Danbury girls win title
NEW HAVEN — The Danbury girls won the 4x200 relay (1:45.67) to kick off the CIAC State Open Indoor Track Championships at the Floyd Little Athletic Center and Alanna Smith added wins in the 55 dash (7.1) and 300 (39.93) to lead the Hatters to the team title with 36 points.
Barlow girls were second with 30 points and Sheehan third with 27. Hall won the boys title with 52 points, Hillhouse was second with 48 and Conard third with 40.
Danbury coach Nick Fraticelli said winning the 4x200 was a motivating factor for the team.
“The 4x200 was going to be a close race, so we moved Alanna to the second leg to give us some extension in the race and it helped,” Fraticelli said. “That win really motivated us and got us going.
“We told the girls coming in here to be focused and whatever happened would happen. We got some solid performances, including Kimberly Williams who was third in the long jump (16-9.25).”
Danbury won its eighth State Open girls title.
Smith has been working on improving her starts, although it didn’t interfere with her winning effort at the State Open.
“I’m still having a problem with my starts, but I’m always happy when I win,” Smith said. “The thing with me is every time I go on the track I want to do a PR.”
4X400 RELAY LEADS TO HALL WIN
It took the last boys event on the track for Hall to clinch their second State Open title. Hall won the 4x400 relay in 3:31.18. Hall also won the title in 2019.
“This title took an incredible performance from the entire team,” Hall coach Jeff Billing said. “We scored points in 11 of the 15 events and that depth was the key for us.”
RECORD DAY FOR MOORE, SHERRY
Gavin Sherry of Conard started his day with a win in the 1,600 in a meet and state record in 4:11.19. He broke the state record of 4:13.29 set by Willie Ahearn of Danbury in 2008.
Gary Moore Jr. of Hillhouse continues to break records in the shot put. He won the event with a throw of 63 feet, 11.25 inches for a new State Open record
“I was hoping to do a little better, but I’ve been tired this week and I think that impacted me today,” Moore said. “But one plus has been my speed with my release and that helped me today.
“No matter what you throw, it always feels good to get a win and set a record.”
NO. 6 SEED BURKE WINS 1,000
Eamon Burke of Xavier admitted he ran a slow time for the 1,000 in the Class L meet, giving him the No. 6 sded in the State Open with a qualifying time of 2:37.97.
At the State Open he was determined to make up for the Class L slow time. He took the lead going around the first turn and never gave it up. He won in 2:33.67.
“Taking the early lead in the 1,000 was the plan going in,” Burke said. “I had a weak time in Class L and I knew I could do a lot better. My coach (Chris Stonier) was screaming at me during the race and that helped motivate me at the end. You can hear his loud voice from anywhere in the building.”
Burke, who plans to compete at the New England meet on March 5 in Boston, said COVID-19 actually had a positive impact on his running and development.
“When things were shut down during COVID-19, it gave me a lot more time to train,” Burke said. “I was able to work on some things to improve my running. But the down time also helped me mentally. It gave me time to reflect on things and how important it was to be focused.”
ANOTHER BIG DAY FOR SCHWEITZER
Mariella Schweitzer of Barlow came away with wins in the long jump (18-5) and the 55 hurdles (8.35).
“I’m always looking for PRs in my events and that pushes me to do well,” Schweitzer said. “These days what helps me competing in multiple events is I’m less stressed out. A couple years ago I would be stressed going into events but now I’m more relaxed. I just go out and try to do my best and that has helped me improve.”