Tolland girls, Rivers steal show at State Open meet

CIAC State Open Indoor


By MARTY OGDEN

Championship season is the time for great athletes to step up and claim glory and there was plenty of glory to go around at the Connecticut Girls' State Open Track and Field Championship.

Danae Rivers of Wilbur Cross refused to lose and took hard fought wins in the 1,000 and 1,600-meter runs and with a leg on the 4x400m squad against national-ranked athletes. The junior began her day by letting Jessica Drop of Coginchaug set the pace while she remained in the pack. But when it came time to race, she went after Drop who had the 19th fastest time in the country and Drop fought her off. Finally, Rivers exploded into the lead and won in 2 minutes, 56.95 seconds.

She came back less than an hour later to meet her long-time rival Hannah Debalsi of Staples in the 1,600m. Debalsi, a Footlocker Cross Country finalist, took it out hard to try and deaden her kick, but with about two laps to go, Rivers once again pulled away with Debalsi trying to gamely hang on. River's crossed the line in 4:54.68, the nation's third fastest time With two gold medals under her belt, she still wanted more and came from behind to anchor the victorious 4x400m to take part in 30 of Wilbur Cross' 40 team points.

While no one could stop Rivers, Tolland's distance runners, relays and long-jumper were the only team that could stop Wilbur Cross. Tolland's only victory came in the sprint medley but with 14 points in the distance events, 22 in the relays and six in the long jump, the Eagles were able to take home their first indoor State Open title to go along with the last three consecutive Class M titles and the last two cross country open championship. It came down to the 4x400m and Tolland knew it couldn't have more than one team between themselves and second-seeded Wilbur Cross. Dropping four seconds from their time at the class meet was enough to keep it close and give the Eagles a slim 42-40 win over Wilbur Cross.

Alethia Moore of the host Hillhouse Academics continued her unbeaten streak against Connecticut athletes with her .05 second victory over Danbury's Niema Riley in the 55m. She teamed up with Jaliyah White, who was runner-up in the 55HH, Tonija Young Spencer and Fanta Faro to take second in the 4x400 which helped them to a fifth-place team finish.

In the 600m, senior Anna Sulger of Darien dominated from start to finish and knocked off two seconds from her season best to run one of the top 20 best times in the country. She doubled back to take second in the 300m in 40.71.

Only a junior, Debalsi has become one of the greatest runners in state history. But just about every event she enters in Connecticut, there is someone like Rivers to challenge her. But for the past few weeks, she has dominated the 3,200m like few other athletes have ever done. Haley Hasty of Rockville and Jenna Gasparrini of Immaculate tried to rise to the occasion, but after less than 800m Debalsi took over and made it a one-person race. Caitlin Swanson of Tolland snuck up from behind and was able to outkick the other two hard chargers, but all eyes were on Debalsi who broke her own State Open record with a time of 10:40.55 and defeated Swanson by 25 seconds and lapped most of the field.

Next up for Connecticut athletes, who took top six in their events, are the New England Championships to be held at The Reggie Lewis Center in Boston on Friday.

Girls Highlights