Page-3- Outdoor 2005 News Archive

Ridgefield Sets Girls State Distance Medley Relay Record ...
(May 26, 2005) While the Distance Medley Relay is a relatively new event to the high school girls outdoor track and field scene, first run in 1999 national championships, the event is not frequently scheduled at meets. Consequently, the opportunity to run well against top competition is limited during the outdoor season. Since the event consists of four legs of varying distances, 1200m to 400m to 800m to the final 1600m leg, a team must have a unique combination of speed and distance talent. Over the past several years, only a few Connecticut high school teams have had the opportunity to record verifiable performances under 13 minutes. Until May 18th of this year, a squad from New Canaan had the best time in the state with 12:16.71 mark set at the 1999 Footlocker National Outdoor Championships where they placed seventh. Another top five  performance came this year from Conard - West Hartford where the team of Caitlin Cannon, Kate Buckel, Heather Bemis, Emma Perron ran 12:27.42 at the 2005 Penn Relays to finish ninth. Other top five performances for this event include a team from Ridgefield that ran 12:36.41 at the 2004 Loucks Games and another team from Conard who clocked a 12:44.13 at the 2004 Manchester Midnight Invite.
However, the new record was just performed by a talented quartet from Ridgefield at the 2005 Loucks Games on the evening of May 19, 2005. The Ridgefield team of Leah Rosenfeld, Katie Murdoch, Emily Heaslip, and Heather Stephens finished second in a time of 12:08.75.
Congratulations to the Ridgefield team and coaching staff for their record performance in the Distance Medley Relay!
Click to view current state records...

ECC Championship Meet Results...
(May 22, 2005) The ECC Championship Meet Boys and Girls Meet results are available for review. The meet was held on Saturday, May 21, 2005 at Fitch High School in Groton CT. Click for Complete Results of the ECC Championships

Manchester Journal Inquirer Meet Results...
(May 22, 2005) The Manchester Journal Inquirer Meet Boys and Girls Meet results have been updated with team scores for Large and Small Divisions. The meet was held on Saturday, May 21, 2005 at Manchester High School in Manchester CT.
Athletes honored for their performances included:
Large School Division:
Boys - Best in track: Everett Butler, Windsor and McNeil Johnson, East Hartford;
Best in field: Steve Rivera, East Hartford
Girls - Best in track: Shani Gray, Windsor;
Best in field: Leanne Crockett, Manchester
Small School Division:
Boys - Best in track: Enfield 4x100 relay team;
Best in field: Steve Woicik, Somers
Girls - Best in track: Ashley O'Brien, East Windsor;
Best in field: Whitney Tagliavini, Suffield
Steve Levinthal Awards:
Boys outstanding freshman: Justin Wilson, Windsor;
Girls outstanding freshman: Katrina Ainsworth, Rockville
Click for Complete Results of Manchester Journal Inquirer Meet

Perfect Day for 34th Hartford Public Outdoor Track and Field Meet...
(May 14, 2005) On a perfect weather day for a track and field meet many of the athletes at the 34th Hartford Public High School Outdoor Track and Field meet treated the spectators to record times and marks. On Saturday, May 14, 2005 at the Trinity College Track Facility in Hartford Connecticut, several events saw meet records fall while other event records were close to being reset. In the one of the first events of the day, Cory Thorne of Portsmouth NH discovered a new talent by running in the 3000m Steeplechase and winning in a meet record 9:25.17. Not to be out done, Lindsey Ferguson of Saratoga Springs won the inaugural 2000m Steeplechase in 6:44.63 despite falling on the first water jump barrier. Her time is considered to be one of the nation's best this season. In the Men's Javelin throw, Matthew Maloney of LaSalle Academy RI smashed one of the meet's oldest records (214-06, Sagnella, 91) and established himself as the nation's best with a throw of 231-05. The Men's 1-mile run was equal to its star billing as senior Chris Barnicle of Newton North led the talented group to the wire, winning in 4:11.10, just ahead of Ben White of Liverpool NY in 4:11.50. In the Women's 1-mile run, Amie Schumacher of Holy Cross-Waterbury CT, led from start to finish to win (5:05.53) in her first major test since coming off the injury list from the indoor season. In the Men's 800m, Bryan Scotland of St. Benedict's Prep NJ edged Rob Novak of Bordentown Regional NJ at the tape to win in 1:51.66 to 1:51.72. Stein of Waylen and Williams of St. Peters also ran under 1:55. The meet's only three-individual event winner was Myles Bradley of Norwich Free Academy as he strung together wins in the 110m Hurdles (14.22), the Long Jump (24-1) and the Triple Jump (48-9.75) to win the Men's Most Valuable Performer of the meet. The Women's Most Valuable Performer trophy was awarded to junior Samantha Gawrych of Westerly RI who ran the anchor leg on the winning 4x800m relay (9:15.60) with a 2:06 split, winning the 400meter dash in 56.39 and then coming back to win by a step over Kate Backel of Conard-West Hartford as the anchor leg of the 4x400m relay, 3:58.15 to 3:58.67. In the Women's 1600m Sprint Relay, Bishop Loughlin NY, anchored by the Women's 800m winner Shantile Blackburn, ran away from the field to an impressive win with a 4:06.81 clocking.
Click for Complete Results of the HPHS Outdoor Meet 
Click for Top Performers Photo Gallery