NEW HAVEN — Alanna Smith and the Danbury girls track team kicked off the CIAC Class LL Indoor Track Championships at Floyd Little Athletic Center on Friday with a win in the 4×200 relay.
For Smith, it was the beginning of a dominant night.
The Danbury girls won the 4×200 relay in 1:46.50. Florence Dickson ran the first leg followed by Smith, Giuliana Robles and Briana Gilliard.
Smith, competing in her first state indoor track season, also contributed with wins in the 55 dash (7.14) and set a meet record when she won the 300 in 39.58. In the 55, she started strong and produced her typical surge at the end.
“This has been really exciting for me, it was great to start off with the 4×200 win and then the 55,” Smith said. “It’s always important to contribute points for your team.
“I was really excited for the 300 because I was focused on breaking the meet record. I have been working toward that all indoor season”
Smith entered the indoor season coming off an impressive outdoor track season last spring when she was named the GameTimeCT All-State Outdoor Track Player of the Year. At the 2021 Outdoor Track State Open she had three wins in the 100 (12.03), the 200 (24.49) and the 400 (56.78). At the Class LL meet she won the 200 in a meet record 24.85, won the 100 (12.25) and was second in the 400 (59.24). She ran a 200 PR/school record in 24.21 at the New York Showcase on June 18 and 100 PR (11.83) at the New York Showcase.
CROSS BOYS GET PAIR OF WINS
The Wilbur Cross boys came away with a pair of wins with Blake Battaglia winning the 55 hurdles (8:01) and Nikita Omelchenko winning the 1,600 (4:22.03).
Battaglia needed a late kick to win his event with John Regalbuti of Southington coming in a close second in 8.02.
“I was a little nervous because it was a very close race,” Battaglia said. “It was an exciting race. I needed a strong surge at the end and the lean at the finish line got the win for me.”
Elite distance runner Aidan Puffer of Manchester decided not to run the 1,600 and that opened the door for Omelchenko. He took an early lead and cruised to victory.
“The plan was to take the lead, keep a good pace and finish strong,” said Omelchenko , who has committed to UConn. “I was hoping Aidan Puffer would
“It’s been a good season and I’ve been building up my strength to go faster.”
HALL WINS BOYS TITLE, GLASTONBURY WINS GIRLS TITLE
Tobias Ruffo won the 600 (1:25.92) and the team won the 4×400 relay (3:30.02) to lead Hall to the boys team title with 88 points. Greenwich was second with 55 points and Manchster third with 46.
“We had the depth tonight and so many guys came through,” Hall boys coach Jeff Billing said. “We had a qualifier in every event and we scored points in 12 of 15 events. This is our third straight Class LL title and I am so excited for these guys.”
Brooke Strauss won the 1,000 (2:58.32) to lead Glastonbury to the girls team title with 91.5 points. Danbury was second with 63 points and Fairfield Ludlowe third with 62.
“We had a well-balanced effort tonight, that was the key for us,” Glastonbury girls coach Brian Collins said. “Our depth came through with points in 12 of 15 events and that’s what you need in a meet like this.
“Connecticut has so many great athletes, you really need to be your best to win a team title. Tonight it worked out for us.”
PUFFER LAPS THE FIELD IN 3,200
Puffer produced one of the most impressive finishes of the night, lapping the field in the 3,200 to win in 9:18.42. Zachary Taubman of Staples was second in 9:40.48. The meet record of 9:06.06 was set in 2020 by Conard’s Gavin Sherry.
Puffer skipped the 1,600 to focus on the 3,200
“When you are running past runners and the challenge isn’t there, you just let your mind go,” Puffer said. “You focus more on your splits and the pace. I actually went out a little fast the first mile and I felt it in my legs. So I slowed down to maintain a better pace.
“The focus now is to do well in the 3,200 at the State Open.”
DAPLYN GETS A PR IN THE 600
Esme Daplyn of Greenwich took the lead in the first lap and pulled away to win the 600 in a personal best 1:38.82.
“This season I’ve struggled with my starts and I’ve been working on it,” Daplyn said. “So today, I said to myself why not go for it and start out front. In the middle of the race I heard a couple of the girls coming closer to me and that pushed me for a strong finish.”
KEELEY CRUISES IN 1,600
Anna Keeley of Fairfield Ludlowe took the lead coming off the starting line in the 1600 and held on to win in 5:05.21. Brooke Strauss of Glastonbury came on strong at the end and was second in 5:05.99.
“It depends on the competition, but I like to get out front early,” said Keeley, who has committed to run at Duke. “This is a good way to start the states heading toward the State Open and New England meets.”
Keeley cruised to a win in the 3200 in 10:56.24. Brooke Strauss of Glastonbury was second in 11:16.07.
OTHER WINNERS
Steven Deitelberg of Fairfield Ludlowe won the boys pole vault (14-0), Grace Gianquinto of Amity won the girls pole vault (9-0), Marques Singleton of McMahon won the boys shot put (45-7.75), Shayna Millard of Newtown won the girls shot put (30-11), Tyler Bartlett of Fairfield Ludlowe won the boys 1000 (2:35.67), Gianluca Bianchi of Greenwich won the boys 300 (36.22), and Tia Stapleton of Faifield Ludlowe won the girls long jump (16-11.25).
CLASS LL INDOOR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS
(at Floyd Little Athletic Center, New Haven)
BOYS TEAM SCORES
1) Hall 88; 2) Greenwich 55; 3) Manchester 46; 4) Wilbur Cross 42; 5) Staples 35; 6) Fairfield Ludlowe 30; 7) Norwich Free Academy 24; 8) Ridgefield 18; 8) Glastonbury 18; 10) Norwalk 16; 11) East Hartford 15; 11) Danbury 15; 13) Southington 12; 14) Fairfield Warde 11; 15) Brien McMahon 10; 15) Trumbull 10; 17) Hamden 9; 18) Fairfield Prep 7; 19) Enfield 1
BOYS TOP FINISHERS
55 Meter Dash Finals: 1. Tristan Burke, East Hartford, 6.51; 2. Dangelo Aristilde, Norwich Free Academy, 6.54; 3. Tymaine Smith, Fairfield Prep, 6.60; 4. Kyle Thomas, Danbury, 6.66; 5. Jamar Alcena, Norwalk, 6.69; 6. Mason Pilkington, Enfield, 6.75.
300 Meter Dash: 1. Gianluca Bianchi, Greenwich, 36.22; 2. Jonathan York, Hall, 36.59; 3. Michael Sardo, Glastonbury, 37.15; 4. Maximo Rivano, Fairfield Warde, 37.29; 5. Ethan Walls, Ridgefield, 37.61; 6. Liam Buckley-Robinson, Hamden, 37.74.
600 Meter Run: 1. Tobias Ruffo, Hall, 1:25.92; 2. Sean McDaniel, Hall, 1:26.03; 3. Bruno Guiduli, Staples, 1:26.18; 4. Gabriel Sisk, Hall, 1:26.22; 5. Michael Sardo, Glastonbury, 1:27.26; 6. Christopher Twombly, Danbury, 1:27.30.
1000 Meter Run: 1. Tyler Bartlett, Fairfield Ludlowe, 2:35.67; 2. Zachary Jelinek, Greenwich, 2:36.57; 3. Ryan Donovan, Ridgefield, 2:37.66; 4. Sean Barkasy, Manchester, 2:38.03; 5. Walker Beverly, Hall, 2:38.22; 6. Jamie Rendon, Hall, 2:40.66.
1600 Meter Run: 1. Nikita Omelchenko, Wilbur Cross, 4:22.03; 2. Nathaniel Aronson, Hall, 4:31.43; 3. Parker Broderick, Fairfield Warde, 4:32.22; 4. Mohammed Abunar, Trumbull, 4:32.25; 5. Ben Lorenz, Staples, 4:32.36; 6. Angel Perez, Fairfield Prep, 4:32.98.
3200 Meter Run: 1. Aidan Puffer, Manchester, 9:18.42; 2. Zachary Taubman, Staples, 9:40.98; 3. Nathan Cramer, Fairfield Ludlowe, 9:41.04; 4. Sean Barkasy, Manchester, 9:44.80; 5. Isaac Mahler, Hall, 9:47.13; 6. Joseph Accurso, Glastonbury, 9:47.38.
55 Meter Hurdles: 1. Blake Battaglia, Wilbur Cross, 8.01; 2. John Regalbuti, Southington, 8.02; 3. Zachary Carifa, Greenwich, 8.15; 4. William Reeves, Southington, 8.26; 5. Evan Dadson, Trumbull, 8.46; 6. Jonas Varnas, Staples, 8.52.
4×200 Meter Relay: 1. Hall (Jonathan York, Samuel Sandler, Thomas Nash, Charles Cameron), 1:33.32; 2. Greenwich (Thomas Foster, John Sias, Gianluca Bianchi, Harrison Goldenberg), 1:34.67; 3. Norwalk (Jamar Alcena, Sean Williams, Bailey Lewis, Jackson Luther), 1:35.35; 4. East Hartford (Darrion Wiliams, Dillon Haughton, Kameron Massey, Tristan Burke), 1:36.52; 5. Danbury (Christian Jolly, Kyle Thomas, Kyan Cazorla, Scott Gersten), 1:36.59; 6. Trumbull (Sebastian Perez, Liam O’Keefe, Freud-Williams Maignan, Elliot Miller), 1:37.40.
4×400 Meter Relay: 1. Hall (Jonathan York, Gabriel Sisk, Tobias Ruffo, Samuel Sandler), 3:30.02; 2. Staples (Samir Mott, Alex Harrington, David Sedrak, Bruno Guiduli), 3:34.11; 3. Greenwich (Zachary Carifa, Zachary Jelinek, Gianluca Bianchi, Harrison Goldenberg), 3:36.73; 4. Glastonbury (Jackson Boyd, Kevin Clarke, Dominic Pena, Michael Sardo), 3:38.24; 5. Danbury (Kyan Cazorla, Christopher Twombly, Joshua Roos, Kyle Thomas), 3:40.69; 6. East Hartford (Tristan Burke, Donnique Starks, Jahni Crawford, Jayden Brown), 3:40.88.
4×800 Meter Relay: 1. Hall (Colin Goldschmidt, Jake Ludgin, Sean McDaniel, Tobias Ruffo), 8:15.45; 2. Manchester (Sean Barkasy, Cian Grady, Caleb Curtis, Aidan Puffer), 8:15.84; 3. Danbury (Joshua Roos, Steven Confesor-Chable, Ryan Scappaticci, Devon Rosemark), 8:25.71; 4. Staples (Zachary Taubman, Matthew Fleming, Noah Robison, Rory Tarsy), 8:28.13; 5. Wilbur Cross (Wolf Boone, Hector Meza Sanchez, Sebastian Halpren, Nikita Omelchenko), 8:31.83; 6. Greenwich (Quinn Collins, Antonio Ciccarelli, Aidan Fay, Wyatt Abernethy), 8:39.11.
1600 Sprint Medley: 1. Greenwich (Thomas Foster, John Sias, Harrison Goldenberg, Zachary Jelinek), 3:41.88; 2. Wilbur Cross (Blake Battaglia, Justin Irrizary, Wayne Tolson, Nikita Omelchenko), 3:42.80; 3. Staples (David Sedrak, William Masters, Samir Mott, Rory Tarsy), 3:44.22; 4. Hall (Julian Serrano, Thomas Nash, Samuel Sandler, Jamie Rendon), 3:46.67; 5. Fairfield Ludlowe (Cooper Anderson, James Revay, Samuel Keller, Tyler Bartlett), 3:48.16; 6. Trumbull (Varujan Edwards, Jaden Marti, Sebastian Perez, Nathan Beldoro), 3:52.01.
High Jump: 1. Jamil Manu, Manchester, 6-00; 2. Duke Quermorllue, Norwalk, J6-00; 3. Zachary Carifa, Greenwich, 5-10; 4. Nicolai Yanko, Hall, J5-10; 5. Elliot Miller, Trumbull, 5-08; 6. Jonathan Wihbey, Glastonbury, J5-08.
Pole Vault: 1. Steven Ditelberg, Fairfield Ludlowe, 14-00; 2. Lucas Williams, Ridgefield, 12-06; 3. Liam Wright, Hall, 11-06; 4. Thomas Ryen, Glastonbury, 11-00.
Long Jump: 1. Jamil Manu, Manchester, 21-01; 2. Christopher Hergott, Hamden, 20-03.25; 3. Jeremaih Paul, Norwich Free Academy, 19-11; 4. Michaelly Luc, Norwich Free Academy, 19-05.75; 5. Ryder Gatenby, Fairfield Ludlowe, 19-05; 6. Aaron Sandler, Hall, 19-02.
Shot Put: 1. Marques Singleton, Brien McMahon, 45-07.75; 2. Jay Candelario Vazquez, Wilbur Cross, 45-07; 3. Jordan Ribeiro, Norwich Free Academy, 45-02.50; 4. Jaquan Johnson, Wilbur Cross, 43-11.75; 5. Liam Nguyen, Ridgefield, 43-03.50; 6. John Heitzman, Fairfield Warde, 43-02.50.
GIRLS TEAM SCORES
1) Glastonbury 91.50; 2) Danbury 63; 3) Fairfield Ludlowe 62; 4) Newtown 54; 5) Greenwich 42; 6) Hall 34; 7) Trumbull 24; 8) Amity 17; 9) Conard 16; 10) Staples 14; 11) Norwich Free Academy 11.50; 12) Southington 10; 13) Ridgefield 8; 14) East Hartford 7; 15) Wilbur Cross 5; 16) Brien McMahon 4; 17) Hamden 2
GIRLS TOP FINISHERS
55 Meter Dash Finals: 1. Alanna Smith, Danbury, 7.14; 2. Molly Harding, Glastonbury, 7.40; 3. Kaitlyn Fay, Greenwich, 7.43; 4. Florence Dickson, Danbury, 7.47; 5. Kyrah Smith, East Hartford, 7.53; 6. Jasmyn Bransford, Norwich Free Academy, 7.57.
300 Meter Dash: 1. Alanna Smith, Danbury, 39.58#; 2. Molly Harding, Glastonbury, 41.42; 3. Francine Stevens, Staples, 41.44; 4. Keira Stewart, East Hartford, 43.25; 5. Samantha DeWitt, Staples, 43.42; 6. Kyrah Smith, East Hartford, 43.51.
600 Meter Run: 1. Esme Daplyn, Greenwich, 1:38.82; 2. Riley Powers, Newtown, 1:40.96; 3. Hannah Snayd, Newtown, 1:41.05; 4. Tatum Havemann, Staples, 1:41.50; 5. Annika Paluska, Glastonbury, 1:41.53; 6. Meghan Smith, Glastonbury, 1:42.08.
1000 Meter Run: 1. Brooke Strauss, Glastonbury, 2:58.32; 2. Kali Holden, Trumbull, 2:59.03; 3. Jacqueline Izzo, Southington, 3:00.40; 4. Ava Gattinella, Glastonbury, 3:02.90; 5. Grace Moriarty, Fairfield Ludlowe, 3:07.79; 6. Jacqueline Dudus, Glastonbury, 3:11.69.
1600 Meter Run: 1. Anna Keeley, Fairfield Ludlowe, 5:05.21; 2. Brooke Strauss, Glastonbury, 5:05.99; 3. Kali Holden, Trumbull, 5:10.78; 4. Anna Omelchenko, Wilbur Cross, 5:16.25; 5. Kathryn Marchand, Trumbull, 5:23.68; 6. Emma Talon, Southington, 5:34.86.
3200 Meter Run: 1. Anna Keeley, Fairfield Ludlowe, 10:56.24; 2. Brooke Strauss, Glastonbury, 11:16.07; 3. Katherine Sanderson, Hall, 11:16.92; 4. Kali Holden, Trumbull, 11:27.72; 5. Kathryn Marchand, Trumbull, 11:30.19; 6. Anna Omelchenko, Wilbur Cross, 11:46.42.
55 Meter Hurdles: 1. Zoe Spann-McDonald, Glastonbury, 8.97; 2. Audrey Kpodar, Danbury, 9.47; 3. Jamie Adams, Newtown, 9.59; 4. Olivia Pacini, Danbury, 9.60; 5. Alyssa Andrews, Trumbull, 9.70; 6. Olivia Robles, Danbury, 9.84.
4×200 Meter Relay: 1. Danbury (Florence Dickson, Alanna Smith, Giuliana Robles, Briana Gilliard), 1:46.50; 2. Glastonbury (Hannah Caiola, Riley Carroll, Alayna Taylor, Molly Harding), 1:48.83; 3. Greenwich (Kayla Egan, Olivia Eslava, Haley Townsend, Kaitlyn Fay), 1:49.59; 4. Brien McMahon (Sofia Aguilar, Shaniya Young, Emily Legere, Jade Ferdinand), 1:49.70; 5. Staples (Molly Liles, Emma Nordberg, Samantha DeWitt, Francine Stevens), 1:49.75; 6. Fairfield Ludlowe (Coco Norman, Kayla Pattison, Charlotte Phillips, Aerin Keesser), 1:50.97.
4×400 Meter Relay: 1. Newtown (Elise Barricelli, Ally McCarthy, Riley Powers, Hannah Snayd), 4:13.92; 2. Fairfield Ludlowe (Coco Norman, Annelise Bentley, Grace Moriarty, Aerin Keesser), 4:16.59; 3. Greenwich (Haley Townsend, Olivia Eslava, Elizabeth Anderson, Kayla Egan), 4:21.31; 4. Danbury (Briana Gilliard, Audrey Kpodar, Kayla Taylor, Florence Dickson), 4:28.24; 5. Hall (Hana Roggendorf, Kathryn Moskal, Zella Jackson, Lauren Moskal), 4:29.33; 6. Amity (Gabriella Rosa, Nicole Grosso, Ella Moffett, Audrey Cummings), 4:30.91.
4×800 Meter Relay: 1. Glastonbury (Annika Paluska, Kylie Hilliard, Jacqueline Dudus, Ava Gattinella), 9:41.73; 2. Newtown (Riley Powers, Ally McCarthy, Sophia Guevara, Hannah Snayd), 9:45.27; 3. Hall (Katelyn Osoba, Madeline Peterson, Abigail Sanderson, Katherine Sanderson), 9:59.10; 4. Greenwich (Elizabeth Anderson, Cate Adorney, An Suzuki, Esme Daplyn), 10:02.51; 5. Southington (Jessica Lombardo, Madison Bafundo, Megan Wadman, Emma Talon), 10:32.39; 6. Fairfield Ludlowe (Claire Fuchs, Maggie Zaino, Jordan Stein, Emily Nolan), 10:40.85.
1600 Sprint Medley: 1. Greenwich (Kayla Egan, Olivia Eslava, Haley Townsend, Esme Daplyn), 4:20.84; 2. Fairfield Ludlowe (Mia Gurevich, Kayla Pattison, Haley Martinsen, Grace Moriarty), 4:27.27; 3. Glastonbury (Hannah Caiola, Alayna Taylor, Riley Carroll, Kelley MacElhiney), 4:27.52; 4. Newtown (Elise Barricelli, Amelia Daly, Sophia Guevara, Ally McCarthy), 4:30.35; 5. Hall (Kathryn Moskal, Hana Roggendorf, Lauren Moskal, Katelyn Osoba), 4:33.51; 6. Southington (Riley Kofsuske, Avia Burns, Megan Wadman, Jessica Lombardo), 4:40.94.
High Jump: 1. Audrey Kirkutis, Conard, 5-06#; 2. Tia Stapleton, Fairfield Ludlowe, 5-02; 3. Abigail Ball, Amity, J5-02; 4. Kailey Wackerman, Fairfield Ludlowe, J5-02; 5. Kathryn DeSousa, Glastonbury, 5-00; 6. Kayleigh Troy, Newtown, 4-10.
Pole Vault: 1. Grace Gianquinto, Amity, 9-00; 2. Alexis Boyer, Norwich Free Academy, J9-00; 3. Nora Hanlon, Hall, J9-00; 4. Sarah Christina, Glastonbury, J9-00; 5. Anna Hilary, Glastonbury, 8-06; 5. Delaney Phelps, Norwich Free Academy, 8-06.
Long Jump: 1. Tia Stapleton, Fairfield Ludlowe, 16-11.25; 2. Giuliana Robles, Danbury, 16-09.25; 3. Audrey Kirkutis, Conard, 16-07.50; 4. Kimberleigh Williams, Danbury, 16-02.75; 5. Julia Lawrence-Riddell, Hamden, 15-11.75; 6. Jasmyn Bransford, Norwich Free Academy, 15-11.25.
Shot Put: 1. Shayna Millard, Newtown, 30-11; 2. Carli Ciavarelli, Ridgefield, 30-07.50; 3. Brooke Martindale, Hall, 30-03; 4. Tessa Hache, Hall, 30-01.25; 5. Jacqueline Hamad, Hall, 29-08.25; 6. Kaelin Rising, Newtown, 29-06.25.
