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NEW BRITAIN – As a freshman, Manchester’s Samiyah Eady won her first outdoor track state title, finishing first in the 100 meters in the Class LL championships. She went on to win the State Open title that year.
Eady was hurt her sophomore year but last year, she won the Class LL 100-meter title again and finished third in the State Open.
Saturday at Willow Brook Park, Eady captured her third Class LL 100 championship in four years in 12.12.
The 100, she said, isn’t even her favorite race. That would be the 200 meters, which she also won Saturday in 24.34.
“I’ve got to work on my start some more,” Eady said. “That’s why I favor the 200 more than the 100, because the 100 is all about your start. I’ve got to work more on my explosiveness.”
Fairfield Ludlowe won the girls team title and Greenwich was the boys champion. It was a cold, windy day, not typical for the end of May and it rained earlier in the meet. There was a tailwind for the sprints toward the finish line but runners had to run into a stiff wind on the other side of the track.
Eady had to run the 4×400 as the last event of the day.
“Hopefully the wind will die down because I know in the backstretch with that wind – I am terrified,” Eady said before the race.
She did fine – anchoring the Manchester 4×400 team to a win in 3:59.93. Manchester finished third in the team standings with 62 points after Fairfield Ludlowe (103) and Greenwich (74.5).
Eady will run next year at Sacred Heart. But first, she would like to reclaim the State Open 100 meter title that eluded her last year (she won the 200 at the Open).
Her success, especially early on, surprised her.
“Going into high school my freshman year, I was one of the fastest girls on the team,” she said. “I knew I had that performance wise but in the state, I did not think I was going to keep up with the upperclassmen so that was a big surprise. I got used to it quick, running with those who were better than me, older than me. I liked having someone push me.
“Now I’m excited to graduate and enter a new chapter.”
Her teammate, junior Harper Shirley, was also a double winner in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. Shirley, who missed her sophomore year of cross country and track due to a battle with anorexia, returned in the fall for cross country and ran indoor track but has really come on strong outdoors. She beat Glastonbury sophomore Lauren Parrett in both races, with a 5:04.21 in the 1,600 and a winning time of 10:33.55 in the 3,200. Shirley stayed behind Parrett in the 3,200 until the last lap then accelerated.
“It’s pretty cool,” Shirley said. “I don’t know how much I expected it – I tried to stay humble and just see what I could do. I’m really happy.”
Manchester coach Jenn O’Neill told her runners to run for place, not time, Saturday due to the weather.
“Harper ran a smart race in the 3,200,” O’Neill said. “She’s learning and getting better and wiser and getting in better shape. I’m super happy for her because she’s been working really hard.”
UConn-bound New Britain runner wins 800: Yendri Ruiz started running more mileage during track season this year and it paid off. Ruiz, a senior from New Britain who will run at UConn next year, won the Class LL 800 meter title Saturday in 1:58.98.
It was a tough race because of windy conditions in the backstretch.
“This is the first year I’m finally understanding how important mileage is for 800 guys,” Ruiz said. “I’ve incorporated that into my training and I’ve been seeing some good results.”
He said his highest mileage weeks were around 20-25 miles.
“I was basically doing no mileage before,” Ruiz said. “I feel like I’m surviving the second lap much better now.”
Ruiz finished second last year to Hamden’s Alexander Medina, who won the title his sophomore year as well. This year, Ruiz edged Medina in the last 150 meters.
East Hartford’s Johnson defends: East Hartford senior Davian Johnson won his second straight Class LL title in both the 110 hurdles (13.49 seconds) and the 300 hurdles (39.79) Saturday and broke his meet record from last year (13.87).
The 300 hurdles was a little bit of a slog due to the wind.
“It was pretty bad but Coach told us to just come out and try our best,” Johnson said. “Getting the win is all that matters.
“I think I can do a lot better in the 300 hurdles but I think when it comes to the 110, I’m almost at my max – I’m working hard.”
Johnson, who is heading to East Carolina University, said his goal is a 13.2 in the 110 hurdles by the end of the outdoor season.
For complete results of the Class LL championships, go to casciac.org.
Continue reading...
Eady was hurt her sophomore year but last year, she won the Class LL 100-meter title again and finished third in the State Open.
Saturday at Willow Brook Park, Eady captured her third Class LL 100 championship in four years in 12.12.
The 100, she said, isn’t even her favorite race. That would be the 200 meters, which she also won Saturday in 24.34.
“I’ve got to work on my start some more,” Eady said. “That’s why I favor the 200 more than the 100, because the 100 is all about your start. I’ve got to work more on my explosiveness.”
Fairfield Ludlowe won the girls team title and Greenwich was the boys champion. It was a cold, windy day, not typical for the end of May and it rained earlier in the meet. There was a tailwind for the sprints toward the finish line but runners had to run into a stiff wind on the other side of the track.
Eady had to run the 4×400 as the last event of the day.
“Hopefully the wind will die down because I know in the backstretch with that wind – I am terrified,” Eady said before the race.
She did fine – anchoring the Manchester 4×400 team to a win in 3:59.93. Manchester finished third in the team standings with 62 points after Fairfield Ludlowe (103) and Greenwich (74.5).
Eady will run next year at Sacred Heart. But first, she would like to reclaim the State Open 100 meter title that eluded her last year (she won the 200 at the Open).
Her success, especially early on, surprised her.
“Going into high school my freshman year, I was one of the fastest girls on the team,” she said. “I knew I had that performance wise but in the state, I did not think I was going to keep up with the upperclassmen so that was a big surprise. I got used to it quick, running with those who were better than me, older than me. I liked having someone push me.
“Now I’m excited to graduate and enter a new chapter.”
Her teammate, junior Harper Shirley, was also a double winner in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. Shirley, who missed her sophomore year of cross country and track due to a battle with anorexia, returned in the fall for cross country and ran indoor track but has really come on strong outdoors. She beat Glastonbury sophomore Lauren Parrett in both races, with a 5:04.21 in the 1,600 and a winning time of 10:33.55 in the 3,200. Shirley stayed behind Parrett in the 3,200 until the last lap then accelerated.
“It’s pretty cool,” Shirley said. “I don’t know how much I expected it – I tried to stay humble and just see what I could do. I’m really happy.”
Manchester coach Jenn O’Neill told her runners to run for place, not time, Saturday due to the weather.
“Harper ran a smart race in the 3,200,” O’Neill said. “She’s learning and getting better and wiser and getting in better shape. I’m super happy for her because she’s been working really hard.”
UConn-bound New Britain runner wins 800: Yendri Ruiz started running more mileage during track season this year and it paid off. Ruiz, a senior from New Britain who will run at UConn next year, won the Class LL 800 meter title Saturday in 1:58.98.
It was a tough race because of windy conditions in the backstretch.
“This is the first year I’m finally understanding how important mileage is for 800 guys,” Ruiz said. “I’ve incorporated that into my training and I’ve been seeing some good results.”
He said his highest mileage weeks were around 20-25 miles.
“I was basically doing no mileage before,” Ruiz said. “I feel like I’m surviving the second lap much better now.”
Ruiz finished second last year to Hamden’s Alexander Medina, who won the title his sophomore year as well. This year, Ruiz edged Medina in the last 150 meters.
East Hartford’s Johnson defends: East Hartford senior Davian Johnson won his second straight Class LL title in both the 110 hurdles (13.49 seconds) and the 300 hurdles (39.79) Saturday and broke his meet record from last year (13.87).
The 300 hurdles was a little bit of a slog due to the wind.
“It was pretty bad but Coach told us to just come out and try our best,” Johnson said. “Getting the win is all that matters.
“I think I can do a lot better in the 300 hurdles but I think when it comes to the 110, I’m almost at my max – I’m working hard.”
Johnson, who is heading to East Carolina University, said his goal is a 13.2 in the 110 hurdles by the end of the outdoor season.
For complete results of the Class LL championships, go to casciac.org.
Continue reading...
