DeBalsi, Ostberg dominate at FCIAC meet!

By KEN CASTRO
 
New Canaan, CT— A lengthy layoff hardly proved detrimental for Hannah DeBalsi.
 
Ranked second nationally, the Staples High School junior overwhelmed a highly animated field at the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference championship at Wayden Field. 
 
DeBalsi, making her initial competitive start since last June, navigated the rolling terrain on the 4k course in 13:37; 12 ticks off her winning time of a year ago.
 
With teammate Erica Hefnawy, finishing two spots behind in 14:44, Staples head coach Amanda Parrish-Morgan’s club secured the team title with 37 points. Ridgefield High School edged Darien for second place. Darien senior Annie Johnson copped second; garnering the long sprint to the line over Hefnawy; ultimately finishing with a five-second cushion.
 
“I felt good until the last 400 meters, and then I thought the wheels fell off,” said DeBalsi, acknowledging that achieving peak in December would be the perfect scenario to close out her shortened season. “I had some concern about (my fitness), but I knew the workouts that I’ve done would set me up for this race.”
 
“I was excited to see her look so strong and happy to be racing again,” said Parrish-Morgan. “There’s a lot of pressure on her, but overall, I thought she looked great and she seems happy with everything today, except the last 400. She hasn’t done any short speed work to speak of. We’re really going to wait until after the state open meet do more sharpening.”
 
As for the crucible that inevitably adheres to elite competitors, Parris –Morgan added, “She’s pretty good about herself realizing that it (#2 ranking) might be interesting to look at, and in itself it could be motivational, but it doesn’t mean that much in a race. She actually likes to be an underdog.  She’s such a serious and focused runner that if anything I try and deemphasize anything that will add additional pressure on her.”
 
Bolstering the performances of DeBlasi and Hefnawy fell to sophomore Sussanah Martin (15:14) and junior Katherine Smith (15:15) who placed seventh and eighth respectively.
 
“Coach and I had a solid plan going in to get to this point “said Hefnawy who registered a personal venue-best for her effort, “The past couple of weeks have been incredible for me; I’ve felt so good for every single workout; I feel like I’m peaking at the right time.”
 
 
Mirroring DeBlasi’s monumental victory; Darien senior Alex Ostberg left little to question with a near one-minute gap on second-place Spencer Brown of Wilton, crossing the line in a blazing 14:47. Brown and Darien junior Armstrong Noonan negotiated the last kilometer in close quarters, the final placing in doubt till the last strides as Brown’s surge at the line nipped Brown by a an eyelash (15:34 to 15:35).
 
Contradicting a day of oversized victory margins, Danbury realized a one point win over Staples in seizing the team title. Danbury seniors Eric Waterman (7th) and Ryan Ansel (8th) answered Staples sophomore Oliver Hickson’s fifth place in sealing the crown.
 
“Staples beat us in head to head in dual meet style scoring during the regular season,” said Danbury head coach Rob Murray. “They came off a good race at Great American and that motivated us; it made us realize that they would be a competitive today, as they always bring their best at conference level. It’s always been a storied matchup.”
 
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FCIAC Championships
Girls team: Staples 37; Ridgefield 73; Darien 81; Wilston 88; Warde 94; Trumbull 169; New Canaan 175; Ludlowe 224; Greenwich 265; Danbury 297; Stratford 362; St. Joseph’s 365
Boys team: Danbury 59; Staples 59; Ridgefield 87; Darien 104; Warde 134; Trumbull 194; New Canaan 209; Ludlowe 216; St. Joseph’s 232; Wilton 267; Greenwich 276; Norwalk 375; Westhill 382; Stratford 431; Harding 466; Bridgeport Ctr. 571; Bassich 533; Trinity 573
Girls individual  (4k): Hannah DeBlasi (Staples) 13:37; Annie Johnson (Darien) 14:39; Erica Hefnawy (Staples) 14:44
Boys individual (5k):  Alex Ostberg (Darien)  14:47; Spencer Brown (Wilson) 15:34; Armstrong Norman (Darien) 15:35