Xavier boys, Windsor girls win titles
NEW HAVEN — Depth has been the defining factor for the Xavier boys track program and it worked to perfection on Friday.
The Falcons won their second straight CIAC Class L Indoor Track Championships title at Floyd Little Athletic Center with 74 points, led by wins from Owen Martin (1600), Nick Cassarino (600) and Hunter Feitel (pole vault).
Rounding out the top three boys teams were Windsor in second place with 68 points and Hillhouse (40).
Despite having a runner fall and being disqualified in the 4x200 relay, the first event of the meet, Windsor rebounded and won its seventh straight girls Class L title with 82 points. E.O. Smith was second with 77 points and Shelton was third with 59.
“We always talk about any given day can be your day in a meet,” Xavier coach Chris Stonier said. “But we also have teammates who can pick you up. Today our depth came through. We clinched the title in the 3200. We needed 8 points in that event and we got 11.
“We’ll spend a week to decide what events to focus on for the State Open and hopefully we can have the same success there.
Xavier showcases its depth
The Falcons’ team’ depth was led by individual winners Owen Martin in the 1600 and Nick Cassarino in the 600.
In a race that had several lead changes, Martin used his usual late kick to pull away down the final straightaway to win in 4:25.80. Cameron Nephew of Xavier was second (4:27.02), Francis Porrini III of Bristol Central was third (4:27.64) and Jack Ouellette of Xavier was fourth (4:28.60).
“I initially went out thinking I could sit behind the leaders and then pick them off,” Martin said. “But the pace was slow, no one wanted to take a strong lead. I wanted this race and the last lap I just took off.
“For us to finish 1-2-4 is really something in a state meet. You don’t see that every day and it says a lot about our team. It’s great to be able to contribute to our points in the team standings.”
Cassarino led start to finish but was pushed in the 600 and won in 1:23.62. Like Martin, a late kick did the trick. Jack Mulcunry of Bristol Central was second in 1:23.91 and Luke Pacheco of Shelton was third in 1:24.02.
“I always enjoy it when I
get pushed in a race and I got pushed hard in this one,” Casssarino said. “It helped motivate me at the very end.”
Xavier’s Hunter Feitel added a win in the pole vault (12-6).
Kearse ecstatic with Windsor’s title
“This meet was a good example of the resilience our team has,” Windsor girls indoor track coach Kelvan Kearse said. “When our girl fell in the 4x200, that situation might be devastating to some coaches. But these girls are tough, and they are so resilient.
“They kept coming back, grinding it out and produced the point we needed to bounce back. They compete as a team and they never give up.”
Hernandez continues to own 600
Gabby Hernandez of E.O Smith took an early lead in the 600, dropped a few steps behind Brittani Westberry of Windsor in
the second lap and then bolted around the final corner of the final lap to retake the lead and win in 1:34.43.
Hernandez has sizzled in the 600 this season. Earlier this season she won the event in 1:31.69 at a meet and at the time ranked No. 1 in the nation in the event. Heading into this weekend the time ranked her No. 3 in the nation in the 600.
“Having a quick early pace, I decided to drop back. I knew I had a strong enough late kick to get the lead back. I used the last corner as a springboard to get the lead and I just kept running hard. She’s a good runner and you never want to assume you’ve won a race until it’s over.
“I’m very proud of what I have accomplished this season. I’m really excited to qualify for the championship division at the New Balance National meet.”
Other top winners
In the girls meet, Shelton’s Audrey Kozak won
the 55 dash in a personal best 7.13 and won the long jump (17-3.25). She was third in the high jump. Katherine Bohlke of Newington won the 1600 (5:00.13) and the 3200 (10:50.60). Jill Roberts of Wilton won the 55 hurdles (8.43).
Boys who fared well were Amir Phelmetto of Hillhouse who won the 55 hurdles (7.78) and Khalil Antoine of Hillhouse was secod in the high jump (6-2).
CLASS L
Girls Team Standings
1 Windsor 82 2 E.O. Smith 77 3 Shelton 59 4 Wilton 30 4 Hall 30 6 Naugatuck 25 7 Maloney 23 8 Newington 20 9 Woodstock Academy 19 9 New Canaan 1911 Farmington 16 12 Simsbury 15 13 New Milford 12 14 Cheshire 11 14 Kennedy 11 16 Bunnell 8 17 Guilford 4 18 Wethersfield 2 19 Bristol Eastern 1 19 Fitch 1.
Girls 55 Meters: 1. Audrey Kozak, Shelton, 7.13*; 2. Victoria Francis, Windsor, 7.31*; 3. Tomari Gillespie, Windsor, 7.42*; 4. Jaida Murray, Windsor, 7.54*; 5. Erica Austin, Kennedy, 7.55*; 6. Sofia Duran, Simsbury, 7.59* Girls 300 Meters: 1. Victoria Francis, Windsor, 40.84*; 2. Lauren Kropo, Naugatuck, 41.60*; 3. Jill Roberts, Wilton, 41.93*; 4. Kareema McKenzie, Windsor, 42.54*; 5. Squirrel Lanz, Cheshire, 43.57*; 6. Juliet Allard, Woodstock Academy, 43.88* Girls 600 Meters: 1. Gabriella Hernandez, E.O.
Smith, 1:34.43#; 2. Brittani Westberry, Windsor, 1:35.99#; 3. Rylan Priest, Hall, 1:38.50*; 4. Navia Casa, E.O. Smith, 1:41.40*; 5. Kate Martin, Simsbury, 1:42.88*; 6. Mia Carbone, Maloney, 1:44.26* Girls 1000 Meters: 1. Bria Benigni, Maloney, 2:59.26*; 2. Alexis Buskey, E.O. Smith, 3:01.26*; 3. Grace Myers, Simsbury, 3:02.03*; 4. Mya Morabito, New Milford, 3:02.34*; 5. Clara Gahm, Guilford, 3:03.45*; 6. Jordan Stygar, E.O. Smith, 3:14.08* Girls 1600 Meters: 1. Katherine Bohlke, Newington, 5:00.13*; 2. Hannah Andrejczyk, Shelton, 5:05.33*; 3. Sydney Kelleher, New Milford, 5:07.90*; 4. Alexis Buskey, E.O. Smith, 5:13.19*; 5. Isabel Greene, New Milford, 5:14.10*; 6. Shawna Ferraro, New Canaan, 5:15.78* Girls 3200 Meters: 1. Katherine Bohlke, Newington, 10:50.06#; 2. Hannah Andrejczyk, Shelton, 10:54.89#; 3. Alexa Ciccone, Cheshire, 11:00.42*; 4. Hannah Stephenson, Farmington, 11:38.37*; 5. Alexis Buskey, E.O. Smith, 11:43.79*; 6. Julia Zydanowicz, Hall, 11:53.55* Girls 55 Meter Hurdles: 1. Jill Roberts, Wilton, 8.43*; 2. Kareema McKenzie, Windsor, 8.44*; 3. Alana Martin, Windsor, 8.76*; 4. Jasmine Ogando, Kennedy, 8.94*; 5. Squirrel Lanz, Cheshire, 9.01*; 6. Isabella Sorrentino, Woodstock Academy, 9.10* Girls 4x200 Meter Relay: 1. Naugatuck (Lily Jason 10, Lauren Kropo 9, Lauren Sonski 12, Divine Kabongo 10), 1:49.03*; 2. Shelton (LeAnn Francois 11, Jahneil Marshall 11, Folasade Danmola 9, Taylor Ostrosky 12), 1:51.44*; 3. E.O. Smith (Katelyn Shirshac 10, Jadyn Hamley 10, Zoe Petell 12, Natalie Anagnostou 10), 1:51.70*; 4. Kennedy (Erica Austin 10, Shania McCall 11, Jasmine Ogando 11, Kaianni Jones 11), 1:53.18*; 5. Hall (Kathryn Moskal 11, Lauren Moskal 11, Sarah Punt 11, Maya McMillian 9), 1:53.95*; 6. Woodstock Academy (Juliet Allard 10, Isabella Sorrentino 12, Isabella Selmecki 10, Talia Tremblay 10), 1:55.13* Girls 4x400 Meter Relay: 1. Windsor (Brittani Westberry 12, Victoria Francis 12, Kearya Jackson 12, Tahjae Daley 12), 4:05.99*; 2. E.O. Smith (Katelyn Shirshac 10, Navia Casa 12, Jadyn Hamley 10, Gabriella Hernandez 11), 4:10.73*; 3. Naugatuck (Divine Kabongo 10, Lily Jason 10, Lauren Sonski 12, Lauren Kropo 9), 4:10.85*; 4. Hall (Kathryn Moskal 11, Lauren Moskal 11, Sarah Punt 11, Rylan Priest 11), 4:13.93*; 5. Wilton (Lia Lombardi 10, Erin Kelly 9, Anna LaBant 10, Mya Salvino 10), 4:24.35*; 6. Shelton (Olivia Marino 11, Tessa Kovarczi 10, Taylor Ostrosky 12, Malaikah Johnson 10), 4:27.33* Girls 4x800 Meter Relay: 1. Hall (Julia Zydanowicz 11, Madeline Peterson 10, Abigail Sanderson 10, Rylan Priest 11), 9:55.67*; 2. New Canaan (Charlotte Moor 10, Delia Bakal 9, Elizabeth McLaughlin 11, Shawna Ferraro 12), 10:04.13*; 3. Wilton (Lia Lombardi 10, Kelly Mancuso 9, Jenna Mancuso 9, Mya Salvino 10), 10:05.45*; 4. Windsor (Grayson Harris 10, Tahjae Daley 12, Alexa Overstreet 12, Casey Krapalis 11), 10:06.52*; 5. Guilford (Daniella Selig 10, Paige Ponzio 9, Olivia Kaisin 12, Alexa Suchy 12), 10:10.25*; 6. Cheshire (Sarah Goldstein 10, Eva Curran 10, Julia Rubin 11, Alexa Ciccone 11), 10:16.92* Girls 1600 Sprint Medley: 1. E.O. Smith (Katelyn Shirshac 10, Jadyn Hamley 10, Navia Casa 12, Gabriella Hernandez 11), 4:17.60*; 2. Windsor (Alana Martin 12, Tomari Gillespie 9, Tahjae Daley 12, Brittani Westberry 12), 4:21.22*; 3. Wilton (Ava Partenza 12, Anna LaBant 10, Lia Lombardi 10, Mya Salvino 10), 4:28.50*; 4. Simsbury (Sofia Duran 12, Kayla Logan 12, Kate Martin 12, Grace Myers 12), 4:28.59*; 5. Shelton (LeAnn Francois 11, Jahneil Marshall 11, Taylor Ostrosky 12, Katherine Hynes 9), 4:32.26*; 6. Bristol Eastern (Julia Armington 12, Darlissa McElroy 10, Kate Patterson 9, Kaelyn Gonzalez 9), 4:35.00* Girls High Jump: 1. Avery Pitts, E.O. Smith, 5-02*; 2. Shaelyn Murphy, Maloney, J502*; 3. Audrey Kozak, Shelton, 5-00*; 4. Susan Porto, Shelton, J5-00*; 5. Jaesah Perry, Naugatuck, 4-10*; 5. Rowan Ivens, Hall, 4-10*; 5. Sydney Post, Fitch, 4-10* Girls Pole Vault: 1. Sarah Warden, Farmington, 10-00*; 2. Magdalena Myslenski, Woodstock Academy, 9-00*; 3. Mia Savino, E.O. Smith, J9-00*; 4. Julia Iacampo, E.O. Smith, 8-06*; 5. Alexa Robinson, Farmington, J8-06*; 6. Susan Porto, Shelton, J8-06* Girls Long Jump: 1. Audrey Kozak, Shelton, 17-03.25*; 2. Samantha Coimin, Bunnell, 16-04.50*; 3. Destiny Ross-Bates, Windsor, 16-01*; 4. Mia Savino, E.O. Smith, 16-00.25*; 5. Delaney Speed, Wethersfield, 16-00*; 6. Erica Austin, Kennedy, 15-06.75* Girls Shot Put: 1. Lauren Smith, New Canaan, 36-05.50*; 2. Isabella Sorrentino, Woodstock Academy, 34-10*; 3. Anna Siciliano, Hall, 34-09.50*; 4. Morgan Pelletier, Maloney, 31-11*; 5. Rachel Cota, Simsbury, 30-07.25*; 6. Sheniqua Remy, Shelton, 30-07*
Boys Team Standings
1 Xavier 74 2 Windsor 68 3 Hillhouse 40 4 Simsbury 36 5 Amity 31.26 Naugatuck 30.27 Shelton 27 8 E.O. Smith 25 9 New Milford 20 10 Fitch 17.211 Newtown 17 12 Darien 14 13 Wilton 13 14 New Canaan 10 15 Wethersfield 9 15 Bristol Eastern 9 17 Conard 8.218 Cheshire 8 19 Bristol Central 6 20 Harding 2
Boys 55 Meters: 1. Noble Gongon, Simsbury, 6.36*; 2. Colin Brown, Cheshire, 6.49*; 3. Achillius White, Windsor, 6.50*; 4. Stylz Mitchell, Xavier, 6.58*; 5. Deandre Duncan, Harding, 6.60*; 6. Elijah McClain, Hillhouse, 6.64* Boys 300 Meters: 1. Maxim Copeland, Windsor, 35.34*; 2. Noble Gongon, Simsbury, 35.91*; 3. Maximillian Musial, Amity, 35.91*; 4. Stylz Mitchell, Xavier, 35.95*; 5. Taeshawn Berry, Windsor, 36.80*; 6. Travis James, Hillhouse, 37.27* Boys 600 Meters: 1. Nick Cassarino, Xavier, 1:23.62*; 2. Jack Mulcunry, Bristol Eastern, 1:23.91*; 3. Luke Pacheco, Shelton, 1:24.02*; 4. Jacob Robinson Smey, E.O. Smith, 1:25.55*; 5. Jason Rideout, Darien, 1:26.48*; 6. Connor Sterling, New Milford, 1:27.90* Boys 1000 Meters: 1. Jack Mattingly, E.O. Smith, 2:33.25*; 2. Soheib Dissa, Newtown, 2:33.34*; 3. Tristan Burke, Wilton, 2:35.46*; 4. Daniel Coyne, Simsbury, 2:37.16*; 5. Nick Yoo, Darien, 2:38.04*; 6. Ryan Dunning, Fitch, 2:41.85* Boys 1600 Meters: 1. Owen Martin, Xavier, 4:25.80*; 2. Cameron Nephew, Xavier, 4:27.02*; 3. Francis Porrini III, Bristol Central, 4:27.64*; 4. Jack Ouellette, Xavier, 4:28.60*; 5. Ryan Gagne, Wethersfield, 4:28.74*; 6. Alex Cohen, Wilton, 4:34.49* Boys 3200 Meters: 1. Collin Walsh, New Milford, 9:29.61*; 2. Benjamin Daniels, New Milford, 9:42.62*; 3. John Larkin, Xavier, 9:46.69*; 4. Alexander Ushchak, Xavier, 9:46.82*; 5. Alex Cohen, Wilton, 9:53.34*; 6. Cameron Nephew, Xavier, 10:10.67* Boys 55 Meter Hurdles: 1. Amir Phelmetto, Hillhouse, 7.78*; 2. Daniel Kim, Amity, 7.84*; 3. Chakour Biao, Hillhouse, 7.98*; 4. Daniel Anderson, Naugatuck, 8.16*; 5. Ethan Oko, Shelton, 8.32*; 6. Oliver Guzy, Newtown, 8.36* Boys 4x200 Meter Relay: 1. Windsor (Achillius White 12, Maxim Copeland 11, Grant Harris 12, Taeshawn Berry 11), 1:31.24*; 2. Hillhouse (Sheldon Edwards 12, Nysir Harris 10, Travis James 11, Elijah McClain 11), 1:31.88*; 3. Amity (Maximillian Musial 12, Michael Bowman 11, Micah Blair 11, Daniel Kim 12), 1:33.50*; 4. Conard (Jean Carlo Barquinero 12, Ryan Gillis 10, George Musto 10, Giancarlo Fedolfi 12), 1:36.39*; 5. Shelton (Niko Romano 10, John Quevedo 11, Ethan Oko 11, Ari Papadimitriou 12), 1:37.11*; 6. E.O. Smith (Kenny Bliven 12, Henry Christenson 12, Arrington Scigliano 10, Alessio Casa 11), 1:37.42* Boys 4x400 Meter Relay: 1. Windsor (Grant Harris 12, Maxim Copeland 11, Taeshawn Berry 11, Hunter Howard 11), 3:30.65*; 2. Naugatuck (Daniel Anderson 11, Shayne Hasipi 12, Zachary McCasland 11, Brendan Lyles 12), 3:34.59*; 3. Hillhouse (Sheldon Edwards 12, Amir Phelmetto 12, Adam Massey 11, Khamari Salam 10), 3:34.93*; 4. Amity (Daniel Kim 12, Maximillian Musial 12, Sean Chevalier 10, Michael Bowman 11), 3:35.69*; 5. Xavier (Nick Cassarino 12, Sam Forte 11, Owen Martin 10, Stylz Mitchell 11), 3:38.63*; 6. New Milford (Sebastian Brown 11, Alex Mendes 12, Gabe Larsen 10, Connor Sterling 12), 3:41.52* Boys 4x800 Meter Relay: 1. Xavier (Alexander Ushchak 12, Ryan Zimmermann 11, Jack Ouellette 10, Owen Martin 10), 8:18.68*; 2. Naugatuck (Jason Costa 10, Shayne Hasipi 12, Brendan Lyles 12, Zachary McCasland 11), 8:22.28*; 3. Amity (Daniel Manning 11, Luke Cushing 9, Eydan Lavi 11, Justin Singh 12), 8:25.78*; 4. Conard (Sawyer Bloom 11, Grant Walters 12, Evan Piccioli 11, Sean Morley 11), 8:42.50*; 5. New Canaan (Jacob Kozar 11, Ryan Boulanger 10, Spencer Paine 10, Oliver Gray 12), 8:49.03*; 6. Shelton (Gabriel Zamani 12, Alex Baneat 10, Christopher Carroll 12, Matthew Darak 12), 8:50.60* Boys 1600 Sprint Medley: 1. Shelton (Ari Papadimitriou 12, Ethan Oko 11, Aidan O’Grady 12, Luke Pacheco 12), 3:42.41*; 2. Fitch (Charles Tarbox 12, Nimyel Gamboa 12, Charles Cabusao 12, Ryan Dunning 11), 3:45.65*; 3. Simsbury (Zachary Tartaglia 11, Gabriel Park 12, Caleb Davis 9, Daniel Coyne 11), 3:45.99*; 4. Naugatuck (Daniel Anderson 11, Zachary McCasland 11, Brendan Lyles 12, Shayne Hasipi 12), 3:46.01*; 5. Darien (William Caliendo 11, Domenick Zawacki 11, Jason Rideout 12, Nick Yoo 12), 3:46.41*; 6. Bristol Eastern (Preston Poirier 12, Rayshon Andrews 11, Dominic Tartarelli 12, Jack Mulcunry 12), 3:48.81* Boys High Jump: 1. Dar Jankovic, E.O. Smith, 6-04*; 2. Khalil Antoine, Hillhouse, 6-02*; 3. Jayden Bartelle, Naugatuck, 6-00*; 4. Caleb Smith, Newtown, 5-10*; 5. Jaden Long, Windsor, 5-08*; 6. Damon Abate, Naugatuck, 5-06; 6. William Ladd, Conard, 5-06; 6. Micah Blair, Amity, 5-06; 6. Zayshawn Griffin, Fitch, 5-06 Boys Pole Vault: 1. Hunter Feitel, Xavier, 12-06*; 2. Teddy Peters, Darien, 12-00*; 3. Colin English, Shelton, 11-06*; 4. Derek Osborne, Fitch, 11-00*; 5. Robert Frangione, New Canaan, 10-06*; 6. Alejandro Rodriguez, Wethersfield, 10-00 Boys Long Jump: 1. Jaden Long, Windsor, 21-06*; 2. Grant Harris, Windsor, 21-04*; 3. Jayson Burchell, Wethersfield, 20-06.75*; 4. Zayshawn Griffin, Fitch, 20-05.75*; 5. Oliver Guzy, Newtown, 20-02.50*; 6. Micah Blair, Amity, 20-00.75* Boys Shot Put: 1. Quincy Davis, Windsor, 52-02*; 2. Marshall Potter, Simsbury, 50-01.75*; 3. Javier Perez-Soto, New Canaan, 49-08.75*; 4. Andre Wiest, Wilton, 49-04.75*; 5. Kevin Murray, Newtown, 44-06.50*; 6. Lucas Harkins, Xavier, 44-06*.