The distance events have kept CT runners in the news through the fall and winter seasons of the 2021-22 school year, and the spring season should be explosive. After breaking the outdoor state record in the 1600m at the 2021 CIAC Open with a tantalizing 4:01.88 time and then taking 3rd in the mile at Nationals as a junior, Gavin Sherry has had a monster senior year with a 3rd at Eastbay XC Nationals and a 1st in the 2 mile and 4th in the mile at New Balance Indoor Nationals while setting five state distance records during the season to go along with the 3200m mark he owns from his sophomore year. As was the case last year when he led ten runners in at under 4:20 in the Open 1600m, Sherry will have a host of top distance guys behind him including twin brother Callum Sherry who finished 2nd behind Gavin in the NBIN 2 mile, and top 5 returners like Aidan Puffer and Michael Bohlke who ran at the Eastbay XC Nationals and indoor Open 1000m champ Eamon Burke.
On the girls side, returners in the 1600m include Rachel St. Germain who this season has captured the Open XC and indoor 1600m and 3200m titles along with the Nike Indoor National 2 mile championship, indoor New England mile champ, and top returner by time from 2021 and indoor New England 1600m champ Anna Keeley, and the 2021 outdoor 1600m Open champ Olivia Birney. Both St. Germain and Keeley also are expected to make big noise in the 3200m, but top returners might also include New Milford teammates Claire Daniels who finished 2nd in the 2021 Open but missed most of this year's indoor season and Madelaine Sweeney who was 2nd at the indoor Open in March.
There is also another distance event that CT athletes rarely get a chance at, the steeplechase, which combines hurdle barriers with 2K or 3K distances. Last year Sydney Masciarelli of Marianapolis Prep set a national record in the 2K steeplechase as a senior, and Tolland senior Jackson Cayward led the way at both the 2K and 3k steeplechase distances for the boys and barely missed the state record at Nationals in the 2K. Among this year's returners, Rachel St. Germain has the best 2K girls steeple mark with a 7:14.75, and Luke Stoeffler is tops for the boys at both the 2K and 3K SC at 6:22.78 and 9:58.03.
Girls Top 50 in Distance Events | Boys Top 50 in Distance Events |
1600 | 1600 |
3200 | 3200 |