By Senior Correspondent Marty Ogden, Editing and Graphics by Ron Knapp

RESULTS

The University of Pennsylvania has been known for the Penn Relays for over a century and a quarter. It is the highlight of the year for many teams and athletes who get to compete at Franklin Field in front of the largest crowds they will probably ever see. UPenn’s track facilities are about to get much better as the Jane and David Ott Center for Track and Field is on schedule to be completed by August 29, 2024. The $69.35 million, 73,000 gross square feet, state-of-the-art indoor track and field facility is under construction on the southeast corner of Penn’s campus right next to Franklin Field. The Ott Center will play key supporting roles for future Penn Relays such as an indoor site for some field events during inclement weather and a large warm up space for track and field athletes.

While there were many people involved in making this happen, Jane and David Ott, two residents of Darien provided the lead gift. Jane Ott ran for Danbury High, where she set many school records before moving on to compete at the University of Pennsylvania where she met David. Both served as the varsity track coach and assistant cross-country coaches for Darien High School from 2013 to 2022.

Highlights from this weekend were plentiful from all levels of competitors, middle school, high school, collegiate, professional and masters. After three days of competition, several top ranking high school performances have stood out from the Nutmeg State. The brightest star came from All American high jumper Khalil Antione of Hillhouse who won his specialty with a height of 7-0.25. That not only ranks him 3rd nationally, it is tied for the second best jump in CT history, only a quarter of an inch behind Tim Watson’s CT state record height of 7-0.5. 

This is the second year in a row a CT athlete has come away with a watch awarded to the winner of an event. Last year Bloomfield’s Ja'Mari Manson won with a height of 6-6.0. This year Manson managed 11th place in this incredibly deep field with a height of 6-4.

The Bloomfield ladies continue to impress in the 4x400m relay. The team of D'Asia Duncan, Kiylah Williams, Soleigh Dixon and Jahniya Barclay combined to almost break their 2011 school record of 3:50.88 with their finishing performance of 3:51.85 to finish fourth in their heat and 18th overall on Thursday afternoon.

In the Girls Championship 1-mile on Friday afternoon, Newington’s Kate Bohlke once again was content to start off in the pack and work her way up as the race continued through the four laps. She ended up in 5th place with a time of 4:44.77, cracking the top ten nationally and only four seconds behind winner Dylan McElhinney of Hunter, NY. Bohlke has moved up into 2nd behind Ceci Hopp on the CT all time list of top milers. 

Under a cold cloudy Thursday morning, Hall’s Anna Siciliano set her outdoor best shot put throw of 41-7.0 to finish 7th in the shot put that was also a school record. Thursday morning also saw the Titans girls 4x800m team that were State Open indoor champions finish 11th in the Large School heat. The team of Lauren Moskal, Abigail Sanderson, Julia Zydanowicz and Rylan Priest ran a state leading time of 9:41.05. Later in the day in the same heat that Bloomfield ran their blazing 4x400m time, the same Hall quartet put up a solid 4:04.52 good for 11th in their heat. 

A few heats prior the Naugatuck girls 4x400m team of Lauren Kropo, Divine Kabongo, Zahira Beausejour and Ciara Patterson sped to a 4:05.62, a CT#3 this season.

New Fairfield has once again put up a solid performance in the girls Small School 4x800m on Thursday morning. The team of Ripley Penney, Rose Penney, Katie McMorrow and Hannah Greco dipped under ten minutes with their time of 9:55.27.

On Friday, Hall boys team of Jacob Szalewicz, Connor Mayr, Donovan Connole and Gabriel Sisk took over the state lead in the 4x800m taking 6th in a time of 8:00.71. Their teammate Liam Wright cleared the opening height of 14’2 in the pole vault on his first attempt to take 9th place.

Earlier in the week Amity’s Micah Blair popped off a triple jump of 47-1 in a dual meet which would have placed him top six. Unfortunately, the senior couldn’t quite match the earlier distance, but still ended up 10th with a leap of 45-4.25 on Friday. 

Naugatuck ran the fastest CT boys 4x100m on Friday with their team of Chance Lewis, Daniel Anderson, Ryan Deitelbaum and Jaiden Roach taking 48th in 44.27. They were followed by 53rd place by Simsbury team of Will Hrubala, Evan Harris, Andrew Windisch, Adam Devine in 44.39 and Capital Prep’s 4x100m team of Makye Wade, Hashim Jones, Jaiden Cohall and Malique Marshall finished in 44.47

Top seeded Ridgefield, the New Balance National Indoor Champions in the DMR were entered but chose not to compete. Christian Brothers of NJ took home the Penn Relays Championship of America award in 10:01.47.

In action today, the heats of the HS Boys 4x400m featured a CT #3 time this season of 3:25.26 by the Greenwich quartet of Cameron Williams, Antonio Ciccarelli, Caleb You, and Harrison Goldenberg finishing 3rd in the race.