Hillhouse’s Moore Jr. sweeps throwing events
NEW BRITAIN — Hillhouse senior and Baylorbound Gary Moore Jr.’s historic high school track and field career is coming to a close. The storied thrower concluded his appearance at the Class L Track and Field Championships Wednesday by breaking a 53-year old state record and sweeping all three throwing events for the first time.
He won the javelin on his second attempt with a personal best throw of 185 feet, nine inches, the shot put on his first throw (5709) and the discus on his third attempt. Moore’s discus throw of 192-10 broke the previous record of 189-2 set by Hartford Public’s Mel Taylor in 1969.
“It was such a good day, it kinda felt like a big breakthrough in discus and jav,” Moore said. “It feels good to know that my work is actually, I’m getting it, it’s coming through. ... I’m happy because this is the first time I ever scored 30 points in a meet and I’ve been trying to do it since freshman year so to get it now is special.”
Moore has just one more state meet, next Monday’s State Open, to conclude his high school career before moving down to Waco, Texas in mid August to begin his collegiate career.
For now though, he’s remained focused on winning and setting records during his final high school season: “To leave my legacy as the best ever thrower to come from here. Me and my dad always talk about being the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) and that type of stuff, so it’s kinda just a mindset for me.”
Despite about an hour weather delay right before the 3200-meter run due to rain and thunder, Moore’s 30 points helped Hillhouse win the boys’ Class L title
with 111.5 points. Simsbury followed with 100 points and Naugatuck finished third with 76 points.
Hillhouse also got key performances from Ralphael Hawkins in the 100 (1st) and 200 (2nd) and Matthew Gibbs (300 hurdle wins).
E.O. Smith won the girls’ title with 78.5 points followed by Simsbury with 70 points in second and Shelton (64) in third. Shelton received wins from Audrey Kozak in the 100 and long jump. The team title was E.O. Smith’s first since 1998.
SIMSBURY’S WATSON SETS HIGH JUMP STATE RECORD
Also setting a state record Wednesday was Simsbury’s Timothy Watson with a jump of 7-00.75. The senior said he was motivated to attempt to break the record after watching Chet Ellis set the previous state record (700.50) in 2019.
“I knew that would be a goal of mine that I wanted to face,” he said. “I was like, ‘I’m gonna try to do that.’ ”
Watson was swarmed by his teammates following his state record clinching jump. He will be competing collegiately at Penn State next season.
“That was my goal heading into the season, to break that (record),” he said. “I said it in my mind, felt like I had to do it and I knew it was possible and always thought I could do it.”
A NEW 800-METER GIRLS CHAMPION
Gabriella Hernandez from E.O. Smith won her first Class L title after edging out last year’s Class L and State Open champ Olivia Birney (of Simsbury) in the final 100 meters of the girls 800 meters in a time of 2 minutes and 16.12 seconds. Birney finished second in 2:16.65.
“The first lap, I just wanted to stick on the shoulder of whoever was in front and then hopefully if I felt good I would try to go at the 300, and I decided to kick it at the 100 instead,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez said she specialized in the 400 as a freshman last season to better help her with speed in the 800. It paid off Wednesday as she defeated Birney to win her first class crown.
“It was definitely a goal, but I didn’t know if I would do it. But if you mentally think about wanting it more then it can happen,” she said.
A NEW CLASS L DISTANCE KING
While the Sherry twins were limited Wednesday,
Newington’s Michael Bohlke rose up to take his seat on the throne.
Despite dealing with a stress reaction in his left leg, Gavin Sherry, the state’s record holder in the 1600, ran Conard’s final leg in the 4x800-meter relay, helping the team to a fourth-place finish in the event. He did not run in any other event because of his injury.
Callum Sherry, Gavin’s twin brother, was leading the majority of Wednesday’s 1600 before Bohlke kicked past him in the final 20 meters. The win gave Bohlke his first class title as he finished in 4:19.62. Sherry finished right behind him in 4:19.80.
“It was pretty tactical. It’s much more tactical than I’m used to,” Bohlke said of the 1600. “It was just a matter of timing my kick right to chase down first place . ... Coming around the corner for the last 100 meters, it was just everything I had to get by him.”
After staying warm by finding shelter in a friend’s car during the rain delay, Bohlke doubled and also won the 3,200 in a time of 9:07.99. Callum, who was seeded third in the entry list of the 3,200, chose not to race the event.