With just 13 athletes, Canton girls improve to 4-0; Canton boys extend win streak

Canton’s Abby Briggs and Emily Briggs are the top two runners in this heat at Tuesday’s meet in Coventry. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

COVENTRY, April 21 – It’s quality not quantity when it comes to the Canton High girls track and field team. The Warriors don’t have a large roster. A week ago, they had nine girls participate in a win over Somers and Windsor Locks and came away with two victories. 

On Tuesday, the Canton girls had 13 girls competing. It was enough for another two victories. The Warriors improved to 4-0 with an 84-61 win over Coventry and a 114-17 decision over Bolton. It was the 11th win for Canton in its last 12 dual meets dating back to last season. 

The Canton boys (4-0, 4-0 NCCC) extended their school record winning streak to 55 consecutive meets going back to the 2011 season with a 124-26 win over Bolton and a 115-35 victory over Coventry. 

The Canton girls won all three relays and qualified for the Class S tournament in all three events. Emily Mitchell, Amber Harraden, Sophia Langou and Lucy Tanner won the 4×100 relay in 52.8 seconds; Langou, Chloe Gucciardi, Emily Briggs and Harraden captured the 4×400 relay in 4:32.2 and Abby Briggs, Cameron McCauley, Emily Briggs and Jocelyn Rossitto prevailed in the 4×800 relay in 10:53.7. 

Lucy Tanner, far right, leads in the 100 hurdles in Tuesday’s meet in Coventry. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

Tanner, Mitchell and Harraden each won two individual events. Tanner won the 100 hurdles in 17.2 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 53.5 seconds. Mitchell prevailed in the 100 meters (13.4 seconds) and 200 meters (28.6). Harraden was the winner in the 400 meters (64.7 seconds) and the javelin (77 feet, 6 inches). 

Rossitto (1,600 meters) and Emily Briggs (800) also were winners of individual events. 

Canton’s Dean Yost won the 1,600 meters Tuesday. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

The Canton boys, the three-time defending league champions, received strong performances from a variety of athletes Tuesday. Dustin Van Kirk (110 hurdles), Matt Pickett (100), Nico Tuccillo (200, 400), John Solomon (300 hurdles), Dean Yost (800), James Yost (3,200), Stephen Oliver (pole vault), Cam Daley (high jump) and John Graziano (discus) each won individual events. 

The Warriors also swept the relay events and qualified for the Class S tournament in each of the three events. 

Brad Connolly, Matt Pickett, Jesse Wait and Tuccillo won the 4×100 in 47.3 seconds; Augie Shaw, Dean Yost, Solomon and Tuccillo captured the 4×400 in 3:46.5 and Ethan Porter, Zach Oliver, Augie Shaw and James Yost prevailed in the 4×800 in 8:56.8.

The Warriors next meet will be Saturday in Danbury at the Dan O’Grady Relays.