2018 H.S. girls' outdoor track & field preview capsules
ECC DIVISION I East Lyme Coach: Carl Reichard (30th year)
Key returnees: Sr. Olivia Backofen (hurdles), Sr. Alexis Burgess (jumps), Sr. Jamie Foster (throws), Sr. Savannah Hunter (throws), Sr. Kaitlin Kluge (pole vault), Sr. Alicia Lan (distance), Sr. Claire Mason (middle distance), Sr. Meghan McCauley (middle distance), So. Sofia Riker (jumps), Jr. Saige Deveau (sprints), Jr. Katie Solinsky (sprints, jumps).
Top newcomers: So. Samantha Lyster (distance), So. Lena Osso (pole vault, jumps), Jr. Phoebe Provencher (distance), Sr. Taya Valdez (vaults, sprints), Fr. Katherine Harris (sprints).
Outlook: The Vikings are coming off a strong indoor season having won the ECC Division I title, but they finished second to rival NFA during last spring’s outdoor season and will attempt to catch the Wildcats again this spring. “We have a nice mix of new athletes and experienced newcomers,” Reichard said. “If everyone can stay healthy we should be competitive.” Foster, Mason, Riker and Solinsky are returning place-winners from last year’s ECC meet. Fitch Coach: Denise Descheneaux (1st year)
Key returnees: Sr. Lily Johnson (sprints), Sr. Madison Powe (sprints, jumps), Jr. Janaya Burley (sprints), So. Abby Rodgers (sprints), So. Amara Robinson (jumps, sprints), Sr. Colleen Duffy (throws), Jr. Julia Adrian (distance).
Top newcomers: So. Sydney Comstock (sprints), So Kaylah Beauchamp (sprints), So. Kylie Heard (distance), Deja DriscollSmith (throws), Jr. Da’Zohanique Cardwell (throws).
Outlook: Descheneaux takes over at Fitch and will lean on a deep, talented group of sprinters this spring. Powe is coming off a sixth place finish in the State Open indoor 55 while Powe, Johnson and Burley all placed in the ECC Division I indoor 55. Rodgers, whose freshman season was cut short by injury, was a state qualifier in the 100 and 200 a year ago while Duffy is the reigning ECC outdoor champ in the discus. Adrian will provide points in the distance events as the Falcons expect a competitive dual season. Ledyard Coach: Dave Tetlow (45th year)
Key returnees: Sr. Brooke Berlin (sprints, jumps), Sr. Delaney Gagnon (throws), Sr. Julia Paul (middle distance), Jr. Abby Campbell (sprints), Jr. Miranda Chesnut (throws), Jr. Elise Derusha (javelin), Jr. Jade Dessaint (distance), So. Emma Chin (middle distance), So. Olivia Crawford (hurdles, sprints), So. Anna Leandri (throws), So. Abby Millbach (hurdles, sprints), So. Karissa Paul (distance), So. Ally Tran (distance), So. Tajeah Winston (shot, triple jump).
Top newcomers: Sr. Isabelle Hammar (shot), Sr. Sarah Serbascewicz (sprints), Sr. Elizabeth Duda (javelin), So. Karissa DeNigris (jumps, throws), So. Jade Langworthy (sprints), Fr. Nadia Helme (sprints), Fr. Kira Kassim (javelin), Fr. Teia Lee (sprints), Fr. Natalie Poulton (throws, sprints), Fr. Paylynn Sormude (jumps).
Outlook: The Colonels are inexperienced, but Tetlow is excited because he has so many young, talented athletes this spring. He will lean on his senior class to provide leadership while the newcomers adjust to the rigors of the outdoor season, but there’s no reason why Ledyard (4-3 a year ago) can’t have another winning season and have a strong showing in the ECC and state championship meets.
NFA Coach: Kara Kochanski Vendola (16th year)
Key returnees: Sr. Sydney Corl, Sr. Sydney Kupis, Jr. Allyson Lewis, Jr. Eve Buckridge, Sr. Bailey Guillmette, Sr. Anna Lewis, Jr. Leah Mikkelson, Sr. Ivorie Covey, So. Paige Martin, So. Madison Martin, Jr. Emma Grace Ricketts, Sr. Sophia Kaiser, Sr. Arianna Bradley, Sr. Angela Chong, Sr. Madison Cotner, Sr. Kiara Tanta-Quidgeon, So. Samantha Tracey, So. Erin Jedele.
Top newcomers: Fr. Kayla Park, So. Mackenzie Teper, Fr. Jayden Burns, Fr. Hannah Elliot, Fr. Kaliyah Exum, Fr. Jenissa Varela, Fr. Tahlia Bryant.
Outlook: The Wildcats, after finishing a perfect 6-0, cruised to victory in the ECC championship meet a year ago despite not crowning a single champion, a testament to their superior depth. That depth should make NFA a contender again, although this time Allyson Lewis enters the spring fresh off a State Open indoor victory in the high jump. They also add Park, who was the ECC Division I indoor champion in the 600. “We have returning top scorers on our team at the state level and some promising new athletes committed to help NFA’s program with their tradition of success,” Kochanski Vendola said. ECC DIVISION II Montville Coach: Joel Finnegan (16th year)
Key returnees: Sr. Sheyenne Gillis (hurdles, jumps, throws), Sr. Annali Nelson (hurdles, pole vault), Sr. Sarah May (sprints), Jr. Lauren Ross (hurdles, jumps), Jr. Michaela MacCracken (sprints), Jr. Mady Whittaker (distance), Jr. Emma Giurleo (distance), Jr. Jamila Linder (sprints), So. MacKenzie Clark (sprints, jumps), So. Lexi Peck (sprints).
Top newcomers: Sr. Madison Beaupre (sprints), Sr. Julie Deigoard (jumps, throws), Sr. Catherine Furman (sprints), Fr. Alexis Meehan (sprints).
Outlook: The Indians went right to the wire with eventual champion Stonington a year agp, losing their dual meet 78-72. Montville has plenty of strength and depth in the jumps with Ross, Gillis and Nelson leading the way and feature one of the top distance runners in Whittaker, the reigning ECC cross country champion. To dethrone Stonington, Finnegan believes the Indians must develop more depth in the distance events and rebuild a throwing group that was hurt by graduation losses. Stonington Coach: Jeff Parkinson (5th year)
Key returnees: So. Lily Anderson (distance), Jr. Aliza Bell (multi events), Sr. Katherine Cintron (throws), Jr. Jessica Detwiler (middle distance), Jr. Keegan Donahue (multi events), Sr. Liz Gray (middle distance), Sr. Kate Hall (sprints), Jr. Alex Jefson (sprints, hurdles), Jr. Caroline Morehouse (distance), Sr. Emily Novak (sprints, hurdles, jumps), Jr. Lindsey Orr (distance), Jr. Julia Rich (middle distance), Jr. Emma Small (middle distance), Jr. Lucy Sternberg (sprints, jumps).
Top newcomers: Jr. Izzy Yarnall (throws), Jr. Lexa Van Duine (throws), Jr. Vanessa Spears (sprints), Sr. Jess Kutz (throws), Sr. Emma Diamanti (throws), Fr. Kaleigh Bolduc (sprints, hurdles), So. Gwen Anderson (sprints).
Outlook: The Bears have talent and depth in almost every discipline this spring, so much so that Parkinson believes Stonington can repeat in Division II, challenge for a Class M state title and become the first non-Division I program to win the ECC championship meet. Hall is the reigning 200-meter outdoor champion and the Bears can put together three solid relay teams, particularly the 4x800.
Waterford Coach: Jay Criscuolo (5th year) Key returnees: Sr. Sophia Podeszwa (hurdles, sprints), Sr. Zora LaBonte (sprints), Jr. Jenny Keth (sprints, relays, jumps, Jr. Ellie Lokken (jumps), Jr. Julia Karlberg (hurdles, jumps).
Top newcomers: Fr. Alicia Sanders (sprints, relays), Fr. Lillie Abramowicz (sprints, hurdles), Fr. Jackie Puccio (sprints, jumps).
Outlook: The Lancers were one of the surprises of the postseason, edging rival Stonington to finish second at the Class M state meet. Waterford has three of the ECC’s most versatile athletes in Podeszwa, LaBonte and Keth, and this year Criscuolo said the Lancers have more depth in the throwing and distance events. “They give us great leadership,” Criscuolo said of his seniors, “and are motivated to improve on last season.” ECC DIVISION III St. Bernard Coach: Raymond Forrester (4th year)
Key returnees: Sr. Brooke Paradis (throws, sprints), Sr. Alica Crespo (jumps, sprints), Sr. Sarah Forrester (jumps, sprints), Sr. Christina McCaffery (sprints, middle distance), Sr. Sydney Ziegler (jumps), So. Brigid Kunka (distance), So. Sophia Duhig (distance), So. Allison Codner (jumps, sprints), So. Hope Geise (jumps, sprints), So. Bella McClure (jumps, sprints).
Top newcomers: Fr. Serena Britner (distance), Fr. Rachel Kunka (sprints, middle distance), Fr. Juliet Brady (sprints), Fr. Aaliyah Mohamed (sprints, middle distance), Fr. Emily Hart (sprints).
Outlook: The Saints, who were 2-6 a year ago, expect to be more competitive this spring with better numbers and a strong senior class led by McCaffrey. Regardless of what happens this season, Forrester thinks the future is bright with a solid class of underclassmen. OTHERS Grasso Tech Coach: Heidi DeCosta (8th year)
Key returnees: Sr. Rhema Phillips (hurdles, jumps), So. Topaz Baker (sprints), So. Ana DiSilva (distance).
Top newcomer: Jr. Ayhvyon Evans (sprints). Outlook: The Eagles have never won a conference championship in the school’s 41-year history, but this might be the year as Grasso Tech moves into the new Connecticut Technical Conference. Phillips won the 100-meter hurdles, long jump and triple jump in the now-defunct Constitution State Conference a year ago while DiSilva set school records in the 800 and 1,600 as a freshman. In the recent indoor season, Evans was awarded the best in track award and Phillips best in field at the CTC championship meet while DiSilva won the 1,600. Old Lyme Coach: Aron D’Aquila (13th year)
Key returnees: Sr. Julia Smith (sprints, hurdles), Sr. Julia Ritchie (middle distances, relays), Sr. Gillian Holloway (sprints), So. Summer Siefken (distance), So. Faith Caulkins (distanc), So. Chloe Cahill (sprints, relays), Jr. Ciara Klimaszewski (sprints), So. Emily Speckhals (distance).
Top newcomers: Jr. Ada Harjunpaa (hurdles, 400), Sr. Sarah Kwon (hurdles, sprints).
Outlook: The Wildcats will bring a young team into Shoreline Conference competition, but there is experience, especially in the running events. Caulkins is coming off a strong freshman season and is one of the top distance runners in the conference while Smith, Ritchie and Holloway give Old Lyme some quality sprinters and D’Aquila said the Wildcats will have some strong relay teams, especially in the 4x400.