CIAC BOYS OUTDOOR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS
FCIAC LOOKING STRONG IN CLASS LL
Defending champion Danbury is the one to beat having won or been runner-up the last five years (also won in 2016). In addition to strong relay teams, the Hatters are led by Malcolm Going, who is one of their key performers as the top seed in the 800 and second seed in the 1600. Ridgefield also has depth and is the one to watch coming off a team title in the FCIAC championships. Liam Byrne (discus) and Evan Wein (hurdles) are some of the top performers for the Tigers. McMahon will score points led by elite field standout Justin Forde who is the top seed in the high jump, triple jump and long jump.
HILLHOUSE TEAM TO BEAT IN CLASS MM
Defending Class MM champion Hillhouse is the one to beat with standouts and depth in the individual running events, relays and field events. Two of the most exciting events will be the hurdles. Hillhouse’s Deshaune Poole is the top seed in the 300 hurdles and second seed in the 110 hurdles. Aidan McShane of Masuk is the top seed in the 110 hurdles and second seed in the 300 hurdles. Poole won both events at the SCC meet and McShane won both events at the SWC meet. A top challenge for Hillhouse for the team title will come from Weston coming off a team title at the SWC meet.
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH IN BOYS OUTDOOR TRACK
Robbie Cozean, Xavier: Cozean picked up where he left off in the indoor season where he won the 3200 in Class L and the State Open and took third in the 2-mile at the New England meet. He enters the Class L meet as the top seed in the 1600 and top seed in the 3200. He won both event at the SCC outdoor meet.
Justin Forde, McMahon: Committed to attend the University of Miami, entering the Class LL meet Forde is the top seed in the high jump, long jump and triple jump. He is one of the elite triple jumpers in the nation and is one of the few Connecticut athletes to reach 7 feet in the high jump (set last season at the Middletown Invitational). At the recent FCIAC meet he won the long jump in a meet record
24-6.25 and triple jump (5010.25) and was second in the high jump (6-8).
Marzio Mastroianni, Branford: A native of Italy, in the Class MM meet he is the top seed in three events — 800,
1600 and 3200. He won the
800 at the SCC meet in
1:56.42 and won the 3200 at the Middletown Invitational in
9:25.39.
Conor Mahoney, Masuk: Entering the Class MM meet he is the top seed in the 200 and second seed in the 100. He is coming off an exceptional SWC meet where he won the 200 in a league and meet record 22.15 seconds and won the 100 in a meet record 10.98.
Deshaune Poole, Hillhouse: Poole entered the outdoor season coming off a solid indoor season where he was named Register All-Area boys indoor track MVP. At the Class MM meet he is the top seed in the 300 hurdles and No. 2 seed in the 100 hurdles. Last outdoor season he won the 110 hurdles at the Class MM meet and won it at the State Open.