiteler, MC, 65.50; 7, Port, AA, 65.74; 8, Onink, ECC, 66.05. 800 run: 1, Piccirillo, HC, 2:16.33; 2, Weisner, ECC, 2:17 .72; 3, McNaughton, SC, 2:25.75; 4, Cousins, SC, 2:26.13; 5, Ebersole, AA, 2:27.11; 6, Christensen, SC, 2:27.81; 7, Pheasant, HB, 2:30.90; 8, Collins, KI, 2:32.55. 1600 run: 1, Piccirillo, HC, 5:05.96; 2, Weisner, ECC, 5:08.97; 3, Schmidt, SC, 5;12.16; 4, Jackson, KI, 5:26.24; 5, Grubb, SC, 5:30.05; 6, Adams, SC, 5:31.87; 7, Lidwell, AA, 5:41.45; 8, Pheasant, HB, 5:46.50 . 3200 run: 1,Piccirillo, HC, 11:13.18; 2, Kiebler, KI, 11:46.74; 3, Balogh, SC, 11:58.65. 4, Sorg, ECC, 12:31.00; 5, Catalano, SC, 12:37.97; 6, Ansley, HB, 12:45.83; 7, Peterman, AA, 12:52.40; 8, Simcox, PO, 12:56.88. 100 low hurdles: 1, Kerns, AA, 15.98; 2, Cloud, KI, 16.53; 3, Petrosky, ECC, 16.78; 4, Love, SC, 16.90; 5, Guggenheimer, KI, 17.74; 6, Luciano, AA, 18.38; 7, Fry, SC, 19.40; 8, Vonada, SC, 20.87. 300 intermediate hurdles: 1,Kerns, AA, 47.45; 2, Petrosky, ECC, 49.72; 3, Saquin, KA, 50.26; 4, Wasilko, PO, 50.61; 5, Guggenheimer, KI, 51.61; 6, Luciano, AA, 52.29; 7, Fry, SC, 52.33; 7, Bland, SC, 52.33.
400 relay: 1, State College A, 51.70; 2, Penns Valley, 52.95; 3, Bedford, 53.77; 4, Altoona, 54.39; 5, Kiski Area, 54.63; 6, Clearfield Area, 54.81; 7, State College B, 55.05; 8, Huntingdon, 55.26. 1600 relay: 1, State College A, 4:09.09; 2, Altoona Area, 4:19.97; 3, State College B; 4:21.99; 4, Philipsburg-Osceola, 4:31.70; 5, Hollidaysburg Area, 4:33.62; 6, Bedford, 4:31.11; 7, Altoona Area Freshman, 4:34.84; 8, Central Mountain, 4:37.02. 3200 relay: 1, Kiski Area, 9:53.54; 2, State College A, 10:00.18; 3, Hollidaysburg Area, 10:02.75; 4, Altoona Area, 10:21.06; 5, Homer Center, 10:29.57; 6, Bedford, 10:59.86; 7, State College B, 11:08.97; 8, Marion Center, 11:11.84. High jump: 1, Ledford, HD, 5-00.00; 2, Kerns, 5-00.00; 3, Zidek, KI, 4-10.00; 4, Valyo, HC, 4-10.00; 5, Gover, PV, 4-08.00; 6, Mulhern, AAF, 4-08.00; 7, Wagner, AAF, 4:08.00; 8, Daniels, SC, 4-06.00; 8, Weston, AA, 4-06.00. Long jump: 1, Toner, CM, 15-09; 2, Patrick, PO, 15-04.50; 3, Davis, AA, 15-03.00; 4, Altomare, SC, 15-01.00; 5, Eschbach, ECC, 14-11.00; 6, Townley, HC, 14-11.00; 7, Wood, PO, 14-10.00; 8, Wagner, AAF, 14-09.00. Triple jump: 1, Daniels, SC, 35-01.75; 2, Wagner, AAF, 33-11.75; 3, Alexander, AA, 33-07.50; 4, Kirsch, NC, 33-07.50;5, Eschbach, ECC, 33-01.50; 6, Bonness, SC, 33-00.00; 7, Marchione, SC, 32-09.50; 8, Bucheit, KA, 32.07.75. Shot put: 1,Dornish, ECC, 41-09.00; 2, McGaha, U, 34-07.00; 3, Petrosky, ECC, 33-09.00; 4, Kenney, SC, 33-00.50; 5, Galasso, HC, 31-08.50; 6, K.Sikorskis, CM, 31-06.00; 7, E. Sikorskas, 31-04.00; 8, Wilt, AA, 30-11.50. Discus: 1, Dornish, ECC, 127-00; 2, Wilt, AA, 110-03; 3, Williams, J, 107-02; 4,K. Sikorskis, CM, 105-10; 5, E.Sikorskis, CM, 99-04; 6, Misner, PM, 98-10; 7, Fletcher, U, 96-03; 8, Allison, SC, 92-02. Javelin: 1,Kenney, SC, 144-03; 2, Reid, KI, 125-09; 3, Sikorskis, CM, 114-04; 4, Skedel, U, 110-04; 5, Misner, PM, 108-04; 6, Simcisko, BEA, 101-00; 7, Frech, KI, 93-08; 8, Holmes, PV, 91-11. Pole vault: 1, Kidd, BF, 10-06; 2, Pollick, SC, 9-06; 3, Love, SC, 9-06; 4, Kocjancic, KA, 8-06; 5, Franco, ECC, 8-06; 6, Moran, KA, 8-00; 7, Paolini, PV, 8-00; 8, Ritchey, BF, 8-00..
