U-32 remained on top. In a year of state records, Hartford’s Bennett Moreno surprised himself with an historic run. And Middlebury sprinter Jazmyn Hurley cruised to more individual hardware.
Despite wet conditions, the track and field stars of Division II continued to shine bright on Friday.
The U-32 girls and boys swept the team competition for the seventh time since 2013, Moreno shattered his own divisional record in the 1,500 meters , slipping under the 4-minute barrier, and Hurley captured the 100 and 200 one year after a three-win performance during the D-II state championships at Burlington’s D.G. Weaver Athletic Complex.
The U-32 boys racked up 167 points to runner-up Hartford’s 80 to claim the second of back-to-back crowns and their 10th state title overall since 2013. The Raider girls, meanwhile, surged to a five-peat with 138 total points, out-distancing Rice (88).
“We take the team competition really seriously. It’s a big focus for us,” U-32 coach Andrew Tripp said. “We knew we were the favorites and we knew that we didn’t need any heroics, that’s what we told the kids before (the meet).
“No one had to be Superman today. We just had to do what we’ve done all year and we’d be good. And they did that.”
Depth, star power prevail for U-32 program
Ginger Long headlined the U-32 girls in her final state meet. The senior captured the 1,500 (4:51.57) and 800 (2:22.67) and ran a leg on U-32’s victorious 4×400 relay squad. Counting her success across cross-country, indoor and outdoor track, Long rolled up 12 individual state crowns in her career.
Long’s teammate, Madison Beaudoin, finished second to Long in 1,500 and 800, and was also a member of the winning 4×400.
“Between (Long) and (Beaudoin), I’ll probably never coach two women like that again, ever,” Tripp said. “Arguably, two of the best athletes in the history of the school. And they both showed out (Friday). There are lot of girls who had amazing days.”
Indeed. Morgan Towne totaled 26 points in four individual events, Clara Maker won the 300 hurdles (49.41), placed second in the 100 hurdles and was on the winning 4×100 and 4×400 relay squads, Isobel Kobel captured the 400 (1:00.44) and Adeline Cannella racked up 16 points.
For the U-32 boys, Cavan Farrell swept the 110 hurdles (16.08) and 300 hurdles (16.64), the Raiders swept all three relays, Zackary Parton swiped runner-up spots in long jump and high jump, and Noah Kopsco’s big day included first in the 400 (51.15).
Kopsco, Farrell, Drew Frostick and Josh Pearson made up U-32’s first-place 4×100. Frostick, Kopsco, Wyatt Mallory and Andrew McKinstry were on the winning 4×400. And McKinstry, Asa Dorfman, Oren Winters and Sawyer Tootle formed the victorious 4×800 for U-32.
“We are a really strong program and we take a lot of pride in that,” Tripp said.
Bennett Moreno dusts 1,500 D-II record in 3:58.48
Less than a week after lowering his 800 D-II record to 1:51.60 at Essex Invitational, Moreno felt under the weather leading up to Friday’s D-II state meet. He wasn’t expecting to challenge his 1,500 D-II record of 4:00.11, but U-32’s Cole Page pushed the pace.
And Moreno saw his opportunity. With a lap to go, Moreno said he knew he could close strong, clipping the line at 3:58.48. Moreno is the first D-II runner to break 4 minutes in the 1,500.
“I said, ‘Alright, let’s do this. Whatever I got,'” Moreno said. “That led me to a 3:58. I was not in that mentality, but it switches once you’re in it.”
Moreno said the 800 record means more to him.
“The 1,500 is special and I’m so glad I found it, but the 800 is always going to be where my heart lies,” he said.
As of June 6, Moreno owns five D-II records: 800 and 1,500 in outdoor and 600, 1,000 and 1,500 for indoor. The senior will compete at New Englands and then nationals.
After setting records, Jazmyn Hurley races to 100-200 double
At the Essex Invitational, Hurley buried the 100 and 200 records for D-II. They have been long-fulfilled goals for Hurley. But Friday’s rainy weather and slick track surface made it difficult to top those times less than six days later.
Still, Hurley charged in with comfortable wins, 12.69 in the 100 and 16.10 in the 200. The Middlebury College-bound senior finishes her career with 11 individual state titles from indoor and outdoor combined.
“It was still fun, I had a nice time,” said Hurley, who will race at New Englands.
Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter:@aabrami5.
DIVISION II GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Team scores: 1. U-32 138; 2. Rice 88; T3. Montpelier, Lake Region 42; 5. Harwood 39; 6. Fair Haven 37; 7. Lyndon 31; 8. Hartford 24; 9. Middlebury 20; 10. Woodstock 17; T11. Lamoille, Milton 16; 13. Mount Abraham 14.
100-meter dash: 1. Jazmyn Hurley, Midd 12.69; 2. Adeline Cannella, U-32 13.16; 3. Madison Perry, FH 13.30; 4. Bella Walsh, Rice 13.45; 5. Mollie Mislak, U-32 13.50; 6. Camille Edgar, Mont 13.54.
200: 1. Jazmyn Hurley, Midd 26.10; 2. Adeline Cannella, U-32 27.17; 3. Bella Walsh, Rice 27.58; 4. Mollie Mislak, U-32 27.89; 5. Eryn McGuire, Wood 28.12; 6. Grace Perreault, Wood 28.15.
400: 1. Isobel Koger, U-32 1:00.44; 2. Izzy Lacy, Rice 1:01.84; 3. Jeays Matz, Rice 1:02.75; 4. Samantha Hensel, Lyn 1:03.58; 5. Maddie Carbino, Hart 1:03.71; 6. Anna Wetherell, Mont 1:04.91.
800: 1. Ginger Long, U-32 2:22.67; 2. Madison Beaudoin, U-32 2:25.37; 3. Sara McGill, Mont 2:26.79; 4. Hailey Porter, Lam 2:30.93; 5. Jeays Matz, Rice 2:32.56; 6. Heidi Harldsen, Har 2:32.95.
1,500: 1. Ginger Long, U-32 4:51.57; 2. Madison Beaudoin, U-32 4:55.88; 3. Sara McGill, Mont 5:00.42; 4. Hailey Porter, Lam 5:01.44; 5. Evey Slavik, Rice 5:01.85; 6. Izzy Cellini, Wood 5:02.57.
3,000: 1. Evey Slavik, Rice 11:08.18; 2. Celia Wing, Har 11:09.29; 3. Elsie Koger, U-32 11:23.13; 4. Leah Jourdan, Lam 11:26.05; 5. Thea Boyles, Mont 11:46.74; 6. Adele Pritchard, Mont 11:46.94.
100 hurdles: 1. Zoe Martinez, Rice 16.54; 2. Clara Maker, U-32 16.88; 3. Morgan Towne, U32 17.25; 4. Maede Urie, LR 17.56; 5. Audrey Morris, Rice 17.83; 6. Barbora Tocikova, Lyn.
300 hurdles: 1. Clara Maker, U-32 49.41; 2. Camille Edgar, Mont 51.86; 3. Geneva Durgin, Hart 51.97; 4. Barbora Tocikova, Lyn 52.43; 5. Maeda Urie, LR 53.47; 6. Gabriella Marshia, Lyn 53.49.
4×100: 1. U-32 (Gould, Maker, Cannella, Mislak) 51.65; 2. Woodstock 52.97; 3. Fair Haven 54.45; 4. Lamoille 54.48; 5. Lake Region 55.07; 6. Hartford 55.47.
4×400: 1. U-32 (Long, Maker, Beaudoin, Koger) 4:09.86; 2. Hartford 4:23.75; 3. Lyndon 4:24.57; 4. Rice 4:26.23; 5. Montpelier 4:26.29; 6. Lamoille 4:35.58.
4×800: 1. Rice (E. Slavik, M. Slavik, Clarke, Matz) 10:26.51; 2. Hartford 10:38.37; 3. Harwood 10:42.09; 4. U-32 10:48.37; 5. Montpelier 11:05.77; 6. Lamoille 11:15.75.
Pole vault: 1. Clare Pritchard, Mont 9-2.25; 2. Seda Boyes, Independent 7-11.5; 3. Morgan Towne, U-32 7-5.75; 4. Maeve Daloz, U-32 7-5.75; 5. Jakobi Kmiecik, U-32 7-5.75; 6. Alida Apgar, Lyn 6-11.75.
High jump: 1. Maeda Urie, LR 4-7.75; 2. Hazel Stoddard, MTA 4-7.75; 3. Clare Pritchard, Mont 4-7.75; 4. Catherine Preuss, Milt 4-7.75; 5. Taylor Tritt, Rice 4-7.75; 6. Eryn McGuire, Wood 4-6.
Long jump: 1. Madison Perry, FH 16-08.75; 2. Morgan Towne, U-32 16-0.25; 3. Catherine Preuss, Milt 15-6.75; 4. Audrey Perry, FH 15-5; 5. Macey Mawhinney, Lyn 15-3.25; 6. Damiana Leese, Har 14-3.75.
Triple jump: 1. Maeda Urie, LR 34-8.5; 2. Madison Perry, FH 33-8.5; 3. Morgan Towne, U-32 33-1.75; 4. Piper Pauly, Wood 32-3.5; 5. Macey Mawhinney, Lyn 31-0.5; 6. Damiana Leese, Har 30-7.
Shot put: 1. Isabella Pockoski, Har 36-11.75; 2. Aerie Sanders, Rice 30-10.25; 3. Kaila Thompson, Milt 30-2.25; 4. Heidi Haraldsen, Har 29-4; 5. Rowan Kuehn, FH 28-1.5; 6. Clare Pritchard, Mont 26-6.25.
Discus: 1. Aerie Sanders, Rice 102-05; 2. Isabella Pockoski, Har 100-11; 3. Marie Voisin, Mont 97-02; 4. Brooklyn Hinton, LR 93-05; 5. Christin Haynes, U-32 87-04; 6. Rowan Kuehn, FH 87-04.
Javelin: 1. Heather Alexander, LF 110-10; 2. Gabriella Marshia, Lyn 77-10; 3. Hazen Stoddard, MTA 77-03; 4. Ophelia Mast, Rice 77-01; 5. Barbora Tocikova, Lyn 72-09; 6. Noa Martinez Cantero, Lyn 72-07.
DIVISION II BOYS TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Team scores: 1. U-32 167; 2. Hartford 80; 3. Rice 57; 4. Fair Haven 55; 5. Lake Region 31; 6. Lamoille 25; 7. Montpelier 25; 8. Lyndon 18; 9. Harwood 17; 10. Woodstock 15; T11. Mount Abraham, Milton 11; 13. Middlebury 8; 4. Missisquoi 4.
100-meter dash: 1. Shane Raetz, FH 11.33; 2. Jeonghun Jin, Rice 11.42; T3. Josh Pearson, U-32 11.62; Drew Frostick, U-32 11.62; 5. Ayodele Lowe, Hart 11.69; 6. Jericho Thatcher, LR 11.75.
200: 1. Jeonghun Jin, Rice 22.84; 2. Theodore Washburn, Rice 23.21; 3. Noah Kopsco, U-32 23.28; 4. Josh Pearson, U-32 23.64; 5. Elliot Rowe, Lam 23.71; 6. Devin Schlegel-Barber, Milt 23.73.
400: 1. Noah Kopsco, U-32 51.15; 2. Elliot Rowe, Lam 51.62; 3. Theodore Washburn, Rice 51.73; 4. Adler Lahar, LR 53.92; 5. Tighe Hrabchak, Hart 53.99; 6. Andrew McKinstry, U-32 54.03.
800: 1. Bennett Moreno, Hart 1:57.07; 2. Tennessee Lamb, U-32 1:59.75; 3. Wyatt Malloy, U-32 2:00.08; 4. Cody Young, U-32 2:00.28; 5. Cole Page, U-32 2:02.97; 6. James Underwood, Wood 2:03.20.
1,500: 1. Bennett Moreno, Hart 3:58.48 (D-II record); 2. Cole Page, U-32 4:06.56; 3. James Underwood, Wood 4:06.82; 4. Cody Young, U-32 4:07.49; 5. Samuel Brondyke, Mont 4:09.81; 6. Zeb Whitlock, Lam 4:10.98.
3,000: 1. Jay Borland, Mont 9:04.12; 2. Samuel Brondyke, Mont 9:05.52; 3. Ben Warfield, U-32 9:11.41; 4. Zeb Whitlock, Lam 9:19.21; 5. Oren Winters, U-32 9:24.49; 6. Luke Murphy, 9:33.32.
110 hurdles: 1. Cavan Farrell, U-32 16.08; 2. Nate Leavitt, Lam 16.69; 3. Malcolm Rose, U-32 17.23; 4. Ethan Gratton-Derby, LR 17.38; 5. Joshua Kafumbe, Midd 17.56; 6. Kingston Newell, Lyn 18.68.
300 hurdles: 1. Cavan Farrell, U-32 16.64; 2. Kleo Bridge, Mont 16.77; 3. Nate Leavitt, Lam 17.16; 4. Malcolm Rose, U-32 17.23; 5. Ethan Gratton-Derby, LR 17.56; 6. Atif Milak, Mont 17.98.
4×100: 1. U-32 (Pearson, Kopsco, Farrell, Frostick) 43.86; 2. Rice 44.56; 3. Middlebury 46.48; 4. Fair Haven 46.78; 5. Lyndon 48.84; 6. Lake Region 48.88.
4×400: 1. U-32 (Frostick, Kopsco, Mallory, McKinstry) 3:32.02; 2. Rice 3:36.07; 3. Hartford 3:36.25; 4. Lake Region 3:49.71; 5. Harwood 2:52.71; 6. Montpelier 3:53.35.
4×800: 1. U-32 (McKinstry, Dorfman, Winters, Tootle) 9:17.08; 2. Woodstock 9:28.28; 3. Hartford 9:33.61; 4. Lake Region 9:48.31; 5. Lamoille 9:52.73; 6. Middlebury 10:25.28.
Pole vault: 1. Tyler Noyes, Lyn 10-11.5; 2. Jace Hetrick, FH 10-5.5; 3. Jack Quicker, Wood 9-11.75; T4. Benjamin Lang, Hart; Malcolm Rose, U-32 9-5.75; 6. Ryan Parker, U-32 9-5.75.
High jump: 1. Ayodele Lowe, Hart 6-2; 2. Zackary Parton, U-32 5-8; 3. Jack Almeida, FH 5-8; 4. Beckett Bailey, Lyn 5-6; 5. Joseph Nyiringabo, Mont 5-4.25.
Long jump: 1. Ayodele Lowe, Hart 22-1; 2. Zackary Parton, U-32 20-6.5; 3. Shane Raetz, FH 19-11.5; 4. Landon Morris, Miss 19-5.25; 5. Truman Sawyer, MTA 19-2.5; 6. Angel Lockward, Lyn 19-1.25.
Triple jump: 1. Jayden Forbes, Hart 41-0.25; 2. Truman Sawyer, MTA 39-2.5; 3. Angel Lockward, Lyn 38-6.75; 4. Asa Young, 36-1.25; 5. Ari Jorgenson, U-32 35-0.25; 6. Jack Spaulding, 34-5.5.
Shot put: 1. Caden Lynch, FH 40-7; 2. Eric Poso, Rice 40-1.25; 3. Evan Coates, U-32 39-6.75; 4. Brandon Driver, Hart 39-6.75; 5. Alec Husmann, Hart 39-1; 6. Connor Rowley, Har 38-11.75.
Discus: 1. Devin Schlegel-Barber, Milt 124-7; 2. Connor Rowley, Har 114-01; 3. Eneko Farr, U-32 106-04; 4. Caden Lynch, FH 103-09; 5. Asa Young, FH 98-10; 6. Jack Eldred, Rice 91-07.
Javelin: 1. Adler Lahar, LR 148-07; 2. Mathew Tsouknakis, Hart 145-03; 3. Gavin Clark-Viola, Har 12-10; 4. Angel Lockward, Lyn 121-10; 5. Asa Young, FH 121-06; 6. James Mount, MTA 114-11.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont high school track and field: U-32 state championship sweep