Mitchell runs past Miller in heated race

NEW HAVEN — The girls 55 dash shaped up as an interesting event and it proved to be one of the most exciting events at the CIAC Class S track and field championships at Floyd Little Athletic Center on Friday.

Andraya Yearwood of Cromwell entered the 55 event as the top seed, Chelsea Mitchell of Canton was the second seed and Terry Miller of Bloomfield was the third seed.

Mitchell ended up with an emotional finish. Mitchell won her first 55 indoor track title with a time of 7.18 seconds and Miller was second in 7.20. Yearwood had a false start in the preliminary heat and did not qualify for the final.

On Wednesday, Mitchell was one of three Connecticut female track and field athletes and their parents who filed a federal lawsuit to try and prevent transgender athletes, like Yearwood and Miller, from competing in girls sports in Connecticut. The three girls are represented by the conservative nonprofit organization Alliance Defending Freedom.

“I was just pushing as hard as I could,” Mitchell said. “When I finished, I looked up at the board and said to myself ‘oh my gosh.’ The way the race went I thought I had an edge. I never won an indoor 55 before, so this is big for me. It’s the first time I ever beat Terry Miller.

“I tried not to think about the lawsuit. My focus was entirely on running the race and winning. At the end, with the strong finish and the lean at the end, I thought I had it.”

Yearwood admitted the publicity surrounding the recent lawsuit was in the back of her mind.

“At the start of my heat I was too anxious, and that contributed to my false start,” Yearwood said. “The lawsuit was definitely in the back of my mind and it probably will be when I continue to compete here.”

Mitchell, committed to William & Mary, has newfound confidence with the win.

“Winning the 55 now gives me more confidence in my ability,” Mitchell said. “I know what I can do and this proves I can win.”

Mitchell kept that winning momentum going in two other events to make it a three-win day for her in the individual events.

Mitchell won the 300 in 40.98 and the long jump in 18 feet, 8.5 inches.

Miller was unavailable after the race and Bloomfield coach Anne Burrows said about Miller, “she was prepared and ran a good race in the 55. It was an exciting finish.”