The Glastonbury boys' surprising win in the meet-ending 4x400-meter relay and a fourth straight win in the two mile run by Staples' Hannah DeBalsi highlighted a strong afternoon by Connecticut athletes at the New England Championships on Sunday. In all, the Nutmeg State had eight first-place finishes at the regional meet, held at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center.
Running in the second of four heats of the 4x400-meter run, Glastonbury's quartet of Keylon Dixon, Casey Farrell, Brock Hassett and Randy Neish combined for a winning time of 3 minutes, 23.68 seconds. The Tomahawks' time beat the one posted by eventual second- and third-place finishers, Central (RI) and Natick (MA), who both were timed in 3:23.79.
Just like previous years, DeBalsi was nearly seriously challenged in the two mile, leading from onset and cruising to a season best of 10:29.48.
In one of the more exciting races of the afternoon, Trumbull junior Tyler Gleen edged top seed, Rodney Agyare-May of Bruncoat (MA), in the 600m run with a personal best of 1:19.89 to Agyare-May's 1:19.92.
Weaver junior Mark Doyley captured the 55m dash with a time of 6.43. St Joseph's Jada Harris was first in the girls' 55m hurdles with a time of 8.19.
Wethersfield senior Elijah Young beat a talented field in the 300m with a time of 34.62.
Danbury's foursome of Tim Moore, Trevor Reed, Terrell Cunningham and Jake Roberts copped the meet-opening 4x800m relay with a time of 7:55.28. Windsor's quartet of Jiana Baker, Erika Hightower, Annicka McDonald and Sashana Hinds won the girls' 4x200 relay by two seconds with their time of 1:42.78.