It’s been
nearly 20 years since Southern Connecticut State University last hosted a high-level
high school track meet but local athletes took advantage of the excellent
facilities at Moore Field House in New Haven on Saturday to set some of the
state’s leading performances at the inaugural Wintergreen Invitational.
Leading off
was Danbury’s Mike Morrow (see above photo), who set a new school record and the state’s best
performance by winning the high jump with a leap of 6 feet, 5 inches. This
improves his best performance by three inches and is his third jump over 6 feet
this season. Previously tied with three
other jumpers for the state’s lead at 6-2, he said he “made a decision I was
going to clear it” when he made his attempt at 6-5.
On the
girls’ side Hillhouse senior Alethia Moore blazed to a personal-best, winning
effort of 7.19 seconds in the 55-meter dash, a time that currently ranks her
No. 15 in the country. Moore, a sixth-place finisher at last year’s CIAC
Open Championship, was .29 of a second ahead of runner-up, Michaela Pernell of
Nonnewaug.
In the 3,000m, Wilbur
Cross junior Danae Rivers (see above photo) coasted to an easy victory with her
time of 10:57.21. Bradford junior Cyrene Nicholas was second at 11:16.43.
Nonnewaug sophomore Mae Mathews placed first in the high jump with a leap of
5-2.
The boys’ competition
featured a 14-foot clearance from Danbury senior Leland Roberts in the pole
vault. This was Robert’s first time over
14 feet since his sophomore year when he was State Open champion. He has been “working
on finishing his jumps at the top” and feels confident better jumps are in the
future. Amity sophomore Kyle Beaudette
dipped under nine minutes for the 3K with a first-place time of 8:56.50, which ranks
him No. 7 nationally.
Gabby Curtis of
Wilbur Cross was able to defeat the State Open 300IH champion Jaliyah White of
Hillhouse over the shorter indoor 55HH distance 8.85 to 9.16. Shawn Fletcher continues to dominate the boys’
hurdles in Connecticut, winning 7.88 to Aaron Rattley of Amity’s 8.18. This marks Fletcher’s 4th race
under 7.9 with no one else in Connecticut under 8 seconds.
Finally, Alyssa Case
led a 1-2-3 sweep for Branford with a 9-6 height in the girls’ pole vault.
Next up at Moore Field
House in New Haven will be this Friday’s Alpha Owl Invitational.