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

Meet Info: Sunday June 1st, Field Events at 10:00 a.m, Running Events at 10:30 a.m.

The Entry Lists for the CIAC Class Championship Meets are available on Athletic Net:

CIAC Class L Girls Championship

CIAC Class L Boys Championship

LIVE RESULTS: https://live.nestiming.com/meets/48740

Boys Defending champions: Xavier    Runner up: Windsor

Girls Defending champions: Windsor Runner up: Hall

Boys Teams to Watch: Naugatuck, Windsor, Xavier

Girls Teams to Watch: Windsor, New Canaan, Naugatuck, Newtown, Wilton

Boys Events to watch:

The 2025 Class L outdoor track and field speed events will showcase new competitors following the graduation of most of last year's senior champions. The boys 100m features one of the state’s fastest with Bunnell’s Jayson Vanterpool in the top spot at 10.38 (that was wind-aided), where he has worked his way up the ladder since the previous competition. Ranking in 2nd and 3rd are Windsor’s Elijah Fraser (10.72), and Platt’s Robert Millette (10.74), respectively. Vanterpool is listed as number one in the 200m as well at 21.51, beating his own 2024 time of 21.94, and ahead of Windsor’s Sheldon Simpson II who is listed at 22.06. This competition in the 400m promises an excitingly close race, with Farmington’s Ethan Halstead at 48.57, Bunnell’s Kaiden Nalley at 48.60, and Naugatuck’s Jaiden Roach at 48.96. Stay tuned to watch who will emerge on top for this year’s sprint champions.

Look for those same top speedsters to figure in the duel for the 4x100m titles as top seeded Windsor, 2nd ranked Bunnell and 3rd ranked Platt try to move the baton quickly around the oval. Meanwhile Farmington will try to close the gap on Windsor to reverse the recent 4x400m CCC meet results that could determine the chase for the team title with Shelton and Naugatuck lurking closely behind in the seeds.

This year’s distance events are bringing back some strong athletes, with Soheib Dissa of Newtown (seeded at 4:11.61) returning to defend his title in the 1600m after his win last year at 4:10.75. However, Jack Ouellette of Xavier will likely make him fight for it, currently seeded at 4:12.68, with teammate Owen Martin right behind 4:14.57. A possible preview of the 3 was held Thursday night where they ran the 1-mile at Ridgefield's Nightmare Invite with Dissa clocking 4:09.94 for 1st followed by Martin in 5th (4:12.51) and Ouellette in 6th (4:17.39).  

Dissa is also seeded in the top spot for the 3200m at 8:51, while defending champion Ouelette and Martin follow at neck and neck times of 9:25.3 and 9:28.0, respectively. It will be interesting to see who runs what events with the State Open scheduled for the following Saturday. Fans should be sure to keep an eye on these three athletes as they battle one another for the top spots. 

Xavier’s Oliver Guzy is currently seeded in the long jump at 22-9, outscoring his last year’s win with a leap of 22-3.25. Holding on to his title may prove challenging, with Eliezer Pena listed at a matching mark to Guzy’s previous victory, at 22-3.25 as well. This year’s long jump will be an event to stay attuned for what is likely to be a tight competition.

Simbsbury’s Marshall Potter returns to the shot put with his sights set on dominating once again. Earning a victory last year with a mark of 56-4, Potter is currently seeded at an impressive 60-6; a throw that separates him from competitors by over 9 feet. Fans should keep note of Potter during this competition, who is poised to push new boundaries in this event. The Trojan earned All American honors in the shot put this winter and has developed into a national class discus thrower as well. He threw 185-0 to win the Loucks Games and went over 180 feet to win CCCs too. While it will be a stretch, Gary Moore’s Class L record of 192-10 is on his radar. 

With a notable win in last year’s triple jump by Bristol Central’s Nathanyel Davis (44-01), Elias Brady of Newtown currently ranks as number 1 coming into this year’s meet with a mark of 44-1. William Postell of Bristol Central ranks close behind at 44-5.5, and will surely fight hard to earn another triple jump victory for his team, and it will be an exciting event to watch unfold.

It is always great to watch athletes as they go from barely qualifying for the big meets to potential champions. Ryan Gonzalez of Bunnell went from a 10-6 pole vaulter last year and has made himself into a state class athlete who has already won the Class L title during the indoor season. He has already cleared 15 feet in the vault which is tied for 15th best in state history and still has a year to go even higher. 

Returning Defending Champion and Performances from last year

1600m - Soheib Dissa, Newtown - 4:10.75

3200m - Jack Ouellette, Xavier - 9:21.25

Long Jump - Oliver Guzy, Xavier - 22-03.25

Shot Put - Marshall Potter, Simsbury- 56-04.00

Triple Jump - Nathanyel Davis, Bristol Central - 44-01.00

Girls Events to Watch

Lauren Kropo of Naugatuck returns to the track as the reigning champion in both the 100m at 11.91, improving her previous winning time of 12 seconds, and 400m at 55.46 outscoring her own time of 56.66 once again. Kropo is also currently listed as #2 in the 200m (24.86) behind Kyra Mclean at 24.76. Paige Wilson of Windsor is known to be a strong competitor as last year’s 200m champion (25.37) and is currently entered at 25.28 right behind Kropo. Wilson also sits in the #2 spot for the 400m at 56.12, and will likely give Kropo a run for her money. 

Windsor will need all the points they can muster to hold off Naugatuck if they expect to defend their title from last year. Their recent success at the CCC championship portends for big points in the distance events as they are top seeded in the 4x800, 1600m with sub 5:00 Maya Donzella and the 800m with top seeds in Donzella and Evelyn Schwartz. Windsor also has the top seeds in the 100m hurdles with Jordyn Williams and with Tomari Gillespie in the 300m hurdles.

New Canaan’s Lauren Smith could lead her team to the title as the defending javelin champion, with a throw of 124-02 and is expected to dominate again, currently seeded in the number one spot (124-2.) Ranked #2 is Hall’s Madeline Peterson at 116-11, while Amity’s Cristel Miguel takes #3 with a throw of 112-5. Smith also takes her #1 rank in the discus throw (126-3) and the shot put (38-8.5). Spectators should be keeping an eye on New Canaan’s senior thrower as she shows her strength on the field and maybe helps her team to the title.  

Liliana Quill of Amity returns to the pole vault as last year’s victor having cleared 10-06, and is newly seeded at 11-6. Quill is sure to make this year’s event an exciting one, as she continues to reach new heights and shatter her own records.  

Returning Defending Champion and Performances from last year

100m - Lauren Kropo, Naugatuck - 12.00

200m - Paige Wilson, Windsor - 25.37

400m - Lauren Kropo, Naugatuck - 56.66

Javelin Throw - Lauren Smith, New Canaan - 124-02

Pole Vault - Liliana Quill, Amity - 10-06.00

View our Free Fan Guide for the 2025 CIAC Outdoor T&F Championships 

If you are not able to attend in person then you can view the any of the championship meets on a fee basis at the NFHS Network at https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/associations/ciac 

 Foss Running Camp

Will take place August 14-19, 2025 at Camp Wah Nee in Torrington, CT

Visit their website at fossrunningcamp.com for more information and to apply for 2025.