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Kirk wins three events at CCC Central championship meet; Avon girls finish fifth

Avon's Geoff Kirk won three events at the first CCC Central track and field championship meet at Simsbury High.

Avon’s Geoff Kirk, shown throwing the shot, won three events at the first CCC Central track and field championship meet at Simsbury High. He also set a new school record in the discus, breaking the record set in 1972.

SIMSBURY, May 24 – Avon High senior Geoff Kirk relishes a challenge. It has brought out this best in him this spring. At the recent Greater Hartford Invitational, Kirk had season-best performances in the shot put, discus and javelin. He won two of three events, taking second in the javelin.

“I generally do well with competition,” Kirk said. “It gives me a little motivation to do well.”

Kirk used the competition Tuesday to propel him to three victories at the Central Connecticut Conference Central Division championship meet at Simsbury High. Kirk swept the shot, discus and javelin with personal-best performances in the discus and javelin. His throw of 179 feet, one inch in the discus not only broke the existing school record (set in 1972) by 20 feet but it was the best discus throw in the state so far.

Kirk helped Avon finish sixth in the CCC Central meet. The Avon girls finished fifth in the CCC Central meet, led by Kaleigh Sherman, who continued her outstanding senior season with a second place finish in the javelin, and junior Riley Abate, who finished second in the 100 meters with a school-record effort.

Kirk became the first Avon athlete to win three individual events in a single league championship meet since 1994 when Jeff Cavanaugh won three events (800, 1600, 3200) at the NCCC championships.

Avon's Andrew Suter took second in the 1,600 meters at Tuesday's CCC Central championship meet in Simsbury,

Avon’s Andrew Suter took second in the 1,600 meters at Tuesday’s CCC Central championship meet in Simsbury,

He dominated in the discus with his winning throw of 179-01 feet. Southington’s Jake Monson was nearly 60 feet behind with a throw of 118-07 feet. The only other athlete to exceed 170 feet this spring has been Canton’s Will Briggs with a throw of 174-7. Kirk’s throw erased the previous Avon High school record set 34 years ago (1972) by Charles Morse (159-10).

Kirk’s throw of 175-08 in the javelin helped him beat Northwest Catholic’s Jonathan Granata by 20 feet. Kirk’s throw is the No. 1 ranked throw in Class MM and third overall in the state. Kirk won the shot with a throw of 48 feet 5½ inches.

“The competition brings out the best in him,” said Avon’s John McLaughlin, who helps coach the throwing athletes (shot, javelin, discus). “When you’re winning by 30 or 40 feet, there is little pressure or incentive. The competition drives him. He doesn’t want to lose.”

Freshman teammate Mark Cierniewski made a nice debut in the CCC Central meet with a third place finish in the javelin with a persona-best throw of 154 feet, exceeding his previous best by 10 feet.

Senior Andrew Suter took second in the 1,600 meters with a season-best time of 4:27.98. He was five seconds off the winning pace set by Glastonbury’s Randy Neish, who swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meter races. Suter also took sixth in the 3,200 meters.

Sherman was less than three feet off the pace set by Glastonbury’s Anne Culliton (123 feet). Sherman threw the javelin 121 feet and four inches. Sherman began competing in the javelin just five weeks ago. Today, she has the best throw of all the competitors in next week’s Class MM championship meet.

Avon's Kaleigh Sherman has been throwing the javelin for just five weeks and broke the 23-year-old school record.

Avon’s Kaleigh Sherman has been throwing the javelin for just five weeks and broke the 23-year-old school record.

The senior was a high jumper for her first three years on the team. But she always wanted to try the javelin, an event her older sister, Erin, competed in. “This was my last year,” Kaleigh Sherman said. “I had to do it.”

Sherman has used a mixture of speed and power to improve in virtually every meet. Tuesday’s meet was the first time she hadn’t topped what she had thrown in the previous competition.

But let’s cut Sherman some slack. In the meet prior to the CCC Central championships, Sherman broke the school record in the javelin with a throw of 125 feet, 2 inches against Farmington on May 17. It erased a record set 23 years ago by Jane Gillis (116-3) in 1993 at the Class M championship meet.

Sherman also finished seventh in the discus with a throw of 78 feet, one inch. Avon teammate Olivia Hyun took sixth in the javelin with a throw of 87-9.

Abate had a hand in two school record performances on Tuesday. She broke the school record in the 100 meters in the preliminary round with a time of 12.76 seconds. In the final, she finished second with a time of 12.79 seconds behind Windsor’s Jiana Baker (12.31).

Carly Regalado takes the handoff from Shilpa Donde in the 4x400 relay. Avon finished with a season-best time of 4:19.58.

Carly Regalado (1) takes the handoff from Shilpa Donde in the 4×400 relay. Avon finished with a season-best time of 4:19.58.

She was also a part of Avon’s school-record setting 4×100 meter relay team that finished second with a time of 50.40 seconds. While Windsor, the defending Class MM champion won the race in 48.10 seconds, Abate had to hold off Farmington’s anchor leg runner, Teyah Floyd, to help the Falcons beat Farmington by 0.05 of a second and take the silver medal. The Falcon team of Shilpa Donde, Carly Carpino, Gina Linley and Abate broke the school record that they set a week earlier in a dual meet against Farmington.

Senior Carly Regalado took third in the 300 hurdles with a time of 48.43 seconds. Simsbury’s Vickie Milledge nipped Glastonbury’s Danielle Brinckman to win the race by 0.01 a second with a winning time of 45.71 seconds. Regalado was sixth in the 100 hurdles for the Falcons.

Carly Carpino brought home two medals. She was fourth in the long jump with a leap of 16-11 feet and sixth in the triple jump with a jump of 33-8½.

Rachel Martin had a season-best time of 5:26.95 to finish ninth in the 1,600 meters. Ryley Higgins had a season-best time of 11:47.89 to finish seventh in the 3,200 meters. Audrey Worth was seventh in the pole vault (8-0)

This is Avon’s first year in the Central Connecticut Conference. The Falcons return to the track next week for the Class MM championship meet on June 1 at Middletown High.

NOTABLE:  The top two finishers in each race earn All-CCC Central Division All-Star honors. … The only boys to win three individual events in a single championship meet are Kirk, Cavanaugh and Dushawne Simpson, who swept the 200, 400 meter and high jump at the 1991 NCCC championship meet. …. In 1987, Jeff Hudish won the 100 and 200 meters and ran on Avon’s winning 4×100 relay team.

CCC Central championships
At Simsbury
BOYS RESULTS – 1. Glastonbury 130½, 2. Windsor 118, 3. Northwest Catholic 96, 4. Simsbury 92½, 5. Hall 57, 6. Avon 56, 7. Southington 54, 8. Farmington 44, 9. Weaver 27, 10. Bulkeley 15, 11. Conard 12

Top 3 finishers in each event plus Avon, Farmington and Simsbury athletes in top 10
100: 1. Mark Doyley, Windsor, 10.76, 2. Tyler Coyne, Windsor, 10.95, 3. Kyshawn Bonner, Windsor, 10.98; 6. Alexis Walker, Farmington, 11.36, 8. Matthew Gordon, Simsbury 11.45; 11. Andrew Blackmore, Avon 11.67

200: 1. Mark Doyley, Windsor, 21.64, 2. Kyshawn Bonner, Windsor, 22.25, 3. Tim Epps, Windsor, 22.45; 4. Josh Prell, Simsbury, 22.87, 7. Alexis Walker, Farmington, 23.46

400: 1. Christian Mackay-Morgan, NWC, 49.30, 2. Josh Prell, Simsbury, 49.84, 3. Tim Epps, Windsor, 50.49; 7. John Shea, Simsbury, 54.18

800: 1. Randy Neish, Glastonbury, 2:01.82, 2. Casey Farrell, Glastonbury, 2:03.08, 3. Chris Reeves, Glastonbury, 2:03.41; 9. Joseph O’Bryan, Simsbury, 2:06.47; 10. Matthew Gutierrez, Simsbury 2:06.62

1,600: 1. Randy Neish, Glastonbury, 4:22.82, 2. Andrew Suter, Avon, 2:27.98, 3. Sean Garrison, Southington, 4:28.10

3,200: 1. Randy Neish, Glastonbury, 9:42.42, 2. Solomon Davis, Simsbury, 9:50.58, 3. Alex Connery, Glastonbury, 9:56.22; 6. Andrew Suter, Avon, 10:08.08; 9. Michael Kokines, Simsbury, 10:16.27

110 hurdles: 1. Asa Guest, NWC, 15.76, 2. Connor Blodgett, Hall, 15.80, 3. Nicholas Winslow, Simsbury, 16.07; 4. Xavier Amos, Farmington, 16.230; 6. Jameson Boeshans, Simsbury, 16.46; 10. Blake Thompson, Avon, 17.71

300 hurdles: 1. Keyion Dixon, Glastonbury, 39.45, 2. Connor Blodgett, Hall, 39.69, 3. Marcus Manson, Windsor, 40.60; 4. Xavier Amos, Farmington, 40.70; 5. Jake Dowd, Simsbury, 41.48; 7. Jameson Boeshans, Simsbury, 42.82; 8. Kahlil Ellis, Simsbury, 42.87

4×100: 1. Windsor 42.17, 2. Farmington (Brian Buono, Alexis Walker, John Gustave, Xavier Amos) 44.19, 3. Weaver 44.34; 9. Avon (Andrew Blackmore, Justin Koo, Devon Kramek, Zach Tilsch) 47.50

4×400: 1. Windsor 3:23.81, 2. Simsbury (Jake Dowd, Matthew Greiten, Josh Prell, Trevor Boysen) 3:30.27, 3. NWC 3:32.68; 6. Avon (Devon Kramek, Zach Bortoff, Christian Salhany, Justin Koo) 3:46.03

4×800: 1. Glastonbury 8:09.30, 2. Simsbury (Solomon David, Michael Kokines, Matthew Gutierrez, Joseph O’Bryan) 8:13.39, 3. Windsor 8:30.92; 5. Avon (Zach Bortoff, Carmon Armistead, Matt Nykliecek, Jon Hernandez) 9:03.47

High jump: 1. Jayson Williams, NWC, 6-0, 2. Ricky Sullivan, NWC 5-10, 3. Sam Roy, Farmington, 5-8; 4. Michael Adorno, Simsbury, 5-8; 10. Matt Gondek, Avon, 5-2

Long jump: 1. Tyler Coyle, Windsor, 21-2, 2. Jayson Williams, NWC, 21-1½; 3. Jake Dowd, Simsbury 20-3½; 8. Jack Medve, Simsbury, 19-7; 11. Mason Love, Avon, 18-4.5

Triple jump: 1. O’Neil Brown, NWC, 42-3, 2. Jayson Williams, NWC, 41-8½, 3. Jahkari Grant, Windsor , 40-8½; 6. Jameson Boeshans, Simsbury 39-3½, 7. Nicholas Winslow, Simsbury, 39-3½; 10. Mason Love, Avon, 37-3

Pole vault: 1. Terrence Cook, Simsbury 13-0, 2. Jason Kelly, Glastonbury, 12-0, 3. Zach Burleigh, Southington, 11-0; 6. Christopher Reilly, Simsbury, 9-0; 10. Andrew Mascoli, Avon, 8-6

Shot: 1. Geoff Kirk, Avon, 48-5½, 2. Wes Cheng, Farmington 42-8, 3. Timothy Gardner, Windsor 41-0¾; 9. Dan Johnson, Farmington 36-7¾

Discus: 1. Geoff Kirk, Avon 179-1, 2. Jake Monson, Southington 118-7, 3. Christopher Keegan 110-01; 4. Ryan Witter, Farmington, 106-2, 7. Andrew Marshall, Avon 100-8, 8. Wes Cheng, Farmington 100-04

Javelin: 1. Geoff Kirk, Avon 175-8, 2. Jonathan Granata, NWC 155-5, 3. Marek Cierniewski, Avon, 154-0; 4. Gregory Haydon, Simsbury, 145-7, 6. Michael Richard, Simsbury, 140-10; 8. Sam Roy, Farmington 138-3

 

GIRLS RESULTS – 1. Glastonbury 160, 2. Windsor 131, 3. Simsbury 107, 4. Southington 72, 5. Avon 58, 6. Conard 57, 7. Hall 41, 8. Northwest Cathoolic 32, 9. Farmington 26, 10. Weaver 18

100: 1. Jiana Baker, Windsor 12.31, 2. Riley Abate, Avon, 12.79, 3. Taylor Davis, Conard, 12.84, 4. Julia Dowd, Simsbury, 12.97, 5. Teyah Floyd, Farmington 12.98; 9. Jesse Dowd, Simsbury 13.38, 10. Navva Sedigh, Farmington 13.46

200: 1. Jiana Baker, Windsor, 25.13, 2. Sashana Hinds, Windsor, 25.15, 3. Camille McHenry, Windsor, 26.17; 4. Julia Dowd, Simsbury, 26.26; 6. Teyah Floyd, Farmington, 26.48

400: 1. Sashana Hinds, Windsor, 56.50, 2. Elizabeth McMahon, Conard, 58.36, 3. Morocca Wiley, Glastonbury, 59.43; 7. Brianna Bermudez, Farmington, 1:00.32; 9. Hannah Earnhart, Simsbury, 1:00.46

800: 1. Allison McArdle, Glastonbury, 2:22.31, 2. Brittany Brown, Windsor, 2:22.61, 3. Olivia Allen, Glastonbury, 2:23.19

1600: 1. Allison McArdle, Glastonbury, 5:11.33, 2. Gabi Napoli, Southingotn, 5:12.35, 3. Maeve Daily, Simsbury, 5:12.73; 9. Rachel Martin, Avon, 5:26.95, 10. Ryley Higgins, Avbon, 5:29.85

3200: 1. Gabi Napoli, Southington, 11:28.72, 2. Maeve Daily, Simsbury, 11:29.62, 3. Alexandra Ross, Glastonbury, 11:31.69; 7. Ryley Higgins, Avon, 11:47.89; 8. Julia Fermanek, Farmington, 11:48.90; 9. Christina Martin, Avon, 12:07.71

110 hurdles: 1. Vickie Milledge, Simsbury, 14.45, 2. Kenya Warner, Windsor, 15.52, 3. Katherine Jacobs, NWC 15.76; 6. Carly Regalado, Avon, 17.08; 8. Ciara Murphy, Simsbury, 17.92; 10. Hayley Dougela, Avon, 17.83

300 hurdles: 1. Vickie Milledge, Simsbury, 45.71, 2. Danielle Brinckman, Glastonbury, 45.72, 3. Carly Regalado, Avon, 48.43; 8. Ciara Murphy, Simsbury, 50.67; 9. Mia Flynn, Farmington, 50.83

4×100: 1. Windsor 48.10, 2. Avon (Shilpa Donde, Carly Carpino, Gina Lindley, Riley Abate) 50.40, 3. Farmington (Mia Flynn, Brianna Bermudez, Navva Sedigh, Teyah Floyd) 50.45; 4. Simsbury (Jesse Dowd, Jordan Shugdinis, Naomi Garcia, Devon Shugdinis) 51.68

4×400: 1. Glastonbury 3:59.82, 2. Windsor 4:02.89, 3. Simsbury (Vickie Milledge, Devon Shugdinis, Hannah Earnhart, Julia Dowd) 4:06.92; 5. Avon (Shilpa Donde, Anya Ek, Riley Abate, Carly Regalado) 4:19.58

4×800: 1. Glastonbury 9:38.52, 2. Southington 9:38.54, 3. Windsor 9:39.97; 4. Simsbury (Hannah Thode, Bronwyn Mogck, Kelly Zeilman, Sarah Soja) 10:24.01; 5. Avon (Madison Sides, Christina Martin, Ashley Martin, Francesca Cleary) 10:36.25; 6. Farmington (Emily Williams, Julia Fermanek, Taylor Hennig, Laura Cunningham)

High jump: 1. Julia Silverman, Hall, 5-0, 2. Kelly Woodhouse, Glastonbury, 5-0, 3. Clarie Boughton, Simsbury 4-8, 7. Katrina Cirilli, Simsbury, 4-6, 9, Katja Zoner, Farmington, 4-2

Long jump: 1. Erika Hightower, Windsor, 17-10½, 2. Nia Fraser, Hall, 17-4, 3. Kenya Warner, Windsor, 17-3; 4. Carly Carpino, Avon, 16-11, 5. Wei-Ling Sun, Simsbury, 15-9; 6. Mia Flynn, Farmington 15-7¾; 7. Carolyn Weiss, Simsbury, 15-4, 8. Naomi Garcia, Smsbury, 15-2¼

Triple jump: 1.Kenya Warner, Windsor 36-3¾, 2. Erika Hightower, Windsor, 35-6, 3. Jesse Dowd, Simsbury, 34-6, 5. Grace Sullivan, Simsbury, 33-10; 6. Carly Carpino, Avon, 33-8½; 7. Mikayla Bibbins, Simsbury, 33-5; 8. Naomi Garcia, Simsbury, 31-3¾

Pole vault:  1. Carlie Musto, Conard, 9-6, 2. Meghan Cobb, Conard, 8-6, 3. Megan Plummer, Glastonbury, 8-6; 6. Brenna Pellon, Simsbury, 8-6; 7. Audrey Worth, Avon, 8-0

Shot: 1. Amanda Howe, Southington, 35-7¾, 2. Jhan Spear, Weaver, 33-8, 3. Anasha Archer, Weaver, 33-5¼; 5. Alexandra Liberno, Farmington 29-11¼; 8. Jackie Ritz, Simsbury, 28-8

Discus: 1. Amanda Howe, Southington 132-03, 2. Julia Hagrstorfer, Simsbury 101-04, 3. Tuuli Mix, Glastonbury, 97-04; 7. Kaleigh Sherman, Avon, 78-01; 10. Rita Monahan, Farmington, 71-01

Javelin: 1. Anne Culliton, Glastonbury, 123-0, 2. Kaleigh Sherman, Avon, 121-04, 3. Micaela Czapla, Glastonbury, 97-06; 5. Eva Kaplinski, Simsbury, 91-04; 6. Olivia Hyun, Avon, 86-09; 8. Julia Jahrstorfer, Simsbury 85-09

Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 30 years.

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