By Senior Correspondent Marty Ogden

Countless school records, six All Americans and two National Champions… and that was only Sunday at New Balance Nationals Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Connecticut is a relatively small state but held its own on the national stage in the world of high school track and field. Follow along as MySportsResults.com wraps up our four day coverage of Nationals Weekend with highlights from all three national championships.

Check out the free pics from several events on Sunday at the New Balance National Outdoor meet galleries from Ron Knapp of MySportsResults at: https://mysportsresults.smugmug.com/2023-New-Balance-Outdoor-Nationals-Day-4

If you stayed up late watching all the action from Saturday’s meets, you almost missed two historic performances. Stonington’s Josh Mooney has been creating history just about every time he stepped on the track. He already holds the state record indoors in the 55m hurdles and 60m hurdles plus the New England record in the 110m hurdles. On Sunday after several callbacks, Mooney was solidly behind going over the first few hurdles but his consistent clearance over each barrier allowed him to move into the lead over the last two hurdles. The UConn committed athlete raced into a slight .9 headwind and crossed the line in a new Connecticut and New England record of 13.48. His time is also the 6th fastest time for the entire country in 2023. 

About 45-minutes later Connecticut track and field fans were treated to probably the most exciting race of the weekend. Ridgefield senior Isaac Graber led off the Championship Distance Medley Relay and was in the main pack, about three seconds off the leader when he handed off after running his 1200m leg in 3:08.64 and in 6th place. Ethan Walls with his 49.46 400m leg moved up a couple of places but barely cut into early pace setter Monroe Woodbury, NY’s lead. Xavier, thanks to Stylz Mitchell’s 48.16 leg, was able to take over the lead at the exchange but the NY school was able to put itself back into the lead slightly over Xavier with Ridgefield still in 4th place. Magnus Manley ran a 1:58.20 800m leg for Ridgefield and handed off five seconds behind the leader in 5th place. 

MW Track Club had Collin Gilstrap, the NY Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year, on anchor in what should have been nothing more than four consecutive victory laps. But Ridgefield had Steven Hergenrother on anchor and he gradually ate into the lead. But what happened on the last lap was nothing less than miraculous. The Ridgefield junior, who’s best mile time was a 4:09 summoned something inside himself he never had before. He was four seconds back with 600m to go but had narrowed the lead to only .6 seconds with just a half lap remaining. That supreme effort didn’t seem to take a toll on Hergenrother as he powered past the NY champion with 150m to go. Remarkably Gilstrap ran a 4:08 1600m leg but that just forced the Ridgefield junior to dig even deeper than he ever has before, running an incredible 4:01.80. He helped his team to finish in a winning time of 9:58.08, bypassing Danbury’s FCIAC record and coming within a second and a half of Hamden’s state record. 

Also earning a medal was Xavier, running as South Farms Track Club. Their team of Jack Ouellette (3:06.75), Mitchell (48.16), Alexander Ushchak (1:57.36) and Owen Martin (4:18.30) held on for 6th place in 10:10.56, less than four seconds off their school record set in 2019 when they finished NBNO runner-up. 

Last year Dar Jankovic of E.O. Smith won the Rising Stars section of the high jump at NBNO. Well, a year later and the star has arisen. In 2023, the future UConn Huskie won the indoor and outdoor State Open and took 2nd at New Balance Nationals during indoor track.On Sunday Jankovic cleared 6-8 for the third straight meet to finish 3rd in the Championship High Jump and grabbed his second All American medal of the year. 

Within the New England track world, Hamden’s Christopher Hergott was undeniably the King of the Long Jump this year. The senior, who has committed to the University of Hartford next year, went undefeated within the region both indoors and outdoor sweeping the Open and New England titles. His only defeats this year were against national competition. He took 16th indoors and on Sunday, he cleared 23-feet for the sixth time this season to earn a 5th place medal. This distance came within a half inch of his lifetime PR with his 23-10.25 and he will graduate as the 10th best jumper of all time in CT history. 

Hall’s track team has been having quite a run the past several years. state titles, New England titles, several All Americans and one national title are just a few of the many accomplishments the Titans have accumulated. On Sunday, they added another chapter to their championship story by taking sixth place in the 4x400m from the 7th of 9 heats. Sam Sandler opened up with a 49.9 and handed off to Gabe Sisk who split a 49.3. Sophomore Fareed Abu Rabia ran a 50.36 and once again it was Jon York on the anchor leg fighting off a tough challenge from Windsor. He split a 47.78 and crossed the line in a season best of 3:17.46, only a second off their school record they set last year when they were third at Nationals. 

Hall’s in-state rivals Windsor who battled them to the line at the State Open and New Enlands finished 10th in 3:18.10, another season best. Greenwich and Daniel Hand ran 3:21.99 and 3:22.15 to take 29th and 30th places. 

Windsor girls just missed out on a medal as they finished 8th in 3:50.73. The State Open championship team of Victoria Francis, Brittani Westberry, Tahjae Daley and Kareema McKenzie ran faster than every team in state history except for their own school and state record of 3:47.16 from 2010 and Wilbur Cross’ team from 2016. The Warriors were the only school in the meet to have both genders finish in the top ten. 

Even after a long season the next three Connecticut teams in the girls 4x400m were able to achieve season bests. Naugatuck finished 25th in the championship section in a new school record of 3:57.68 with E.O. Smith a place behind in 3:58.19. Ridgefield finished in 38th place in 4:01.21.

Competing for the Lebron Athletic Club, Sam Mancini who attends Loomis Chaffee, earned All American status by throwing the javelin a big PR of 141-6 to finish 6th. The junior also finished 13th in the pentathlon with a score of 3118 on Saturday.

Congratulations from MSR to all athletes, coaches and families who attended one of the high school national championships this weekend. Get some well deserved rest and we look forward to covering your accomplishments in 2023-2024. 

CT Results from NBNO on Sunday

Boys Rising Stars 1 Mile Run Final on Time

7th  Ryan Gruczka                  12 Stonington   4:17.64    PR

15th Francis Porrini III              12 Bristol Central TC 4:19.40 PR

24th Cian Gara Grady              11 Manchester Track 4:22.09    

62nd  Michael Kraszewski        12 Hale-Ray TC     4:35.09    

Boys Freshman 800m Run Final on Time

15th Matteo Chiesara                9 Greenwich TC   2:00.73       

Boys Championship  110m Hurdles Final

1st Josh Mooney                  12 Stonington 13.48  -0.9 m/s CT Record, National Champion

Boys Championship Distance Medley Final on Time

1st  Ridgefield               9:58.08                    #2 CT All Time, FCIAC record, National Champion

      Isaac Graber (3:08.64), Ethan Walls (49.46), 

      Magnus Manley (1:58.20), Steven        

      Hergenrother (4:01.80) 

6th South Farms Track Club- Xavier                      10:10.56   

        Jack Ouellette (3:06.75), Stylz Mitchell (48.16), 

        Alexander Ushchak (1:57.36), Owen Martin   

        (4:18.30)

11th Hall T.C.                                                  10:19.11               

       Colin Goldschmidt (3:12.45), Julian Serrano (52.29), Fareed Abu Rabia (1:58.61),

        Isaac Mahler (4:15.76)

Girls Rising Stars 4x100m Final

3rd  Old Saybrook TC                        48.16  Season best #3 in CT for 2023

       Talia Bauer, Avery Rueckert, Sanai Baker, Abigail Colella

Boys Championship 800m Run Final on Time

37th  Jack Mattingly                11 EO Smith Panthers            1:53.13 PR

38th  Daniel Coyne                  11 Simsbury                          1:53.31    

70th  Thomas Conklin              10 Wallingford - Lyman Hall 1:56.04

74th  Soheib Dissa                  10 Newtown Nighthawk Running  1:57.52  

Girls Championship  800m Run Final on Time

21st Tess Sherry                   10 Conard-TC                 2:11.45  #12 CT All Time

29th Gabriella Hernandez     11 EO Smith Panthers    2:12.16                         

36th Liv Sherry                      10 Conard-TC                 2:12.65             

51st Lucy Moran                    11 Unattached - Branford  2:15.15   

Boys Rising Stars 800m Run Final on Time

9th  Tyler Bartlett                 12 Fairfield Ludlowe TC  1:54.77

10th Jack Mulcunry              12 Bristol East                1:54.80sam

34th  Antonio Ciccarelli         11 Greenwich TC            1:56.91             

31st Ryan Gruczka               12 Stonington                   1:56.66      

Girls Rising Stars 800m Run Final on Time

 9th Julia Blake                    11 Blue Wave Darien      2:14.39        

Boys Rising Stars 4x400m Relay Final on Time

20th Amity Spartans                                                     3:26.64         

     1) Maximilian Musial 12            2) Michael Bowman 11              

     3) Eydan Lavi 11                       4) Daniel Kim 12                  

28th  EO Smith Panthers                                                3:27.81   

     1) Alessio Casa 11                    2) Jack Mattingly 11              

     3) Jacob Robinson-Smey 12     4) Kenneth Bliven 12              

Girls Rising Stars 4x400m Relay Final on Time

12th Hall T.C.                                                     3:59.67   Season Best

     1) Rylan Priest 11                 2) Julia Zydanowicz 11            

     3) Kathryn Moskal 11            4) Lauren Moskal 11   

20th  Conard-TC                                                 4:03.42            

     1) Liv Sherry 10                   2) Daphne Brewer 10               

     3) Macy McPhee 12             4) Tess Sherry 10                 

Boys Championship 4x400m Relay Final on Time   

6th Hall T.C.                                                   3:17.46  All American   

Jonathan York 49.9, Gabriel Sisk 49.3, 

Fareed Abu Rabia 50.36, Samuel Sandler 47.78

10th  Windsor Track Club                                             3:18.10 

     1) Grant Harris 12                 2) Maxim Copeland 11              

     3) Taeshawn Berry 11           4) Hunter Howard 11               

29th Greenwich TC                                         3:21.99       

     1) Caleb You 10                    2) Harrison Goldenberg 11         

     3) Antonio Ciccarelli 11         4) Gianluca Bianchi 12        

30th  Hand Tigers                                                  3:22.15

     1) John Daniels 10                 2) Nicholas Montana 12            

     3) Liam Elliott 11                    4) Kyle Hoffman 11                

Girls Championship  4x400m Relay Final on Time

8th Windsor Track Club                                                 3:50.73 Season Best

     1) Victoria Francis 12             2) Brittani Westberry 12          

     3) Tahjae Daley 12                 4) Kareema McKenzie 11            

25th  Naugatuck                                                             3:57.68 Season Best  

     1) Lauren Kropo 9                  2) Lauren Sonski 12               

     3) Divine Kabongo 10               4) Lily Jason 10      

26th EO Smith Panthers                                                3:58.19  Season Best      

     1) Navia Casa 12                   2) Gabriella Hernandez 11         

     3) Madeline Doran 10               4) Alexis Buskey 11

38th  Ridgefield                                                              4:01.21 Season Best

     1) Grace Hooker 12                 2) Regan McGrath 12               

     3) Nora Foley 10                   4) Elaine Mathews 11   

39th  Bloomfield WarHawks                                             4:01.24  

     1) Kiylah Williams 10              2) Dream Wilson 10                

     3) Aisha Williams 11               4) Nacquelia Fletcher 10         

NBNO SUNDAY FIELD EVENTS  

Boys Championship High Jump Finals

3rd  Dar Jankovic                  12 EO Smith Panthers            6-8  All American

40th  Ja'Mari Manson                11 Bloomfield WarHawks    6-0        

Girls Championship High Jump Finals

21st Tia Stapleton                      12 Fairfield Ludlowe TC                  5-4.5 

29th  Audrey Kirkutis                  12 Conard-TC                                  5-3

29th Avery Pitts                           11 Unattached- EO Smith               5-3 

30th  Shaelyn Murphy                 12 Maloney Spartan TC                  5-3   

– Rowan Houston                      12  White Plains-Notre Dame Fairfield    NH 

Boys Championship Javelin Finals

16th  Joshua Mooney                 12 Stonington                 176-4

47th  Robby Estabrook               11 Unattached- Morgan  153-10 

Girls Championship  Javelin Finals

6th Sam Mancini                11 Lebron AC-  Loomis Chaffee 141-6

21st Maya Marin                    11 Trumbull Track   123-4 

36th  Lauren Smith                 10 New Canaan     110-6

Boys Championship  Shot Put Finals

16th Thomas Matlock                10 East Lyme  56-3.75

Boys Championship  Pole Vault Finals

23rd  Derek Amlicke                 12 Unattached- Staples     14-9

Boys Rising Stars Triple Jump Finals

5th  Micah Blair                         11 Amity Spartans   46-3 ½ PR

5th  Orion Browne                     11 Lebron AC- Loomis Chaffee 46-3.5

36th Matthew Kasper                11 Lebron AC- Daniel Hand 40-9.75

Girls Rising Stars  Triple Jump  Finals

2nd  Tia Stapleton                 12 Fairfield TC Ludlowe   38-7   CT#9 All Time

Boys Championship Long Jump Finals

5th Christopher Hergott           12 Lebron AC- Hamden                     23-10.25  All American 

22nd Rashard Williams           11 Knights Track- Southington  22-8

46th Grant Harris                     12 Windsor Track                     21-6.25

Girls Championship Long Jump Finals

15th  Gabriella Zeller              12 Lebron AC- Lewis Mills                18-9.25

38th Audrey Kozak                12 Lebron AC- Shelton                        17-8     

Nike Outdoor Nationals on Sunday

Girls Emerging Elite Hammer 

21st Drea Oswell Stafford TC-CT  92-7

23rd Camden Smith Stafford TC-CT 85-1

Girls Hammer Throw Championship

19th Anaka Eaton                   24 Coventry, CT  70-9

Boys 400 Meter Hurdles Championship

20th   Noah Colangelo                23 Killingly, CT  56.82

Boys 400 Meter Hurdles Emerging Elite

24th    Alexander Meisenkothen        23 Coginchaug, Durham, CT  58.63

Girls 400 Meter Hurdles Emerging Elite

4th    Jill Roberts                  23 Wilton, CT  1:05.01

Girls 1 Mile Run GARMIN Emerging Elite

31st   Bria Benigni                  24 Maloney, Meriden, CT 5:15.84

Boys Triple Jump Emerging Elite

12th Kolby Quinn             23 Waterford, CT 42-2.75

Boys Javelin Throw Emerging Elite

2nd   2977 Ryan Crocker     24 Suffield, CT  157-10

33rd Craig Gnatek                  24 Suffield, CT  117-9   

Saturday Results

These are results we didn’t get to before publication of MSR’s coverage on Sunday morning. We want to give credit to all our CT athletes who have qualified and competed at the national championships throughout the country. 

Nike Outdoor Nationals

At the University of Oregon 

Girls 100m Hurdles (Championship) - Prelims

18th    Jill Roberts                  23 Wilton, CT  14.83

Girls 800m (Emerging Elite) GARMIN

1st Bria Benigni                  24 Maloney, Meriden, CT  2:11.18  #11 CT All Time CT leading time

Boys 4x100 (Emerging Elite) - Prelims

5th  Southington TC-CT  'A'                                       44.33

     1) Connor Keegan 24          2) Benjamin Vroeginday 23   

     3) Mazen Alkatib 24            4) William Reeves 23

Girls 100m Hurdles (Emerging Elite) - Finals

21st    Zoe Eastman-Grossel           25 Old Lyme, CT 15.59

Boys 2 Mile (Emerging Elite) GARMIN

57th   Christian Zawislack           24 Greenwich, CT 10:04.76

Girls 2 Mile (Emerging Elite) GARMIN

27th     Natalie Crocker               25 Suffield- Loomis Chaffee, CT 11:45.05

Boys 4x400 (Emerging Elite)

5th  Southington TC-CT  'A'        3:31.55                               

     1) Connor Keegan 24          2) Benjamin Vroeginday 23   

     3) Aidan Twohill 24              4) William Reeves 23 

9th  Watertown TC-CT  'A'            3:32.45

     1) Michael Cavallo 25        2) Robert Heroux 23         

     3) Kyle Zaccagnini 23        4) Alex Cole 23 

Boys High Jump Emerging Elite

12   Noah Colangelo    23 Killingly, CT 5-11.25  

22  Aidan Karson Greenwich TC-CT  5-09.25

–     Bryan Elliott       25 Holy Cross, Waterbury, CT  NH 

Girls Pole Vault Emerging Elite

Allison Vigue                 24 Coginchaug, Durham, CT  NH

Girls Triple Jump Emerging Elite

12th Kathryn Lombino              24 Sheehan, Wallingford, CT 34-9.75

14th    844 Lauren Hinckley               23 East Lyme, CT      34-7.5

Girls Javelin Throw Emerging Elite

18th   Shannon Young                 24 Suffield, CT 93’0

Adidas Outdoor Nationals

In Greensboro, NC

Girls 100 Meter Hurdles Championship Prelims            

11th  Knox, Leonaya                    Hillside (Hillhouse)  14.64

Girls Hammer Throw National Elite

1st  Robertson, Shalisha              Hillside- Hillhouse     139-9    

5th  Wright, Allicea                  Hillside- Hillhouse 102-9

Boys High Jump National Elite

1st  Antoine, Khalil                  Hillside     6-6.75

Boys Discus Throw National Elite 

12th Tristian Smith 142-9

25th Chakour Biao The House Track Club- Hillhouse 131-11

Boys Hammer Throw Championship                 

3rd   Biao, Chakour                    Hillside- Hillhouse    168' 0      

13th  Walker, David                    Hillside- Hillhouse    141' 3

 

REMINDERS:

MySportsResults did our best to compile all CT results from the three national championship meets. Please let us know if we missed someone and we will be happy to post their results. 

Please contact both Marty Ogden at [email protected] and Ron Knapp at [email protected] if an athlete or relay sets a school record or some other noteworthy accomplishment that isn’t apparent in the results. Please remember to include in your email the name of the meet and the day of your athlete’s performance.

You can also send us photos as long as you provide the name of the athlete, their event and who to credit as photographer.