Avon’s Carpino takes 12th in heptahlon; Solomon finishes 14th in decathlon

Avon’s Carly Carpino finished 12th in the CIAC heptathlon Tuesday in New Britain.

NEW BRITAIN, June 14 – Avon High sophomore Carly Carpino made history Tuesday at the CIAC decathlon and heptahlon at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium.

Carpino is believed to be the first Avon girl to complete the CIAC heptahlon and finished 12th with a school record total of 3,367 points. Carpino finished day 1 with a fifth place finish in the 200 meters. On Tuesday, she took fifth in the long jump and javelin to move into the top 15.

In the decathlon, Canton’s John Solomon finished 14th while teammate Cameron Lange was 16th. Dustin Van Kirk had a good day until he sprained his ankle in the pole vault and couldn’t complete the decathlon.

Carpino took fifth in the long jump with a leap of 16 feet, 1 inch and was fifth in the javelin with a throw of 73 feet. She finished 27th in the 800 meters with a time of 2:52.21. Teammates Kayley Douglea and Kaleigh Sherman weren’t among the top 32 athletes after the first day and didn’t advance to compete on Tuesday.

In the decathlon, Solomon got off to a great start Tuesday by taking second in the 110 hurdles with a time of 15.43 seconds – his fastest time of the season. Only Old Saybrook’s Lucas Sumby ran faster in 14.75 seconds.

Van Kirk was sixth in the 110 hurdles in 16.81 seconds and took ninth in the discus with a throw of 89-09 feet. But he stumbled in the pole vault, spraining his ankle. He didn’t clear a height and earned no points.

Despite the injury, he still was able to throw 86 feet in the javelin to finish 28th. But Van Kirk couldn’t complete the 1,500 meters and was disqualified. He earned 4,055 points in the first nine events, which would have had him 30th.

Solomon and Lange finished 18th in the pole vault with each clearing 8-6¼ feet. Lange was 15th in the javelin and 18th in the 1,500 meters.

In the hammer throw, Canton’s William Briggs finished third with a school record throw of 144 feet, six inches on his final throw in the finals. It enabled him to move up two spots.

In the boys 3,000 meter steeplechase, Canton had three competitors. Max Sparks led the way by taking 12th in 10:47.71 followed by Aidan O’Donnell (15, 10:53.27) and Cam Neeley (19, 11:01.67). Canton’s Zach Oliver was 15th in the 2,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 7:30.43.

Decathlon
Final results: 1. Mike Griffith, East Haven, 5,915, 2. Devin Shelton, Tolland, 5,662
Others: 14. John Solomon, Canton, 4,805; 16. Cam Lange, Canton, 4,628

Day 1 events
100: 5. John Solomon, Canton, 11.53, 11. Dustin Van Kirk, Canton, 11.79, 28. Cameron Lange, Canton 12.12
Long jump: 5. Lange 19-4¼, 10. Van Kirk 19-0½, 15. Solomon 18-5¾
Shot: 21. Van Kirk 32-0, 30. Lange 30-2 ¾, 51. Solomon 22-5¼
High jump: t3. Solomon 5-10, t3. Lange 5-10, 17. Van Kirk 5-4 ¼
400: 15. Solomon 54.46, 23. Van Kirk 56.09, 34. Lange 57.68

Day 2 events
110 hurdles: 2. Solomon 15.43, 6. Van Kirk 16.81, 19. Lange 18.79
Discus: 9. Van Kirk 89-09, 22. Solomon 75-07, 25. Lange 74-02
Pole vault: 18. Solomon 8-6¼, 18. Lange 8-6¼. Van Kirk, no height
Javelin: 18. Lange 116-04, 28. Van Kirk 86-0, 30. Solomon 78-05
1,500: 18. Lange 5:14.52, 21. Solomon 5:26.66, Van Kirk, injured

Heptahlon
Final results: 1. Kenya Warner, Windsor, 4,007; 2. Jasmine Grey, Naugatuck, 3,850
Others: 12. Carly Carpino, Avon, 3,367; 42. Kayley Douglea, Avon, 1,564, 54. Kaleigh Sherman, Avon, 1,306.

Day 1 events
100 hurdles: 24. Carly Carpino, Avon, 17.70, 27. Hayley Douglas, Avon, 17.88, 59. Kaleigh Sherman, Avon, 23.29
High jump: 20. Carpino 4-6¼, 25. Sherman, 4-4¼, 48. Douglas, 4-0½
Shot: 24. Carpino 28-8¼, 31. Sherman 22-7¾, 48. Douglas 19-8¾
200: 5. Carpino 27.11, 43. Sherman 30.45, 43. Douglas 30.45

Day 2 events
Long jump: 5. Carpino 16-1
Javelin: 5. Carpino 73-0
800: 27. Carpino 2:52.21