chunn@nhregister.com / Twitter: @Chris_Hunn
NEW BRITAIN — After adding to a rich history of success with another state title on Thursday, Hillhouse took its victory lap around the Willow Brook Park track.
Coach Gary Moore tagged along, too. Members of the Academics pushed him in his wheelchair.
“We all want to compete for our coach,” junior Kellie Davis said. “We know he’s recovering, and we just want to make him happy.”
Well they certainly did.Hillhouse coasted to the Class MM championship with 123 points, winning its second straight class meet and 12th overall. Ledyard placed a distant second with 51 points.
PHOTOS: Class MM track and field championship
The need of a wheelchair is a result of Moore’s failing kidney function.“It was getting crazy for a little while,” Moore said. “But everything’s much better now.”Moore added that he is going to rehab and is working on walking again. His condition has inspired the Academics.“It really motivates me,” junior Precious Holmes said. And Hillhouse looked like a team on a mission Thursday. The Academics won eight events and set three meet records. Holmes and Davis highlighted the performance.
Holmes won the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.04 seconds and the 400 with a mark of 54.42, setting two meet marks. Meanwhile, Davis set the 800 record with a time of 2:15.61. She also won the 3200 (11:24.78) and placed second in the 1600 (5:10.07).
Briana Sims won the 100 hurdles (15.31), freshman Jaliyah White took first in the 300 hurdles (45.33), Hillhouse won the 4x800 relay (9.49.99) and finished the day with a victory in the 4x400 relay (3:58.43).
The Academics strength in a wide range of events is the most, Moore said, he’s probably had in his 20 years of coaching. That will likely be critical in Monday’s State Ope
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