It was a record that came into existence well before Sacred Heart senior Edward Williams Jr. was even born.
On June 6, 1995, Crosby sensation Tony Ortiz ran a State Open record time of 14.15 seconds in the 110m hurdles at Willow Brook Park in New Britain. It was a record that stood for almost 24 years.
On Monday, June 3, 2019, another Waterbury standout claimed the 110m hurdles record for his own. Williams ran the 110m hurdles in 14.03 on Monday to win gold and break Ortiz’s record. It was another terrific performance from a runner who has put his stamp on the NVL, the state, and the region.
Williams was the lone winner on Monday, and the closest efforts to a title after that was third place. One of the two bronze medal finishes came from Williams in the 200m dash (22.14). The other was from Holy Cross sophomore Raquel Rosa in the 400m dash (57.27).
Wilby senior Leonardo DaGraca finished fifth in the triple jump (43’9.50″), and his jump was nearly a foot better than where he was seeded. Wolcott junior Kathryn Rodrigues turned in a fifth place finish in the 1600m (5:04.48).
Bristol Central junior Jose Ramirez took sixth place in the 800m (1:56.86). Kennedy senior Tariq Phillips was sixth in the 200m dash (22.41) and eighth in the 100m dash (11.51).
Wilby sophomore Messiah Harling finished eighth in the triple jump (43’6.25″), and the Bristol Central 4x800m relay of senior Devin Flores, senior Pacifico Flores, Ramirez and sophomore Austin Freve also placed eighth (8:03).
Bristol Central sophomore Jakob Salinas finished ninth in the javelin (162’2″) and Kaynor Tech senior Se’Raya Steward was 10th in the 200m dash (26.44).
Wolcott turned in a pair of 11th place finishes. Junior Shannon Burby was 11th in the (102’10”) and sophomore Nicholas Bendtsen took 11th in the 3200m (9:43.65).
Those who advance to the 74th New England Interscholastic Track and Field Championships will compete on Saturday at the Thornton Academy in Saco, Maine.
Cover photo caption: Sacred Heart senior Edward Williams Jr. broke Tony Ortiz’s State Open record in the 110m hurdles on Monday. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69, file)
