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06/09/2017 12:00 AMGirls’ Outdoor Track
Junior Bridget Wirtz took sixth place in the pole vault on behalf of the Branford girls’ outdoor track team at the State Open Championship on June 6, after which she finished fifth in the event at the New England Championship.
Wirtz cleared a height of 10 feet-6 inches to finish sixth and score three points for the Hornets at the Open. Then on June 10, Wirtz vaulted at the New England Championship in Norwell, Massachusetts and finished fifth by clearing 11-3, becoming the first Hornets’ girls’ vaulter to place at New Englands since Valerie Milici in 2009. Wirtz will compete at the New Balance Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina this weekend. She had previously won the pole vault at the SCC West Sectional Championship and the SCC Championship, while setting meet and school records with an 11-9 at the latter meet.
“Bridget had a very good day competing against the best in New England,” Head Coach Kevin Connell said. “She has been vaulting with these girls for the past six months, so it was a fitting end to the season. She is the embodiment of hard work and determination, a real example for anyone who wants to be the best.”
Additionally for Branford at the State Open, sophomore Liante Claude sprinted to a 10th-place finish in the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.48 seconds.
Boys’ Outdoor Track
Sophomore Marzio Mastroianni ran the 800 at the State Open and finished in eighth place to score a point for the Hornets at Willow Brook Park.
Mastroianni, who had previously placed second in the event at the Class MM State Championship with a time of 1:56.87, bettered that mark by recording a time of 1:56.66 at the Open.
Fellow sophomore Matt Alexander finished in 16th place for the long jump by reaching a distance of 20 feet-0.5 inches.
Golf
Branford competed at the Division II State Championship at the par-72 Tallwood Golf Course in Hebron on June 5. The Hornets totaled a score of 339 and finished in 12th place at the meet.
Liam Deane turned in Branford’s best showing by taking 17th place with a score of 79 for the 18-hole round. Jason Brennan finished in 36th place with an 83, Ryan Sember was 51st with an 85, Minsok Lee shot a 92 to finish in 77th place, and Max Bunton had a score of 100 to finish 93rd for the Hornets.