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26th Journal Inquirer Greater Manchester Invitational Highlights...
(May 20, 2007 - 8:30pm - By Ron Knapp)
While the drizzly weather may have dampened some of the enthusiasm of the spectators at 26th Journal Inquirer Greater Manchester Invitational, the competitors provided heated competition in all of the events on Saturday, May 19, 2007 at Wigrin Field at Manchester High School. In the local invitational sponsored by the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Rockville Girls and Manchester Boys dominated the competition in winning the Large School Division titles while the Tolland Girls and Enfield Boys collected enough points to score team victories in the Small School Division.

In the Girls competition, the Rockville Girl's Team scored 122 points to out distance runner up Manchester with 95 points. The Rockville Girl's title was earned by several first place finishes led by double wins from Katrina Ainsworth in the 100m Hurdles (16.84) and the 300m Hurdles (46.70). Rockville also received fist place points from Chelsea Jubrey in the 100m Dash with a meet record 12.28 seconds, Tasara Bajjo in the Shot Put (33'9"), their 4x100m relay team (50.48) and their 4x400m quartet (4:09.68). In winning the Small School Division team title, Tolland scored 115.50 points to easily win over runner-up Suffield with 36 points. Tolland was led my double-event winner Kelly Schatzlein in the Triple Jump (33'5") and the Discus Throw (95'1"). Marissa Boucher won the Javelin Throw with a toss of 106'9".

Other meet champions included two wins for Elsa Millet of Manchester in the 400m Dash (57.75) and the 200m Dash (25.85), Erica Hines of Enrico Fermi in the 3200m Run (11:33.06), Andrea Hines of Bolton in the High Jump (5'2"), Sara Ferguson of South Windsor in the Pole Vault (9'0") and Reanne Bennett of Manchester in the Long Jump (16'8").

The Glastonbury Girls team had three event victories in the distance events as their 4x800m relay team finished in 9:42.57, Jamie Olson won the 800m in a meet record 2:17.27 and Christine Vogel won the 1600m Run in 5:17.26.

The victory by Manchester in the Boys Large School division was a good warm-up for the upcoming CIAC Class championships starting the week of May 29th as they easily out scored runner-up Glastonbury by a 144.5 to 77 point margin. Manchester's victory was energized by event wins from Nana Ocran in the 100m (10.87) and 200m (22.31) Dashes. Manchester also celebrated victories in the Long Jump when Mike Hartfield leaped 22'6" in the Long Jump, Jacob DeValve won the 400m Dash in 50.81 and their 4x400m Relay team wrapped up the meet with an exciting win in 3:33.43. The Enfield Boy's team narrowly won the Small School Division championship trophy with 55 points over runner-up East Catholic with 50 points. Enfield received first place points from Ken Godek in the 110m Hurdles (15.58) and their 4x100m relay team (44.27) while Alexander Anderson contributed second place points in the 200m Dash. The 1600m run was won by Will Griffin of East Catholic (4:28.31) while teammate John Pleckaitis won the 300m Hurdles in 40.81.

The Glastonbury team also featured a double-winner as Mike Goulet won both the Shot Put (49'7") and the Discus Throw (144'4.5"). Their 4x800m relay won in a very good 8:03.84 while indoor All-American Donn Cabral is back to a healthier status with a solid 9:30.56 effort in the 3200m Run that established a new meet record.

In the remaining events, Nick Frimpong of East Hartford leaped to two wins; in the High Jump with a 6'2" effort and the Triple Jump, with a 46'10" hop-skip-jump that set the new meet record. The Pole Vault was a close finish as Nathan Rossi of Stafford won with a 13-foot effort that came in a better series over rival Matt Alexander of Windham Tech who also cleared 13-feet. In the final field event, the toss of 158'4" by Kevin McDonald of South Windsor in the Javelin Throw finals vaulted him to the win. The 800m Run was won by defending champion David Macklem of Tolland in 1:57.71.

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