The Bristol Central boys 4×800-meter relay of Julieen Lopez, Rowan Hennessey, Aiden Georgakopoulos and Isaiah Fabrizio took first place in the Connecticut race in 8:22.97. (Photo credit: Coach Kiara Bonilla via ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter)
The top boys 4×800-meter relay team in the state at the 39th Yale Interscholastic Track Classic came from Bristol Central.
The quartet of Julieen Lopez, Rowan Hennessey, Aiden Georgakopoulos and Isaiah Fabrizio sped around the raised track of Yale’s Coxe Cage on Friday afternoon in 8:22.97 to win the race. The Rams outran closest competitor Weston, which was second in 8:24.41. Central’s 4×800 also blew past its seed time of 8:34.
“These guys won the CT division of 4×800 today! Running on this blazing track!!!! Championship season is among us! 8:22 🔥🔥” tweeted Central indoor coach Kiara Bonilla.
The boys 4×800 wasn’t the only highlight for the Rams over the weekend. The Central girls 4×400 relay of Lynae Lewis, Sophia Stark, Tracie Mills and Katie Tran took fourth place in the race involving schools with over 600 girls. Their time of 4:17.96 is a school record.
“More success for BC today!!! Girls got that 4×4 school record today!!! 4:17🔥🔥🔥” Bonilla tweeted.
St. Paul also competed in the Yale Track Classic.
There were other meets over the weekend, and here’s how some locals did at those meets:
VARSITY NIGHT MEET
At Moore Fieldhouse, SCSU, New Haven (Friday)
There were three individual winners from three different schools, two girls and one boy. Erica Austin of Kennedy won the 55-meter dash in 7.21 seconds and Ryan Braccia of Bristol Eastern took first in the high jump at five feet. Lucas Figueiredo of Waterbury Career Academy ran to victory in the 400 meters in 51.55. Wilby also competed in the meet.
Other solid finishes included: Figueiredo (4th, 200 and 5th, high jump); Mikyle Isaacs, WCA (5th, 800);
2ND NORTHEAST CHALLENGE
At Floyd Little Athletic Center, New Haven (Friday)
Bryan Elliott of Holy Cross was the lone individual winner, taking home first in the 55 dash in 6.80 seconds. Elliott also finished second in the long jump. The Crusaders had some other strong performances as well: Shantavia Bennett (3rd, 55 dash); Aurora Miller (4th, 1000 meters); Ava Purcaro (4th, 1600); Chanel Debicki (5th, 1600); and Virginia Akide-Ndunge (5th, long jump).
Wolcott and Crosby also competed in the meet. Analise Pilarski led the Eagles with a second place finish in the 300. Other good efforts from Wolcott included: Nickolas Bensavage (3rd, shot put); Daniel Cleary (3rd, pole vault); Eriela Ozuni (4th, shot put); Ezra Serferi (4th, long jump); and Madison Shaffer (5th, shot put). Jireh Rawlison paced the Bulldogs with a second place finish in the 300. Steven Dunbar placed third in the 55 dash, and Kevin Hicks took fourth in the long jump for Crosby.
