By Senior Correspondent Marty Ogden, Editing and Graphics by Ron Knapp

In honor of MySportsResults 25 years of covering Connecticut high school track and field and cross country, we continue our series of looking back at 25 of the best athletes over the past quarter of a century for the outdoor track and field season. 

We hope you enjoy this next segment of top 25 males who made an impact on our sport since the spring of 2013 that also includes those who made our honorable mention list. 

Additional segments will feature the list of the females who influenced the state’s outdoor track and field scene since 2000.

Henry Wynne, Staples, Class of 2013

Henry Wynne sped to several titles his last two years in high school winning the State Open titles in the 800m and 1600m events as well as a New England 1600m his junior year and the 800m title in his senior year in meet record time. Wynne broke the 32-year old state mile record (4:05.04) that helped earn him the Gatorade Athlete of the Year award.

Christian Alvarado, Fairfield Prep, Class of 2014

As a senior, Christian Alvarado won the 1600m and 3200m races at the State Open that followed his 3200m victories at the the Open and New England championships as a junior. Alvarado achieved earlier success as a sophomore when he won the CIAC 3000m steeplechase which he then improved upon with his 8th place finish in the 2k steeplechase at the 2014 New Balance Nationals in 6:03.44, a CT#9 time. At the same meet, Alvarado sped to victory in the 1-mile championship in 4:06.88 which is still ranks as a CT #5 ten years later.

Alex Ostberg, Darien, Class of 2015

Alex Ostberg is the current CT record holder for 3200m (8:43.93) and 5k (14:16.61) set in his senior year and as a junior broke the state record for 3k (8:20.14) which is still a CT #3 all time. As a senior Ostberg finished second in the 3200m at the Glenn Loucks Games to set the state record following his state record victory in the 5k at the New Balance Nationals in his junior year. In that same season, Ostberg was part of Darien’s Open winning 4x800 team and their DMR team that finished second at the NBNO meet. As a sophomore, he earned All State and All New England honors in the 3200m when he won the Class L race.

Eric van der Els, Brien McMahon, Class of 2016

As a senior Eric van der Els sped to the State Open and New England 1600m titles after sweeping the 3200m title at both meets in his junior year. van der Els performance at the Danbury Dream Invite broke the CT mile record with a clocking of 4:05.30 that was preceded by his victory at the Penn Relays in the 3000m in 8:20.11, breaking the CT 3k record. van der Els held the CT 2-mile record of 8:53.49 in the 2-mile set at the Brooks PR Invitational that helped earn him the Gatorade Athlete of the Year.

Mark Doyley, Weaver, Class of 2017

Mark Doyley was one of the most prolific champions in the 100m and 200m dashes as he won State Open 100m and 200m three consecutive years while adding four New England titles (100m-1, 200m-3). Doyley also sped to a seventh place at New Balance Nationals in the 200m in his junior year, achieved the CT #3 in the 200m time of 21.14 at the 2017 State Open and 5th fastest  in CT history in the 100m of 10.53 at the 2017 New England meet.

Justin Forde, Brien McMahon, Class of 2019

In his senior year, Justin Forde won the triple jump championship with a leap of 51-6.50 at the New Balance Nationals and then reset the state record with a mark of 52-10 at USATF U-20 Junior National Championships earning second place. Forde preceded those efforts by winning the State Open triple jump and long jump as well as a second place in the high jump. His junior year was marked by winning LL and Open titles in triple jump. Forde was awarded the Gatorade Athlete of the Year in his junior and senior years. In addition to his state record in the triple jump, Forde has the CT #3 mark in the long jump at 24-6.25 and his high jump of 7-feet in 2018 is tied for 7th all time. 

Nick Bendtsen, Wolcott, Class of 2021

Nick Bendtsen placed second at the 2021 Nike Outdoor Nationals 2-mile championship in 9:00.91 that followed on the heels of his winning time of 8:53.15 at the New York State Showcase 2-mile that is a CT #2 all time. In 2021 Bendtsen finished 2nd at the Open 1600m and 3rd in 3200m after he had run 8:53.33 for 3200m in early May. His 4:06.09 effort during 1600m at the 2021 State Open pushed Gavin Sherry to his 4:01.88 as they both went under Eric van der Els former state record. It is still the 2nd fastest time in state history. His previous best was from his victory at the earlier Dream Invite in 4:07.71.

Gavin Sherry, Conard, Class of 2022

Gavin Sherry dominated his era that was interrupted by the Covid pandemic. As a freshman, Sherry earned all New England honors in the 3200m that was followed by no competition during his sophomore year due to COVID. Sherry started his junior year in March where he challenged Hobbs Kessler at NSAF Meet of Champions with 300m to go in the 3200m in an exciting race where he finished in 8:57.67. His solo effort during a dual meet in the 3200m netted him an 8:47.20 that remains as a CT#3 all time performance. Sherry then proceeded to set the state record in the 1600m at the State Open in 4:01.88 which he followed with an 8:59.80 in the 3200m. He concluded his season with a 3rd place at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in the 1-mile in 4:07.20. His performances earned him the Gatorade Athlete of the Year. Sherry holds the fastest time of 8:19.21 in the 3000m from the fall of 2020 in an open track meet in New York. His senior year was curtailed by injury where he finished to anchor Conard’s 4x800m team that set their school record of 8:04.51 at the State Open.

Aidan Puffer, Manchester, Class of 2022

Over the course of four years, Aidan Puffer enjoyed a great rivalry with Gavin Sherry that helped him achieve record performances. It was in his senior year that Puffer acheived his greatest achievements culminating in a 3rd place finish in the New Balance Nationals 2-mile race with a time of 8:52.04, which broke Nick Bendtsen’s year old CT record. Earlier in the season, Puffer travelled to the prestigious Arcadia Invitational in California where he finished 5th in the 3200m with a time of 8:46.48, the 2nd fastest time in state history. As a senior at the State Open he won both the the 1600m (4:10.83) and the 3200m (9:09.60). Puffer arrived on the high school with an age group 5k record and broke proceeded to set the 9th grade US record at the CT Distance Festival, running a time of 14:47.66.

Gary Moore Jr., Hillhouse, Class of 2022

While the term GOAT is used frequently there is no doubt that Gary Moore Jr. is the greatest CT thrower of all time. As a senior, Moore won the State Open in the shot, discus, javelin and hammer throws that followed his junior season where he won the shot and discus plus scored in the other two throws. Moore even won the Class MM championships in the shot and discus his freshman year. Moore broke the CT state record in the shot with a toss of 66-4.25 at the SCC West Sectional followed by setting the state discus record of 192-10 at the Class L meet. Moore also holds the 2nd best mark in CT history in the hammer throw at 211-0. Moore also earned All American status at the New Balance Nationals in the discus and hammer throw his senior year after placing 7th in the shot put his junior year. Moore was awarded the Gatorade Athlete of the Year.

Joshua Mooney, Stonington, Class of 2023

Joshua Mooney was the dominating State Open champion in the 110m hurdles, 300m hurdles and the javelin that he followed with a New England 110m hurdles title and placed second in the javelin. Mooney further demonstrated his all around talents as he won the CIAC decathlon title with 6,680 points, the most scored in 37 years. Mooney finished his senior season with the New Balance Nationals championship title in the 110m hurdles as he sped to a state record time of 13.48. Mooney earned the Gatorade Athlete of the Year for his accomplishments his senior year. 

Honorable Mention

DISTANCE

Andre Laboy, 2002, Danbury - All American NE champ Gatorade AOY Former 5k record holder 

Ahmed Haji, 2003, Conard - 2 x Open 3200m champ, Gatorade AOY, 1st boy under 9 min for 2-mile

Adam Vess. 2007, Xavier - 2 x Open champ, Nike Outdoor Nationals Champion, broke meet record 

Willie Ahearn, 2008, Danbury - Open and NE 1600m Champ, All American in DMR and 4 x 800m

Trey Cormier, 2019, Hall - State Open 1600m champ, All American DMR, 3kSC record holder

Robbie Cozean, 2020, Xavier -  NBNO 5000m champ, Open 3200m champ, All American DMR

Callum Sherry,  2022, Conard - 3rd fastest 1600m time in CT history, 2nd Open and NE

Alex Korczynski, 2018, Windham - 4th at NBNO 2 miles, All NE 1600 and 3200, won CIAC 3k SC

JUMPS

Tim Murphy, 2012, New Fairfield - State Open Champ and CT PV record holder at 16-3.50

Chris Rough, 2015, Westhill - PV Open champ and record holder, #2 all time 16-ft 

Joseph Fogarasi, 2015, Windham - 3 x New England PV champ

Safir Scott, 2017, Greenwich - State Open LJ and HJ champ, 3rd NBNO in HJ

Chet Ellis, 2019, Staples - 2 x Open HJ champ, broke CT record 7-0.5 Now #3

Sean Dixon-Bodie, 2020 Bloomfield - Gatorade AOY, Open & NE TJ 2nd, NBNO 5th, missed senior year due to Covid

SPRINTS/ HURDLES

Jermelle Lewis, 2000, Bloomfield - 2 x Open and NE 100m champ,Gatorade AOY

Michael Ramos, 2001,Bridgeport Central - Fastest 100HH, 300IH and 400IH in 25 years

James Nixon, 2006, Hyde Leadership - Open 100m, 200m champ 2 years, 2x NE 100m champ

Terrell Wilks, 2007, Hillhouse - Gatorade AOY, 100m and 200 Champ 

Damon Vega, 2015, Windham Tech - All New England, 3 years, Won 110 and 300H SR year

Elijah Young, 2016, Wethersfield - Open 400 2nd in 200m, NE runner up, 6th at NBNO

Edward Williams, 2019, Sacred Heart Waterbury - 2 x State Open 110HH champ, won NBNO EE in 110HH

Matthew Gibbs, 2022, Hillhouse - 2 x State Open 300IH champ, #7 CT All Time in 300IH, 400IH

THROWS

Ben Latham,  2008, Fitch - Gatorade AOY, former state Jav record, Open and NE champion

Matt Graziano, 2013, Canton - 2 x Open and New England discus champ

Jordan Davis, 2020, Sheehan - Open champ, 2nd at NE, missed senior year due to Covid

Make sure to visit soon to view the top 25 outdoor track and field female athletes since 2000 that will also include an honorable mention list.

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