Middle Schoolers Shine at State Championship

Over the years there are more and more opportunities for middle schools to compete in track and field which gives many of these athletes a leg up once they get to high school.  This year was the 10th Connecticut Middle School State Championships and it turned out to be a very competitive meet in the team and individual standings.

Tolland Middle School won the boys competition 41-38 over James Moran Middle School from Wallingford.  On the girls side, Moran emerged victorious over C.M McGee Middle School from Berlin by a core of 54-52.  There were over thirty schools from all over the state in attendance.  

Athletes are only allowed to compete in two events and several had outstanding days and finished top two in their individual events.  Alanna Smith of the Danbury Flyers won the 100m in 12.82 and came back to break 60 seconds to the 400m with a time of 59.10.

Avery Winters led James H. Moran Middle school to the team title with a 2nd place finish in the 400m behind Smith in 1:04.12 and returned to win a state title in the 200m in 27.54

In the jumping events Tess Stapleton of Roger Ludlowe Middle School leaped to 17'5 win in the long jump and also won the high jump clearing 5'2.  The 8th grader set meet records in both events.  

7th grader Samantha Pomeroy from the New Fairfield Flash Middle School team won the state title in the 55HH with a PR of 9.43, and finished behind Winters in the 200m with a time of 27.66.  

Sergio Werleman, competed for the Academy of Aerospace and won the 100m in 11.92 and long jump with a 18'11.5.

Anthony Pappa from the Woodrow Wilson Middle School high jumped 5'06 to win the high jup and took 3rd in the 200m with a 25.46.

The final double winner did it in the two longest events.  Azaan Dawson of the New Haven Age Group Track Club won the 1600m in 4:46.01 and the 800m in 2:10.44.

Ryan Reid of Sage Park set the meet record in the 55HH with his time of 8.54.