Submitted by Matt Diglio, Coach.
(June 7, 2021) — This past Wednesday, June 2, 2021, the Haddam Killingworth High School boys and girls track teams competed at the Class M State Championship meet at Willow Brook Park in New Britain. The boys team placed 1st overall to claim their first state title since 1988 (33 years). The boys scored 90 points as a team to easily outdistance second place Seymour who ended up with 56.5 points.
The boys were led by numerous outstanding performances in the meet, which saw several athletes earn All State accolades and several school records being broken. Senior Matthew Jennings led the way with his 1st place finish in the 800 with a time of 1:55.37 to break his own school record and earn All State honors. Jennings also placed 2nd in the 1600 in a time of 4:14.79 which not only broke his own school record but also broke the meet record. He then anchored the 4×800 relay team to a 2nd place finish along with teammates Max Cozean, Caleb Freeman and Alex Lara. Not to be outdone, was his teammate Eamon Sweeney who also had a tremendous meet as he placed 1st in the 300 hurdles with a school record time of 39.67 along with his 1st place finish in the javelin throw with a toss of 169-09 and earned All State honors in both of those events. Sweeney also placed 2nd in the 110 hurdles in a school record time of 14.82. Also earning All State accolades was John Bruder who won the shot put with a toss of 52’0″ to win that event. Other team members contributing valuable team points were: Max Cozean 2nd place in the 800 (1:58.82). Orion Inkel who placed 4th in the triple jump (40’8.25″), Sam Luther 4th in the javelin (147’3″),  Aidan Law 6th in the long jump (19’11”), Zenon Kolcio 8th 110 hurdles (16.43) and Jon Chute 8th in pole vault (10’6″).
The H-K girls track and field team placed 8th overall as a team with 34 points. The Cougars were led by senior Kedarjah Lewis, who placed first in the long jump with a distance of 18’0″ to earn All State honors. Lewis also finished second in the triple jump with a leap of 35-5.25 and came in second place for the 100-meter dash by running a time of 12.82 seconds. The girls 4×800 relay of junior Brianna Minervino, sophomore Isabel Berardino, senior Meara Bodak, and senior Katherine Melgar took fifth place with a time of 10:13.85. Junior Jessica Timothy finished sixth in the high jump (4-10), and senior Gabby Lester placed eighth in the discus (91-5).
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The track teams will next be in action on Wednesday June 9, 2021 as the compete at the CT State Open Championship meet.
Photo courtesy of John Minervino.
