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02/03/2019 11:00 PMOne year after going down to the wire and finishing as the runner-up to Old Saybrook, the Haddam-Killingworth boys’ indoor track team gained a measure of revenge against the Rams at this year’s Shoreline Conference Championship. On Feb. 2, the Cougars turned the tables and captured the Shoreline title by earning a first-place finish at the championship meet. H-K grabbed the top spot by posting a total of 121 points, finishing one spot ahead of the defending champion Rams, who scored 111 points to take second place at Floyd Little Athletic Center.
The Cougars were able to distance themselves from Old Saybrook in more ways than one; the distance events proved pivotal for H-K in its victory. Sophomore Matt Jennings notched first-place finishes in the 1,000, the 1,600, and the 3,200 by recording times of 2:48.93, 4:40.70, and 10:20.36, respectively. Now, after three-straight second-place finishes, the Cougars have finally attained Shoreline supremacy.
“It was great to win it. Everyone was excited. I was excited and more emotionally involved in every event than I’ve probably been in years,” said Head Coach Dick Dupuis. “We’re all super excited. The kids really stepped up. I told Matt to take everything one at a time and be smart about how he ran, and he did just that. We had some standout performances, but it was a total team victory.”
Each of the first-place finishers earned All-Shoreline Conference First Team honors, while runner-up showings yielded Second Team accolades at the Shoreline Championship. Junior Luke Sodergren claimed first place in the 55-meter hurdles by timing in at 8.38 seconds to help H-K come away with the title.
“I am proud of what our team accomplished today. It was something we had been working towards all season and knew we would have to fight for,” senior Kyle Criscuolo said. “After being edged out the last three consecutive years, we couldn’t stand the thought of seeing another team take a victory lap again. Watching everybody line the track at the end of the meet to cheer the 4x400 relay reminded me of how much I am going to miss my track family next year.”
Junior Christian Uzwiak finished fifth for the 1,600 (4:52.92), sophomore Fisher Harris placed fifth in the 3,200 (10:58.27), and freshman Caleb Freeman finished sixth in the 3,200 (10:58.34) for Haddam-Killingworth. Senior Seth Freeman earned a sixth-place finish in the 600 by posting a time of 1:30.24.
“Not having won a Shoreline title the last three years and being able to win my senior year is the greatest way to end a season,” said Freeman. “It was also great that we were able to have a competitive meet against Old Saybrook and have it come down to the last few events.”
For the 4x200 relay, the Cougars’ team of senior Tyler Knapp, junior Seth Regan, sophomore John Kowal, and junior Dmytri Mallon came in second place (1:37.27). The 4x400 relay of Mallon, Sodergren, Seth Freeman, and junior Owen Howes also earned runner-up honors by finishing in 3:44.24. H-K’s 4x800 relay of Uzwiak, sophomore Sean Rutledge, junior Max Cozean, and Howes finished third with a time of 8:56.99.
The Cougars also dominated in the shot put. Senior Colton Lavoie won the event with a throw of 42 feet-9.5 inches, while senior Wally Sample finished second at 41-11. Junior Colin Mack took third place (39-10), and senior Chase Mack finished sixth (38-1). Sophomore Eamon Sweeney took sixth place in the high jump by clearing 5 feet-4 inches. Knapp came in third for the pole vault with a height of 12 feet.
Coach Dupuis was pleased that H-K turned in a well-rounded performance by scoring points in a wide variety of events at Shorelines. However, Dupuis felt that the Cougars’ ability to dig deep and give everything they had was what truly carried them to the championship.
“Our distance did a really good job. We also took 27 points in the shot put. We had fallen behind after the 300 and long jump, which I anticipated, but I tried to put as many kids into the 3,200 as I could. We knew we had to come back in that event and we did. Luke got a nice win in the hurdles, and he’s come a long way,” said Dupuis. “All in all in track, you have to do what you do, and maybe give a little bit more and see what happens. And that’s what these guys did today.”