Plum athletes hit early marks at Altoona Igloo Invitational

By: Michael Love
Saturday, April 5, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

The Plum boys and girls track and field teams are well into their 2025 spring season, and early invitational and dual-meet results have put a smile on the face of head coach Matt Proskin.

He struck a positive tone last Wednesday after a competitive section dual meet with Franklin Regional as well as seeing his athletes pick up multiple top-eight ribbons from the 48th Altoona Igloo Invitational, an early-season staple for the Plum contingent.

“With it being early on, we had some kids do some different things (at Altoona) to try to get some times and get some looks at what they might want to continue to do,” Proskin said.

“It is a relatively competitive meet. It helped lay the groundwork for some things later in the season, including some of the bigger invitationals.”

Senior Gabrielle Layne has picked up where she left off at WPIALs last year, where she claimed second in the 100-meter dash (12.23 seconds) and fourth in the 200 (25.40).

She captured Altoona Igloo titles in both the 100 (12.43) and 200 (25.25).

“Walking out of the meet, I was hungrier,” Layne said. “I didn’t come out totally pleased, but I wasn’t disappointed with myself. It was a good early-season meet to give me an idea of where I am. I am always finding ways to improve myself.”

Layne also anchored the girls 400 relay with sophomore Jocelyn Bonicky, freshman Emma Neese and sophomore Isla Filo to finish fifth overall (51.59). Despite having a sub in the lineup because of an illness, Layne said, the relay performed well.

“We ran a pretty good time,” she said. “The 400 is coming along nicely in the early season. I think it can be the best 4-by-1 in my four years.”

Sophomore Maura Smith, who shined for the Mustangs in the cross country season last fall, made her mark in the 800 at the Igloo Invitational with an eighth-place finish in 2:36.04.

“Maura has had a breakout season for us so far,” Proskin said.

“Our top distance girl coming into the season was (junior) Mayah Torres, but she’s been struggling with some injuries. Maura has really stepped up and is carrying the girls distance right now. She trained all winter and did indoor track. She did all the right things to put her in a position to have a great outdoor season. It is fun to see all of that come together for her.”

It’s no secret that Proskin’s son, junior Owen Proskin, is a versatile athlete for the Plum boys. Look no further than his performance in winning the pentathlon at Nike Indoor Nationals last month.

Owen Proskin, who can sprint, hurdle, jump and throw for victories for the Mustangs, came into the outdoor season with a goal to get back to WPIALs where he was fourth last year as a sophomore in the 110 hurdles, ninth in the 300 hurdles, and 11th in the high jump.

He secured three ribbons at the Igloo Invitational. He soared to a win in the high jump at 6 feet, threw the discus 136-1 for third overall, and unleashed the javelin 153-9 for seventh.

“I thought it was a really good meet for me,” Owen said.

“I was bouncing back and forth between events, but overall, it was a really nice day out, and I was able to go out there and see the competition and put my abilities up against some really good athletes from schools like State College and Altoona. Both of those schools are pretty big. It was nice to see how I compared in the early season.”

He also helped the boys 1,600 relay with senior Chase Heard, sophomore Eli Matolcsy and sophomore Kent Holmes win the event in a swift 3:25.08.

The time is less than a second from the 34-year-old school record.

“This might be one of the main combinations for the relay throughout the season,” Owen said. “We were right there with that time at Altoona. It makes us even more hungry to get the record.”

Matt Proskin said the boys 400 group is deep overall.

“We could interchange some people in the relay, and it should still run a really good time,” he said.

Individually, Holmes showed his speed with a third-place finish at Altoona in the 400 (50.90).

“Kent is doing a really good job,” Proskin said. “He is kind of that cornerstone of that mid distance group.”

The 400 relay of Holmes, Heard, junior Nico Signor and sophomore CJ Hart heated up the track and combined to placed third in a time of 44.05. It was the best time the relay has run so far this spring.

“The boys 4-by-1 ran an excellent time for early in the season,” Proskin said. “That was encouraging.”

Hart just missed a top-eight ribbon in the 100, as he was ninth (11.88).

Also picking up Igloo Invite ribbons were junior Sloan Humphries in the triple jump (third, 43-3.25) and junior Matt Nelson in the shot put (sixth, 43-7.5).

Humphries, Proskin said, wasn’t able to compete against Franklin Regional, as he continued to battle through knee issues.

“Not having Sloan in the triple against Franklin was painful,” he said. “He had a great day at Altoona, and we were hoping he would pop off something in the triple there.”

Proskin said he was encouraged coming out of the Franklin Regional meet with how many of the point scorers were underclassmen.

“That was true on the boys side, especially,” he said. “We are excited for what they can do this year, and then they all will be back. That bodes well for the future. It also bodes well for the immediate future when they and the seniors go up against Oakland Catholic and Central Catholic (with McKeesport at home on April 15).”

The Plum teams were slated to host senior night Tuesday against Woodland Hills at Mustangs Stadium, and this spring’s 23 seniors — Layne, Heard, Angelina Barclay, Mary Bricker, Serena Carnahan, Michelina Corrado, Sierra Hunter, Danica Jones, Maddison Marzina, Josephine Sciulli, Kaylee Sweeney, Benjamin Boerner, Zachary Carnahan, Mason Filo, Jaimin Hancock, Caleb Kearney, Logan McCreary, Nicholas Odom, Noah Odom, Mario Racchini, Troy Soxman, Jordan Stead and Christopher Taylor — were honored in a ceremony before the events began.

Plum will get another chance to test its mettle this Saturday at the Tri-State Track Coaches Association championships at West Mifflin. More than two dozen teams will be in action, including North Allegheny, Norwin, Seneca Valley, North Hills and Moon.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Plum