Old Saybrook Boys' Track Claims Crown
For another spring season, the Old Saybrook outdoor track program is at the top of the Shoreline Conference, but this time it was the boys' squad, which hadn't won a title since 2002. After competing at the Shoreline Championship at Westbrook High School on the chilly afternoon of May 28, the Rams prevailed, scoring 133 points-12 better than second-place Haddam-Killingworth.
Finishing in first for the boys were senior Clay Hobbs in the 110 high hurdles (15.79), Devone Thomas in the shot put (45-9½), and Max Urban in the high jump (5-10).
"It's so nice to have the hard work of the last four years pay off to something. Knowing you contributed to something like this makes it extra special," said Hobbs. "Coming into the race, I hadn't run hurdles in a race in weeks, so I was a little scared. It was a close race-all of us in the top six were within a tenth of a second from each other. It was a tight race, but knowing I crossed first was so gratifying."
Also finishing well were Rico Patarini in the 300 (2nd, 42.88), 110 high hurdles (4th, 16.42), and triple jump (8th, 37-1); Lucas Sumby in the pole vault (2nd, 12-0) and 110 high hurdles (5th, 16.79); Alex VanVliet in the triple jump (2nd, 40-1) and long jump (7th, 18-9 1/2); Davis Boyd in the javelin (2nd, 150-8); Noah Boland in the discus (2nd, 137-9) and shot put (8th, 36-3 1/2); Austin Smith in the pole vault (3rd, 11-6); the 4x800 relay team of Sean Carlin, Samir Cecunjanin, Thomas Strand, and VanVliet; the 4x100 team of Dondre Swain, Thomas, Smith, and Hobbs (5th, 46.03); Hobbs in the 200 dash (3rd, 23.93) and 100 dash (5th, 11.81); Strand in the 400 (5th, 53.32); the 4x400 relay team of Strand, Urban, Patarini, and VanVliet (5th, 3;44.19); Sone Sourignamath in the long jump (4th, 19-2¾) and triple jump (3rd, 39-6); Thomas in the long jump (8th, 18-63/4) and high jump (7th, 5-2); and Sav Sourignamath in the discus (5th, 114-9).
The girls' team finished in fourth place with 88 points. Finishing in first were Kiran Khosla in the 400 (1:01.14) and Amy Robinson in the high jump (5-2). Also placing well were the 4x800 team of Mahlah Givehand, Megan Rubano, Jael Givehand, and Tetiana Winiarsky (4th, 10:43.89); the 4x100 team of Hayley Brodeur, Khosla, Amanda Simoni, and Devyn King (3rd, 52.70); Robinson in the 100 high hurdles (5th, 17.59), triple jump (3rd, 31-2¼), and long jump (4th, 14-8½); Heidi Thomas in the 100 high hurdles (6th, 17.71); Khosla in the 100 dash (5th, 13.86) and 200 dash (5th, 28.84); Mahlah Givehand in the 1,600 (6th, 5:48.15) and 3,200 (5th, 12:10.62); the 4x400 relay team of Simoni, Brodeur, Holly Coppes, and MaryKate Marshall (6th, 4:34.50); King in the long jump (6th, 14-5½); Katie Seegart in the pole vault (3rd, 9-0) and high jump (6th, 4-8); Olivia Pugliese in the pole vault (6th, 8-6); Jael Givehand in the 1,600 (8th, 5:50.76) and 3,200 (8th, 12:42.26); and Kendra Millspaugh in the discus (5th, 81-4).