New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Hillhouse girls, East Lyme boys win state titles
NEW HAVEN – Jada McCown won the 600, Shalisha Robertson won the shot put and Leonaya Knox won the 55 hurdles and had a close second in the 55 dash to lead Hillhouse to the CIAC Class M Girls Indoor Track Championship team title with 82 points.
Bethel was second with 43 points and Weston took third with 34. It was the Academic’s first team title since 2019.
East Lyme won the boys team title with 54.33 points, Tolland was second with 49 and Bethel was third with 46.
“We were confident coming in that we could put up our best fight, the only team that could beat us was us,” long-time Hillhouse assistant girls track coach Darrell Brown said. “We had our share of first places but second place, all places are important because the points all add up. That’s why we don’t stress records or PRs, we just tell the girls to do what they are capable of doing.
“These girls put the city of New Haven on their back today and made sure New Haven is relevant. We are looking forward to the State Open. We qualified about 95 percent of our team for the State Open.”
Brown was filling in for Hillhouse track coaches Gary Moore and Michele Moore who weren’t at the Class M meet. The Moores were at Clemson University watching their daughter Leah Moore and son Gary Moore Jr. compete in Tiger Paws Invitational meet. Leah competes in the throwing events for Kentucky and Gary Jr. competes in the throwing events at Baylor.
Knox won the 55 hurdles in 8.32 and was second in the 55 dash in 7.337. Talia Graham of Bethel had the better lean at the 55 dash finish line to win in 7.331. Robertson won the shot put with throw of 37-4.25.
McCown led the 600 start to finish in 1:41.81.
“I always try to get to the break line first at the start so I can control the race,” McCown said. “But this time it was close. I felt her (Lauren Haddad of Ledyard) hand touch mine going around the final corner in the last lap and that got my attention. I had a lot left and just ran as hard as I could to pull away.
“It’s great to contribute to our team’s points but it’s also a good springboard to the State Open (Feb. 18). It means a lot because all my hard work is paying off.”
EAST LYME PREVAILS
Despite not having an individual winner, East Lyme used its depth to win the boys title.
“We have a young team, and all we asked of the entire team is to do their job today,” East Lyme boys coach Steve Hargis said. ’And that’s what they did. Our guys were committed. We had at least one young athlete in every event and they came through. It helps to have a sophomore throw 50 feet (52-7.25) and take second in the shot put.”
GRENIER CRUISES
Harry Grenier of Hand went out strong at the start and sprinted the last lap to win the 3,200 in 9:38.29.
“Recently, I changed my racing strategy and I’ve been running strong the entire race,” Grenier said. “I used to have the mind set of waiting and then taking that final burst at the end to pull away. I’m kicking a lot earlier now and racing out front. I still have enough left in the final lap to finish strong.”
LATE KICK GIVES MILES 1000 WIN
“I’m having a solid indoor season and running strong is a usually a reason why,” Cameron Miles of Weston said. “I initially wanted to go out hard. I led early but dropped back in the second lap. I moved up in the last lap and going around the last lap I had a little more left, so I pulled way.”
TOP FINISHERS
Olivia Walters of Brookfield won the girl 300 in 41.48. Career took the next two spots with Kiera Baxter second in 42.54 and Imani Bryan third in 42.60.
In the boys shot put Greyson Gold of Bethel won with a throw of 540.5. Michal Johnson of Lewis Mills had wins in the 300 (36.13) and 55 hurdles (7.63). Kyle Kurtz of Bethel won the pole vault (12-6).
CIAC CLASS M INDOOR TRACK
GIRLS
TEAM SCORING: 1 Hillhouse 82 2 Bethel 43 3 Weston 34 4 Career Magnet 29 5 New London 28 6 Mercy 27 7 Ledyard 24 8 Daniel Hand 23.59 Watertown 23 9 Waterford 23 11 Avon 18 12 East Lyme 14 12 Brookfield 14 14 Ellington 13 14 Rockville 13 16 RHAM 12.517 Sheehan 1118 Berlin 8 18 Prince Tech 8 20 Joel Barlow 6 21 Hartford Public 4 21 Suffield 4 23 Foran 2 24 Jonathan Law 1
Girls 55 Meter Dash Finals: 1. Talia Graham, Bethel, 7.34*; 2. Leonaya Knox, Hillhouse, 7.34*; 3. Jalena Martin, Ellington, 7.37*; 4. Darielys Arnold, New London, 7.38*; 5. Marie Kane, Mercy, 7.48*; 6. Imani Bryan, Career Magne, 7.50*.
Girls 300 Meter Dash: 1. Olivia Walters, Brookfield, 41.48*; 2. Kiera Baxter, Career Magne, 42.54*; 3. Imani Bryan, Career Magne, 42.60*; 4. Julia Coric, Daniel Hand, 42.98*; 5. Marie Kane, Mercy, 43.48*; 6. Lauren Haddad, Rockville, 43.75*.
Girls 600 Meter Run: 1. Jada McCown, Hillhouse, 1:41.81*; 2. Lauren Haddad, Rockville, 1:42.49*; 3. Kate Littler, Ledyard, 1:42.56*; 4. Macie Mietz, Bethel, 1:42.67*; 5. Ella Stephenson, Ledyard, 1:43.00*; 6. Isabella Fournier, Weston, 1:43.05*.
Girls 1000 Meter Run: 1. Avery Maiese, Waterford, 3:08.50*; 2. Ryann Walsh, Watertown, 3:13.68*; 3. Sarah Roberts, Mercy, 3:14.57*; 4. Meghan Guilbeault, Brookfield, 3:14.65*; 5. Aranza Torres, East Lyme, 3:16.92*; 6. Rachel Bartolucci, RHAM, 3:17.70*.
Girls 1600 Meter Run: 1. Avery Maiese, Waterford, 5:26.03*; 2. Natalia Kmita, Berlin, 5:26.14*; 3. Annecy Vlieks, Daniel Hand, 5:26.18*; 4. Beatrice Perrault, Mercy, 5:29.52*; 5. Karla Greenwood, Ellington, 5:34.34*; 6. Kennedy Holsapple, East Lyme, 5:35.60*.
Girls 3200 Meter Run: 1. Isabelle Mondo, RHAM, 11:59.24*; 2. Laura Funderburk, Avon, 12:08.48*; 3. Clara Romero, Mercy, 12:09.39*; 4. Keira Warner, Ellington, 12:14.59*; 5. Rachael Turek, Bethel, 12:15.06*; 6. Eleanor Chamberlain, Sheehan, 12:22.64*. Girls 55 Meter Hurdles:1. Leonaya Knox, Hillhouse, 8.23*; 2. Rosa Linda Volpintesta, Bethel, 8.68*; 3. Taniyah Mabry, Hillhouse, 8.71*; 4. Aleisha Clarke, Hartford Pub, 8.80*; 5. Laila Best, Career Magne, 8.81*; 6. Caden Simpson, Jonathan Law, 8.83*.
Girls 4x200 Meter Relay: 1. Career Magnet (Kiera Baxter 11, Imani Bryan 11, Sarah Murray 12, Laila Best 11), 1:47.04*; 2. Hillhouse (Taniyah Mabry 12, Deanna Moore 9, Darea Vargas 9, Kyla Parker 12), 1:50.73*; 3. Weston (Sophia Taylor 10, Brooke Wagner 12, Emma Love 12, Ellison Weiner 12), 1:51.81*; 4. Rockville (Melody Rowe-Cary 9, Lauren Haddad 12, Alexia Diaz 10, Gabriella Montano 10), 1:52.16*; 5. Waterford (Sarah Conti 10, Isabella Kimball 12, Alexa Collins 11, Gabby Brennan 12), 1:52.26*; 6. Watertown (Mallory Hannon 10, Emma Quadrato 10, Khrystalyn Lafo 9, Besiana Dauti 10), 1:52.85*. Girls 4x400 Meter Relay:1. Weston (Isabella Fournier 9, Sophia Taylor 10, Keira Seibert 11, Ellison Weiner 12), 4:10.81*; 2. Hillhouse (Taniyah Mabry 12, Kayla Blackwell 12, Jada McCown 12, Deanna Moore 9), 4:13.30*; 3. Ledyard (Megan Armstrong 10, Lia Day 10, Ella Stephenson 11, Kate Littler 10), 4:16.04*; 4. Daniel Hand (Michelle Jiang 12, Jordan Kells 11, Vivian Glaser 12, Amanda Coric 10), 4:16.71*; 5. Watertown (Mallory Hannon 10, Emma Quadrato 10, Khrystalyn Lafo 9, Besiana Dauti 10), 4:20.66*; 6. Mercy (Annaliese Rhoden 12, Julia Lelko 10,
Lainey Riegler 9, Julia Salley 10), 4:21.50*.
Girls 4x800 Meter Relay: 1. Ledyard (Josephine Withbroe 10, Samantha Doran 11, Ella Stephenson 11, Kate Littler 10), 10:10.62*; 2. Daniel Hand (Jordan Kells 11, Amanda Coric 10, Vivian Glaser 12, Annecy Vlieks 9), 10:20.14*; 3. Weston (Nicole Bartlett 10, Campbell Clemens 10, Paige Cobrin 12, Charlotte Carter 11), 10:21.33*; 4. Avon (Laura Funderburk 10, Ava Keleher 11, Miriae Ek 10, Ying Ying Cheng 10), 10:31.44*; 5. Mercy (Kayla Johnson 10, Megan Menard 11, Megan Kasperowski 10, Julia Nadolski 12), 10:32.95*; 6. Ellington (Julia Goric 11, Karla Greenwood 9, Alyssa Mainville 11, Keira Warner 11), 10:41.70*.
Girls 1600 Sprint Medley: 1. Hillhouse (Darea Vargas 9, Tatiana Gaither 10, Deanna Moore 9, Kayla Blackwell 12), 4:29.29*; 2. Watertown (Mallory Hannon 10, Alisa Sadiku 11, Besiana Dauti 10, Ryann Walsh 10), 4:30.00*;
3. Avon (Natalie Ith 10, Julia Freeman 10, Kathryn Martin 9, Ying Ying Cheng 10), 4:30.06*; 4. Mercy (Ella Barone 9, Julia Salley 10, Julia Lelko 10, Sarah Roberts 9), 4:30.30*;
5. East Lyme (Sydney Arustei 12, Ava Pitruzzello 12, Emily Sevigny 12, Aranza Torres 11), 4:37.69*; 6. Bethel (Talia Graham 11, Elizabeth Clayton 12, Lia Kantor 10, Macie Mietz 11), 4:40.40*.
Girls High Jump: 1. Rosa Linda Volpintesta, Bethel, 500*; 2. Darielys Arnold, New London, J5-00*; 3. Kmara Royster, New London, 4-10*; 4. Trinity Mooring, Hillhouse, J4-10*; 5. Amelia Oatman, RHAM, 4-08*; 5. Grace Blackwood, East Lyme, 4-08*. Girls Pole Vault:1. Ellison Weiner, Weston, 11-06*; 2. Talia Graham, Bethel, 10-00*;
3. Jordan Carr, Joel Barlow, J10-00*; 4. Autumn Bacik, Watertown, 9-06*; 5. Alexis Kuszpa, Daniel Hand, 9-00*;
5. Lacey-Lee Keramidas, East Lyme, 9-00*.
Girls Long Jump: 1. Darielys Arnold, New London, 1711.50*; 2. Leonaya Knox, Hillhouse, 16-08*; 3. Kathryn Lombino, Sheehan, 16-02*; 4. Savanna Bauman, Sheehan, 16-00.50*; 5. Kiera Baxter, Career Magne, 15-11.25*;
6. Elle Dibuono, Waterford, 15-06*.
Girls Shot Put: 1. Shalisha Robertson, Hillhouse, 3704.25*; 2. Esther Emeka, Prince Tech, 34-09.25*; 3. Sandra Kirvelevicius, East Lyme, 34-07.50*; 4. Lourdes Lawson, Suffield, 33-08*; 5. Alexandria McWatters, Foran, 32-02.50*; 6. Sofia Zharyy, Weston, J32-02.50*.
BOYS
TEAM SCORING: 1 East Lyme 54.33332 Tolland 493 Bethel 464 Suffield 375 Notre Dame-West Haven 31.33336 Lewis Mills 28 7 Ledyard 27 8 Lyman Hall 22.33339 RHAM 19 9 Jonathan Law 19 11 Branford 17.512 Daniel Hand 16 13 Weston 15.514 Joel Barlow 15 15 Prince Tech 14 16 Ellington 13 17 Foran 11 18 North Haven 10 19 Woodstock Academy 7 20 Rockville 621 Waterford 422 Watertown 223 Brookfield 1
Boys 55 Meter Dash Finals: 1. Daniel Kennedy, Tolland, 6.54*; 2. Shane Pritchard, Jonathan Law, 6.63*; 3. Jalil Pena, Prince Tech, 6.73*; 4. Ugo Nzedima, Notre Dame-W, 6.76*; 5. Maxwell Czarnecki, RHAM, 6.78*; 6. Gabe Garnett, Jonathan Law, 6.81*.
Boys 300 Meter Dash: 1. Michael Johnson, Lewis Mills, 36.13*; 2. Jalil Pena, Prince Tech, 36.88*; 3. Maxwell Czarnecki, RHAM, 37.56*; 4. Jamie Fonseca, Notre Dame-W, 37.66*; 5. Roan Fothergill, Ledyard, 37.70*; 6. Joseph Defreitas, Foran, 37.91*.
Boys 600 Meter Run: 1. Noah Perryman, Tolland, 1:23.88*; 2. Colin Donahoe, Branford, 1:24.11*; 3. Divyesh Paladugu, Ellington, 1:25.47*; 4. Kai Ritz, East Lyme, 1:28.03*; 5. Lucas DeNucci, East Lyme, 1:29.11*; 6. Dillon Stoeffler, Tolland, 1:29.56*.
Boys 1000 Meter Run: 1. Cameron Miles, Weston, 2:36.75*; 2. Brendan Fant, East Lyme, 2:37.30*; 3.Griffin Mandirola, Suffield, 2:38.25*; 4. Christian Menounos, Woodstock Ac, 2:38.30*; 5. Alex Cole, Watertown, 2:39.50*; 6. Ian Foster, Brookfield, 2:40.09*.
Boys 1600 Meter Run:1. Griffin Mandirola, Suffield, 4:31.46*; 2. Matthias Galban, Joel Barlow, 4:31.73*; 3. Jackson Sobelman, Joel Barlow, 4:33.45*; 4. Evan Bureau, Bethel, 4:33.65*; 5. Nathan Bergman, East Lyme, 4:36.32*; 6. Colton Sallum, Woodstock Ac, 4:36.79*.
Boys 3200 Meter Run: 1. Harrison Grenier, Daniel
Hand, 9:38.29*; 2. Sean McCauley, East Lyme, 9:43.85*;
3. John Glidden, Rockville, 9:49.28*; 4. Colby Bornstein, Tolland, 9:51.71*; 5. Liam Fedigan, Jonathan Law, 9:52.36*; 6. Matthias Galban, Joel Barlow, 9:55.70*.
Boys 55 Meter Hurdles: 1. Michael Johnson, Lewis Mills, 7.63*; 2. Owen Rich, Lyman Hall, 7.94*; 3. Avery Cipcic, Suffield, 8.08*; 4. Elliot Childs, Waterford, 8.24*;
5. Cayden Drost, Notre Dame-W, 8.29*; 6. Maxwell Czarnecki, RHAM, 8.31*.
Boys 4x200 Meter Relay: 1. Bethel (Daniel Cruz 11, Jackson Sorbello 10, Luke Richardson 10, Jaden Hayles 12), 1:34.66*; 2. Notre Dame-West Haven (Tremaine Barr 10, Malcolm Benton 12, Ajay Bellamy 12, Connor Seabrooks 12), 1:34.77*; 3. Tolland (Daniel Kennedy 12, Luke Macaluso 12, Noah Hill 12, Cole Robertson 12), 1:35.03*;
4. Jonathan Law (JT Nelly 11, Gabe Garnett 12, Jack Bretthauer 11, Shane Pritchard 12), 1:35.88*; 5. Weston (Tyler Schiffer 12, Xavier Egurbide 10, Nicholas Masters 10, Jay Watson 12), 1:36.10*; 6. Ledyard (Jackson Poulton 12, Jacob Lenz 12, Roan Fothergill 10, Anthony Adamick Jr. 10), 1:36.80*.
Boys 4x400 Meter Relay: 1. Bethel (Daniel Cruz 11, Jackson Sorbello 10, Caden Fitzgerald 11, Kyle Kurtz 11), 3:35.80*; 2. East Lyme (Shawn Henning 12, Lucas DeNucci 12, Kai Ritz 11, Brendan Fant 12), 3:36.08*; 3. Notre Dame-West Haven (Connor Seabrooks 12, Jamie Fonseca 12, Chevintha Edirisinghe 12, Cayden Drost 12), 3:37.02*;
4. Lyman Hall (Thomas Conklin 10, Timothy Conklin 10, Michael Fisher 11, Owen Rich 10), 3:38.92*; 5. Tolland (Cole Robertson 12, Noah Perryman 12, Noah Hill 12, Christopher Adadjo 10), 3:39.34*; 6. Ellington (Nicholas Martino 12, Andrew Velasquez 12, Amare Williams 12, Divyesh Paladugu 12), 3:40.56*.
Boys 4x800 Meter Relay: 1. RHAM (Samuel Fortin 11, Josh Gauthier 12, Konrad Jandzinski 12, Cameron Rhodes 12), 8:19.58*; 2. Ledyard (Mason Day 12, Hayden Baber 11, Auguste Estriplet 12, Gabriel Huff 11), 8:21.75*; 3. Daniel Hand (Christopher Bonavita 11, Mason Stewart 12, Harrison Grenier 12, Nicholas Montana 12), 8:24.91*; 4. East Lyme (Jilali Benjdid 10, Maddox Grillo-Smith 11, Kai Ritz 11, Finian Gates 11), 8:24.91*; 5. Lyman Hall (Timothy Conklin 10, Aaron Rich 9, Henry Murphy 11, Thomas Conklin 10), 8:30.18*; 6. Bethel (Kyle Kurtz 11, Yee-Jun Ng 10, Owen Ryan 11, Caden Fitzgerald 11), 8:34.76*.
Boys 1600 Sprint Medley: 1. Tolland (Christopher Adadjo 10, Luke Macaluso 12, Cole Robertson 12, Noah Perryman 12), 3:40.81*; 2. East Lyme (Shawn Henning 12, Lucas DeNucci 12, Finian Gates 11, Brendan Fant 12), 3:41.38*; 3. Ellington (Nicholas Martino 12, Divyesh Paladugu 12, Andrew Velasquez 12, Connor Lagasse 10), 3:42.66*; 4. Jonathan Law (Gabe Garnett 12, Shane Pritchard 12, Jack Bretthauer 11, Liam Fedigan 12), 3:44.81*; 5. Weston (Tyler Schiffer 12, Jay Watson 12, Nicholas Masters 10, Cameron Miles 11), 3:44.83*; 6. Notre Dame-West Haven (Malcolm Benton 12, Ajay Bellamy 12, Cayden Drost 12, Chevintha Edirisinghe 12), 3:45.75*.
Boys High Jump: 1. Avery Cipcic, Suffield, 6-02*; 2. Isaiah Moore, Foran, 6-00*; 3. Ethan Rich, Lyman Hall, J600*; 4. Tremaine Barr, Notre Dame-W, 5-10*; 5. Blake Robinson, Weston, 5-08*; 5. Enaji Muhammad, Branford, 5-08*.
Boys Pole Vault: 1. Kyle Kurtz, Bethel, 12-06*; 2. Ryder Kropiwnicki, Branford, 12-00*; 3. Mateo Viviano, Ledyard, J12-00*; 4. Shawn Henning, East Lyme, 11-06*; 4. Chance DeCrescenzo, Lyman Hall, 11-06*; 4. Ajay Bellamy, Notre Dame-W, 11-06*.
Boys Long Jump: 1. Jacob Lenz, Ledyard, 22-00*; 2. Michael Johnson, Lewis Mills, 21-09.50*; 3. Daniel Kennedy, Tolland, 21-02.50*; 4. Avery Cipcic, Suffield, 20-11*; 5. Xavier Douglas, Foran, 20-02*; 6. Luke Richardson, Bethel, 20-00.75*.
Boys Shot Put: 1. Greyson Golda, Bethel, 54-00.50*; 2. Thomas Matlock, East Lyme, 52-07.25*; 3. Ethan Anderson, North Haven, 49-08.75*; 4. Yousef Gebril, North Haven, 48-08*; 5. Jared Eaton, Woodstock Ac, 47-06.75*; 6. Craig Gnatek, Suffield, 44-09*.