Norwalk boys, McMahon girls both place second at Central Division indoor track finals

WILTON -- It was the Day of the Tiger at the Wilton Fieldhouse Saturday.

The Ridgefield High boys and girls indoor track teams swept to FCIAC Central Division championship titles.

"It's always good to win an FCIAC Central Division title," said Ridgefield girls indoor track head coach John Goetz said. "We had a number of good performances. A lot of girls posted personal best times today."

"It's always an accomplishment to win the Central Division," said Ridgefield boys indoor track head coach Bryan Kovalsky. "The boys worked hard all season. Nice to be rewarded for that. We really got a lot of points in all the events."

The Ridgefield girls track squad amassed 146 points on the day to outdistance Brien McMahon (105), Norwalk (91), Fairfield Ludlowe (63) and Stamford (42).

The Ridgefield boys track squad finished with 160.5 points to defeat Norwalk (117.5), Ludlowe (95), McMahon (55), Harding (12) and Stamford (8).

Both Ridgefield teams made their big break from the opposition in the Tigers' specialty -- the long distance events.

The Ridgefield girls swept all six scoring spots (good for 31 points) in the 1,600. The Ridgefield boys captured all six slots (31 points) in the 1,000 meters.

The individual first place finishers for the Ridgefield boys included Benjamin O'Regan (1,000, 3,200); Nicholas Brunsden (pole vault); Colin Fitzgibbon (shot put). The Tigers also captured the 4 x 750 meter relay.

Individual first place finishers for the Ridgefield girls included Caroline Carr (1,000, 3,200); Amanda Berta (long jump); Sarah Guillaume (1,600) and Madison Damron (pole vault). The Tigers also won the 4 x 375 meter relay.

Both Ridgefield teams realize a tougher challenge awaits at the FCIAC Indoor Track Championships on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at the New Haven Athletic Center at Hillhouse High School.

"The FCIAC Championship will be tough," Goetz said. "Darien, Wilton, Staples and Greenwich are all formidable. I'll be happy if we can get into the Top 5. The Top 3 would be a real thrill. Our team would have to step up a lot."

"We're primed for a good FCIAC meet," Kovalsky said. "We could surprise. But I'm looking at finishing somewhere between fourth and tenth."

Norwalk High's top performer on the afternoon was Isiah Bell.

The senior won both the high jump (6-feet-2) and the 600 meters (1:29.83). The Bears' Adam Robertino took the 45 meter hurdles (7.05 seconds).

"I spent some practice time Friday working on the high jump. It made a big difference," said Bell, who will attend St. Lawrence University in upstate Canton, N.Y. in the fall. "My previous personal best this season was 5-feet-8. The FCIAC Championship high jump will be a tough competition. But I want to win one more FCIAC Championship event as a senior."

For the Norwalk girls, Claire Turner won the 600 while Crystle Hill captured the 45 meter dash.

Top performers for Stamford High included Kyle Cruz (3rd, long jump) along with Claire Kaptinski (3rd, long jump; 3rd, 45 hurdles); Jessica Stratzel, Dylan Keith (each tied for 2nd; high jump) and Michelle St. Cyr (3rd, shot put).

Top individuals for Ludlowe included Emily O'Keefe (1st, high jump) and Jack White (1st, 1600). For McMahon, Kamri Yarborough won the shot put while Sarah Byrd captured the 45 hurdles.

Harding brought a small contingent and had Garth Anderson win the 45 meter dash in 5.87 seconds.

"I wasn't expecting much so this title is nice," Anderson said. "Next week will be harder but I'll be ready."

Girls Indoor Track

FCIAC Central Division Championship

At Wilton High Fieldhouse

Team Scores: 1, Ridgefield 146; 2, Brien McMahon 105; 3, Norwalk 91; 4, Fairfield Ludlowe 63; 5, Stamford 42.

4 x 225 meter relay: 1, Norwalk 2:16.0; 2, Fairfield Ludlowe 2:18.6; 3, Ridgefield 2:19.

4 x 750 meter relay: 1, Fairfield Ludlowe 10:12.2; 2, Brien McMahon 10:28.8; 3, Norwalk 11:03.4.

1000 meters : 1, Caroline Carr (R) 3:21.18; 2, Claire Turner (N) 3:22.42; 3, Kristin Burnham (McM) 3:25.93.

600: 1, Claire Turner (N) 1:45.14; 2, Karryn Christiansen (R) 1:45.93; 3, Alexa Connors (N) 1:50.12.

Long Jump: 1, Amanda Berta (R) 15-feet-9 1/2; 2, Kynisha Pierce (McM) 15-1 1/2; 3, Claire Kaptinski (S) 14-5 3/4.

Shot Put: 1, Kamri Yarborough (McM) 30-feet-9; 2, Vernae McCray (N) 30-4; 3, Michelle St. Cyr (S) 28-10.

45 meter dash: 1, Crystle Hill (N) 6.33 seconds; 2, Shellyanne Lindo (McM) 6.33; 3, Sydney Kay (FL) 6.49.

1600: 1, Sarah Guillaume (R) 5:31.02; 2, Lauren Hergenrother (R) 5:41.9; 3, Hannah Fleming (R) 5:42.33. Ridgefield swept all 6 spots.

45 meter hurdles: 1, Sarah Boyd (McM) 7.56; 2, Shellyann Lindo (McM) 7.72; 3, Claire Kaptinski (S) 8.19.

Sprint Medley Relay: 1, Fair. Ludlowe 4:29.1; 2, Norwalk 5:03.2; 3, McMahon 5:04.9.

300 : 1, Shellyann Lindo (McM) 44.71; 2, Sarah Boyd (McM) 45.72; 3, Amanda Berta (R) 45.88.

3200: 1, Caroline Carr (R) 12:10.9; 2, Heather Moriarty (FL) 12:15.7; 3, Kristin Burnham (McM) 12:24.8.

High Jump: 1, Emily O'Keefe (FL) 4-feet-8; 2, (tie), Jessica Stratzel (S), Madison Damron (R), Dylan Keith (S) 4-feet-2.

Pole Vault: 1, Damron (R) 7-feet-0; 2, Ashley Ramirez (N) 6-6; 3, Marisa Lobelson (R) 6-0.

4 x 375 relay: 1, Ridgefield 4:22.1; 2, Norwalk 4:29.6; 3, Ludlowe 4:30.8.

Boys Indoor Track

FCIAC Central Division Championship

At Wilton Fieldhouse

Team Standings: 1, Ridgefield 160.5 points; 2, Norwalk 117.5; 3, Fairfield Ludlowe 95; 4, McMahon 55; 5, Harding 12; 6, Stamford 8.

4 x 255 relay: 1, Norwalk 1:55.4; 2, McMahon 1:56.1; 3, Ludlowe 2:00.1.

4 x 750 relay: 1, Ridgefield 8:28.1; 2, Norwalk 8:33.8; 3, Ludlowe 8:38.4.

1000: 1, Benjamin O'Regan (R) 2:46.83; 2, McCall Keller (R) 2:49.50; 3, Blake Liebling (R) 2:56.64. Ridgefield swept all 6 spots.

Pole Vault: 1, Nicholas Brunsden (R) 9-feet-0; 2, (tie) Greg Gorski (R), Ryan Arrigo (FL) 8-6.

600: 1, Isiah Bell (N) 1:29.83; 2, Connor Findley (R) 1:29.49; 3, Andrew Fernandez (FL) 1:31.21.

Shot Put: 1, Colin Fitzgibbon (R) 40-feet-6; 2, Rob Ficarra (FL) 40-0; 3, Patrick Whalen (N) 39-10.

High Jump: 1, Isiah Bell (N) 6-feet-2; 2, James Randolph (FL) 5-10; 3, Jordan Filipowich (FL) 5-6.

45 meter dash: 1, Garth Anderson (H) 5.87; 2, Andrew St. Fleur (N) 5.88; 3, Trevon Forner (McM) 5.99.

45 meter hurdles: 1, Adam Robertino (N) 7.05; 2, Diess Jacques (N) 7.31; 3, James Barile (R) 7.67.

1600: 1, Jack White (FL) 4:40.03; 2, Benjamin O'Regan (R) 4:44.47; 3, Edwin Rosales (N) 4:53.34.

Long Jump: 1, Tarvon Kinder (McM) 18-9 3/4; 2, James Barile (R) 18-9; 3, Lyle Cruz (S) 18-4.

Sprint Medley Relay: 1, Ludlowe 3:51.6; 2, Ridgefield 3:53.9; 3, Norwalk 4:07.1.

3200: 1, Benjamin O'Regan (R) 10:26.14; 2, Kristian Soagard (R) 10:33.30; 3, Jack White (FL) 10:42.49.

4 x 375 relay: 1, Norwalk 3:36.9; 2, Ridgefield 3:37.0; 3, Ludlowe 3:38.8.

300: 1, Adam Robertino (N) 39.24; 2, Tavon Kinder (McM) 39.68; 3, Jordan Filipowich (FL) 39.73.