70+ Ready for North Branford Indoor Track Season

The North Branford High School indoor track program enters its seventh season with more than 70 athletes signed up. Captains Rachel Boyers, Matt Edwards, Jordan Miket, Bobby Miller, Rocco Morgan and Ryan Proto will lead the team, hoping to fill the shoes of 2012 graduates Sarah McDonald, Robert Martino, Jessica Wharton, Bernie Cermola, Joe Griskauskas, Connor Healy, Cory Onofrio, Christian Perrotti, Jordan Rippe, Kevin Walker, Miranda Jassil, Alexis Johnson and Stephanie Sileo.

“Not only are the captains highly skilled and experienced in their own events but they also have the ability to teach their skills to the first year athletes on the team.” said Coach Floyd Parness. “We now have a carryover from last year’s team in addition to the captains that will help the new kids on the team which will be very beneficial in the overall team’s development.”

Key returnees on the boys’ side expected to make an impact in the Shoreline Conference are Edwards (4x800, 600, 4x400), Gary Falanga (4x200, 4x400, 300), Miller (300, 600, 4x200), Proto (300,600, 4x400, 4x800), Morgan (Shot Put), Zach Augur (4x800, SMR and 1000), Sean O’Connor (4x800, SMR, 1000, long jump), Alex Raffone (4x800, 4x400, 300), Jason Conforte (3200, 4x800), Andrew Sarmento (4x200, 300, 55), Bryce Mase (1000, 4x400, 4x800) and Jim Griskauskas (Shot Put).

Girls who are expected to compete for points in the Shoreline are Boyers (55 Hurdles, 4x200) Long Jump), Jordan Miket (SMR, High Jump, 4x200, 300), Emmy Dulak (4x800, 4x400, 600), Rachel Sokoloff (55, 55 Hurdles, 4x200), Sara Olsen (4x200, 300), Leah Martino (55, SMR, 4x200), Katie Stevens (4x200, 4x400, SMR), Melissa Agro (Shot Put) and Jamie Rippe (Shot Put).  

“Our goal this year is to continue on the road of establishing a tradition at the high school for both the boys’ and girls’ indoor track team and be competitive in the Shoreline Conference as well as in states,” said Parness.

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Shoreline Developmental Meet: Dec. 12

The T-Birds competed in the Shoreline Developmental Meet on Dec. 12 at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven, posting several first-place finishes.

The 4x400 team of Edwards, Proto, Mase and Raffone placed first with a time of 3:44.5, while Morgan was victorious in the shot put with a throw of 43-3.

In the 55-meter dash, Sarmento came in fourth (6.9), while Conforte was ninth in the 1,600 (5:02.6). O’Connor placed ninth in the long jump (16-10 ½) and Griskauskas was 19th in the shot put (31-8).

The 4x800 A team of Augur, Isaac Cammarata, Conforte and Edwards was fifth (9:32), while the B team of Proto, Chris Kruglik, O’Connor and Mase placed eighth (9:42). The 4x200 team of Sarmento, Scott Raffone, Michael Cermola and Will Coleman came in at 1:49.7, while the SMR team of Mase, Sarmento, Alex Raffone and O’Connor came in fourth at 4:13.1. 

For the girls, the 4x800 team of Marissa Bale, Emmy Dulak, Holly Dulak and Maggie Dulak placed third (11:05.8) and the 4x200 team of Miket, Boyers, Sara Olsen and Katie Stevens placed fifth (2:02.2). The SMR Relay Team of Marissa Bale, Jen Levine, Jordan Miket and Katie Stevens placed fifth (5:09.5). The 4x400 team of Emmy Dulak, Holly Dulak, Maggie Dulak and Catie Moran came in fourth (4:42). 

In the 55-meter hurdles, Boyers placed fourth (9.3) and Catie Moran placed 10th (10.6). Boyers was ninth in the long jump (13-10) and Miket took fifth in the high jump (4-4).

New Haven Invitational: Dec. 14

North Branford competed against many of the state’s top track programs from throughout the state The boys qualified and entered three relays and one individual event. The girls qualified and entered two individual events and one relay. 

For the girls, Boyers made it to the finals in the 55-meter hurdles, tying for fifth (9.4). In her first Invitational, Emmy Dulak was fifth in the 800 (2:31.37). On the boys’ side, Morgan was ninth in the shot put (40-3) followed by Griskauskas in 20th (31-5).

“With their performances, both Rachel and Rocco have now qualified for the Class S State Championship at this early stage in the season,” said Parness.

The boys’ 4x400 team of Edwards, Proto, Alex Raffone and Mase also qualified for states with a  time of 3:49.64, good for ninth place. The 4x800 team of Proto, Edwards, Conforte and O’Connor was 14th (9:10.72) and the DMR Relay Team of Augur, O’Connor, Conforte and Mase finished 13th (12:19.18). The girls’ 4x200 team of Miket, Stevens, Moran and Jess Zumbo placed 17th (2:01.45).