CANTON, April 22 — The Canton High boys track and field team should get its first serious test of the spring season on Tuesday when travel to Avon to face the undefeated Falcons (6-0, 6-0 NCCC) and Suffield.
The Warriors are the defending Class S and NCCC champion. They have also won their first six meets of the season and have won 18 straight NCCC meets. Avon is looking to be a contender in the league after finishing fourth a year ago. Suffield, which features strong core of runners, will be no pushover, either.
A deep lineup has boosted the Warriors (6-0, 6-0) in the early weeks of the season. In a 92-57 win over Ellington and a 107-34 victory over Hartford-based Sport Medicine Science Academy, Canton won 10 of 16 events including all six field events. Not bad for a program with no field facilities.
Matt Graziano has been on fire in the discus, twice shattering his own school record in the discus. Against Ellington, he threw the discus 175 feet, over 19 feet longer than the record he set a week earlier and 34 feet longer than his best throw a year ago. He also swept the javelin and shot. Julian Franklin won the high jump while Jeff Lochner captured the long jump.
In the hurdles, brothers Dave and Mark Solomon finished first and second, respectively, in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles. Jon Cahill won the 3,200 meters and took second in the 1,600 meters while Tyler Fitzgerald grabbed the 800 meters.
Last week, Canton had little trouble in wins over East Windsor, 104-46 and Somers, 104-37. Graziano sweeps the shot, discus and javelin. Jeff Lochner (100, long jump), Cameron Daley (110, 300 hurdles), Peter LeDuc (1,600, 3,200) each won two events.
Canton’s long-time cross country coach Tim O’Donnell, who has long served as an unofficial advisor and volunteer for the Warriors since it began its track and field program in 2005, has stepped up to take the head coaching position.
Avon remained undefeated with easy wins over Stafford, 119-18 and Bolton, 118-21 last week. The Falcons won 14 of 18 events. Ethan Buyse won three events (100, 200, long jump) and ran on winning 4×100 relay. Lenny Dupee (shot, discus) won a pair of events.
Avon also beat Coventry, 80.5 to 66.5 and Somers, 108-42 earlier this month. Buyse swept the 100 and 200 meters for Avon, Colin Ponzani won the 800 meters and Nathan Eckhardt won the pole vault. The Falcons used their strength on the track to win all three relay races (4×100, 4×400 and 4×800).
On opening day, Avon used its depth to beat Ellington, 72-66 and Granby, 85-64 despite winning only three individual events and two relays. Dupee won the shot and discus while Evan Edgar won the triple jump.
GIRLS TRACK: Taryn Asklof (400), Anna Waite (shot), Leigh-Ana Rossitto (3200) each won as Canton (3-3) split a dual meet last week, beating Somers, 84-59 and losing to East Windsor, 76-69. Waite was 2nd in discus and javelin.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login