By Michael Letendre
NEW BRITAIN – The girls outdoor track and field teams from Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern had tremendous showings at the CIAC Class L event from Willow Brook Park in New Britain on Wednesday.
The Rams ended up in 14th place with 24 points while the Lancers took 17th – scoring 12 points.
Edwin O. Smith won the state title behind 78.5 points while Simsbury – just like their male counterparts – was the runner-up at the event.
Shelton placed third, just six points behind the Trojans (64).
The top five finishers in each event qualified for the State Open event and athletes from both Central and Eastern will continue on in the postseason.
Included in the group is a newly minted state champion from the Lancers’ program.
Eastern’s Mackenzie Fitzsimons won the title in the javelin with a throw of 119 feet, six inches.
At the Open, only Shea Green from Weston (124 feet, five inches) and Alice Stettinger of East Haven (120-05) are seeded higher than Fitzsimons.
For Central, Kylee Barnes took third in the long jump (16 feet, 10 inches) and fourth in the high jump (five feet) – qualifying for the states in each event.
Earning fifth place for the Rams was Beccy Litwinczyk in the 200 meters (27.08 seconds) as did the 4×100 meter rally team of Emily Blanchette, Litwinczyk, Francesca Amara, and Lynae Lewis (51.94 seconds).
Central’s 4×400 meter team of Sophia Stark, Litwinczyk, Amara, and Lewis finished in seventh place (4:19.26) while for Eastern, the grouping of Cecelia Gilbert, Kaydence Mayer, Lauren Ayotte, and Fiona Gallagher took seventh place in the 4×800 meter relay (10:19.10).
Lewis placed ninth in the 400 meters (101.95) and Destinee Craft placed 20th in the long jump (14-3).
To round out the day for the Rams, Barnes (17th, 30-10.5) and Craft (18th, 29-7) performed well in the triple jump while Sophia Stark finished in 26th place in the 800 meters (2:40.41).
The 2022 CIAC State Open Championship commences on Monday, June 6 from Willow Brook Park in New Britain.
CIAC CLASS L Girls Track & Field Championships
from Willow Brook Park, New Britain
Champion: Edwin O. Smith (78.5 points)
Runner-up: Simsbury (70)
The Rest of the Field: 3) Shelton 64; 4) Naugatuck 58; 5) Newtown 57; 6) Cheshire 49; 7) New Canaan 48.33; 8) Fairfield Warde 32; 9) Bunnell 30.33; 10) New Milford 30; 11) Darien 29.50; 12) Wilton 25.33; 13) Maloney 25; 14) Bristol Central 24; 15) Farmington 23; 16) Kennedy 14; 17) Bristol Eastern 12; 18) Pomperaug 11; 19) Wethersfield 7; 20) Newington 6; 21) South Windsor 5; 22) Middletown 2.
Individual Results – Bristol Central
200 meters – Rebecca Litwinczyk (2nd, 27.08 seconds)
400 meters – Lynae Lewis (9th, 61.95)
800 meters – Sophia Stark (26th, 2:40.41)
4×100 meters – Emily Blanchette, Beccy Litwinczyk, Francesca Amara, Lynae Lewis (5th place, 51.94 seconds)
Emily Blanchette, Beccy Litwinczyk, Francesca Amara, Lynae Lewis
4×400 meter relay – Sophia Stark, Beccy Litwinczyk, Francesca Amara, Lynae Lewis (7th, 4:19.26)
High Jump – Kylee Barnes (4th, 5-0)
Long Jump – Kylee Barnes (3rd, 16-10); Destinee Craft (20th, 14-3)
Triple Jump – Kylee Barnes (17th, 30-10.5); Destinee Craft (18th, 29-7)
Individual Results – Bristol Eastern
Javelin – Mackenzie Fitzsimons (1st place, 199 feet, six inches)
4×800 Meter Relay – Cecelia Gilbert, Kaydence Mayer, Lauren Ayotte, and Fiona Gallagher (7th place, 10:19.10)
