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

The 2025 CIAC Boys State Open Outdoor Track and Field Championship has arrived. On Saturday morning (field: 9:30am, track: 10am) the top teams and individuals will descend to Veterans Park in Willow Brook Park in New Britain to compete against the best in the state from each class meet. In addition to the team competition, athletes are seeking to become State Open champions in individual events as well as finishing in the top six places in order to qualify for the New England Championships back in New Britain next Saturday. Many are also chasing a new personal record or a season best. MSR takes a look at some of the top contenders in the chase for the individual and team titles. 

Team Competition

To win a State Open championship you usually need to cover several events with top flight athletes who step up on the day. Usually after the Class meets, one or two teams separate themselves from the pack with a couple of other teams with an outside shot. This year, there are at least six teams with a legitimate chance at scoring 30 points. It normally takes at least 50 points, but based on seeds this year it shouldn’t take that much. Hamden, Bloomfield, Bethel, Bunnell, and East Lyme are all projected to score over 30 points while Daniel Hand and Norwich Free Academy aren’t far behind. Many of these teams will go head to head against each other in the sprint and relays or field events, so if one team moves up one place from their seed, it just might mean a rival falls back a spot, which could be a four point swing. A tenth of a second and an inch might be all that is needed for one of these teams to raise the plaque at the end of the meet while the others watch the victory lap. 

ENTRIES AND LIVE RESULTS

MEET RECORDS

Individual Track Events

100m

State Open Record: 10.45 Jacob Volkerts, Lyme-Old Lyme 2024

Top Returner: Luke Richardson, 10.70 Bethel

This entire year, Bunnell’s Jayson Vanterpool and Luke Richardson of Bethel have been going back and forth trading championships and state leading times from the 55m indoors to the 100m and 200m this spring. While helpful gusts of wind have inflated their season bests, make no mistake… both boys are fast. Inserting himself into the mix is fellow senior Jack Davis of Fairfield Prep, who didn’t didn’t even score in his conference or class meet last year. He has greatly improved this year, winning the Class LL title and also running the third fastest time in CT this year. 

200m

State Open Record: 20.86 Glenn McFadden, Hillhouse, New Haven 2001

Top Returner: Luke Richardson, 21.69 Bethel

The 200m is always a fickle event. Most of the top athletes are coming back from either the 400m or 100m, and they meet in the middle. People always argue whether speed or strength is more important, but guessing that is what we will find out on Saturday. Portland’s Samuel LaMalfa is entered as the top seed from his Class S win and the state’s fastest time of 21.14 from the Shoreline Conference Championship. But, Bethel’s Richardson ran a legal wind 21.30 at the SWC meet where he was pushed by his rival Vanterpool. Davidson could certainly make New Englands in both events if things go his way. 

400m

State Open Record: 46.59 Jerome Young, Prince Tech, Hartford 1995

Top Returner: Brenan McCabe, 47.72 Immaculate

Everyone loves a good comeback story. Brenan McCabe was the heir apparent last year, battling in one of the deepest 800m races in state history to take 4th at last year’s State Open in the #13 CT all time performance. But an injury during soccer season took him out of indoor track and he wasn’t in peak form at the beginning of the season. However, finishing 2nd to LaMalfa at the Class S championships shows he is rounding his way into shape. But LaMalfa is on fire right now and has already run the 47.22 at the Night of Speed Invitational which is the 5th fastest time in state history. Daniel Hand’s Matthew Petersen is probably still high over his team’s win at the Class MM, and comes in as the 3rd seed. Fans should also look out for Bloomfied’s Jahiem Lawrence, who stepped up for the team and ran the 4x800m before his 400m at the Class S meet. He has already run a 48.56 to win the CCC meet a week before. 

800m

State Open Record: 1:50.58 Ryan Farrell, Cheshire 2021

Top Returner: Thomas Conklin, 1:53.72 Lyman Hall

This could be a replay of last year’s 800m at the State Open. The defending champion and owner of the state’s fastest time this season, Thomas Conklin, is seeded 10th and unless there is a scratch, he will once again be relegated to the second heat. The challenge Conklin will face is that he is at his best when he is racing other people, and has had some fantastic finishes going head to head. If someone else from his heat steps it up, this could be a real nail biter. The 3rd heat features top seed Alex Medina of Hamden who ran the state’s 2nd fastest time of the season to win the Class LL championships and will face New Britain’s Yendri Ruiz once again. Ridgefield’s Charles Lovett and Class M’s Dylan Bathrick could contend for the title as well. 

1600M 

State Open Record: 4:01.88 Gavin Sherry Conard, West Hartford 2021

Top Returner: Owen Martin, 4:20.06 Xavier 

Xavier’s Owen Martin has been a fixture among the state’s elites since he won the Class L meet as a sophomore in cross country. While he has had his ups and downs the past three years, he has always been in the mix of any race he has run. He is the top returner from last year and despite having a stress fracture being diagnosed with a stress fracture at the end of indoor track season, has round his way back into PR shape. He will of course face his teammate, Jack Ouellette who between the two of them have rewritten the Xavier school record board in many events. Both should be in the fast heat along with Ridgefield’s Magnus Manley who is making a rare appearance in an individual event after running on the New England record 4x800m team and the New Balance Nationals Outdoor runner up DMR team last year. He has already run a 4:10 for the mile and if he chooses to race on Saturday, should be very dangerous over the last lap. But we shouldn’t overlook top seed Sam Leone of East Lyme who won New Englands during indoor track or Woodstock’s Christian Menounos who chased Leone at the Class MM meet and comes in as the 2nd seed. 

3200m

State Open Record: 8:59.80 Gavin Sherry, Conard, West Hartford 2021

Defending Champion Jack Ouellette, 9:15.44 Xavier 

The defending State Open champion Jack Oullette is dangerous if he is with the leaders at the bell. He has time and time again proven that he has the most usable speed on the last lap and has often lingered in the pack and won with a last lap furious kick. Junior Luke Cushing of Amity was State Open runner up in cross country and is the top seed seeded based upon his close victory over Hall’s Jonah Schulman at the Class LL championship. Sean McCauley of East Lyme was the State Open runner-up this winter and third last year in this event. Don’t overlook Oxford’s Joseph DeLuise who likes to go hard from the gun and should set up a fast pace. 

110M Hurdles

State Open Record: 13.58 Joshua Mooney, Stonington 2023

Top Returner: Delante Senior, 14.40 Bloomfield

There have been 18 boys who have already gone under 15 seconds this season and two are under 14 which has only happened five times. To say this season has been historic for the hurdles is an understatement. East Hartford’s Davian Johnson leads the field with a season best of 13.75 and a Class LL meet record time of 13.87. He will face Bloomfield’s Delante Senior who broke the Class S record with his time of 14.10. He previously went under 14 seconds to win CCCs. William Gibson won Class L in 14.39 and juniors Jaylen Estrella of East Hartford and Danbury’s Rysaiah Saunders went 2-3 in the incredibly deep Class LL race.

300M Hurdles

State Open Record: 37.58 Samuel Forte, Xavier, Middletown 2024

Top Returner: Javon Stigler, 39.67 Stafford

There is going to be a battle of the titans in the 300m on Saturday. East Hartford’s Davian Johnson put up a state leading 38.11 to win his 2nd gold medal at the Class LL championships, then later that day Coginchaug’s Charles Dalles ran the exact same time to break the Class S record. Top returner Javion Stigler and Johnson’s teammate Emmanuel Frimpong have also broken into the top 20 all time for CT hurdles. 

4x100m Relay

State Open Record: 41.16 Windsor 2024

Defending Champion: Windsor 41.16

Windsor broke their own State Open record last year running a 41.16, nearly a half second improvement on their time from 2013. They were pushed by Danbury who also broke 42 seconds. This year Bunnell became the 5th school from CT to break 42 seconds, crossing the line in 41.98. Greenwich, Windsor and Fairfield Prep are within three tenths of a second so anyone who gets the baton safely around the track should have a shot. Danbury’s Machai Henry pulled up during the finals of the 100m, so while they are seeded to be in the fastest heat, they are questionable if they will run. 

4x400m Relay

State Open Record: 3:17.30 Prince Tech 1992

Defending Champion: Windsor 3:19.06

Incredibly, Prince Tech still has the State Open meet record for the past 33 years. Last year Daniel Hand chased Windsor to the line and both broke 3:20 for the relay. This year Hand and New Britain have gone under that mark along with Hamden who has the top seed of 3:19.28 from winning the Class LL title. Since just about everyone will be running on tired legs, the team that has the most desire will come out on top. 

4x800m Relay

State Open Record: 7:35.68 Ridgefield 2024

Defending Champion: Ridgefield

Ridgefield simply crushed the meet record last year, running eight seconds faster than the old record. This year the Tigers have the state lead once again from their 7:45.94 time from the Loucks Games but they did not qualify for the Open. But five teams qualified for the Open and broke eight minutes, led by Norwich Free Academy. But the 4x800m is a funny event because teams often add someone new into the lineup for the Open and the others always seem to run faster with the added contemption. 

Shot Put

State Open Record: 61-01.5 Andre Reid, South Windsor 2001

Defending Champion: Chris Amy, Norwich Free Academy 60-03

Expect the meet record to be challenged with the return of last year's top three medalists, all seeded higher than Andre Reid's 2001 winning throw. Defending champion Chris Amy of Norwich Free Academy (62-2.25) aims to retain his title against ECC rival Tom Matlock of East Lyme (62-10), who enters undefeated as the top seed, while Marshall Potter of Simsbury looks to secure his first open gold medal. The trio are all ranked in the top seven on the CT all time list behind the state record of 66-4.25 set by Hillhouse’s Gary Moore in 2022.

Discus

State Open Record: 188-07 Gary Moore Jr., Hillhouse 2021

Defending Champion: Chris Amy, Norwich Free Academy 159-09

Though Marshall Potter of Simsbury holds the top seed, with an 11-foot advantage in seed marks over the next two competitors, the gold medal is far from guaranteed. The discus event, the first in this trio's competition on Saturday, is notoriously unpredictable. Factors like excessive adrenaline can lead to foul throws, a phenomenon seen in past meets. While Potter's personal record stands at 185-0, achieved at the Loucks Games in early May, he recently threw 182-5 to win the CCC event. Chris Amy, whose season-best of 170-2 came in a late April victory over Tom Matlock, and Matlock, whose 169-2 PR resulted in a win over Amy at the ECC championship, are strong contenders.

Javelin

State Open Record: 204-05, Ben Latham, Fitch 2008

Defending Champion: Thomas Bannon, Rockville 194-5

Thomas Bannon of Rockville, the reigning state champion, has been the season's top performer and aims to defend his title. With a seed mark of 197-4, Bannon boasts a personal record of 203-0 set in late April. His recent 202-11 victory at the NCCC championship suggests he's poised for another 200+ throw, possibly a meet record. Tim Cavrell from Haddam-Killingworth, the Class M champion at 173-1, and teammate Trevor Dixon, the Class M runner-up with a season-best 165-1, are expected to be his primary challengers.

High Jump

State Open: 7-0.5 Chet Ellis, Staples 2019

Top Returner: Camden Mazerolle E.O. Smith 6-02.0

Another fickle event is the high jump, where it will be one of the final events in the Open this year, as the boys will jump after the girls. While a few external factors could influence the results the largest impediment to achieving the winning height lies within the 6-inches between the ears of each competitor including top seed Brodie Scott of Waterford. Last year, Brodie didn’t even clear a height but this year he cleared 6-8 to win the ECC title and then won the Class M meet at 6-6. There are a flock of competitors wishing to soar higher including 5 who are seeded at 6-4 with the Class L champion Jayden Compton of Windsor as another who had cleared 6-8 this season. New Britain’s Zacharie Boisrond is on his home field and hopes to equal or better his Class LL title but will contend with LL rival David Akinnubi of Greenwich and Class MM titleist Michael Ohoua of Torrington. Jayden Compton of Bloomfield had a sub-par day to win the Class S title but brings his 6-7 best from the end of the regular season.

Pole Vault

State Open Record: 16-00 Chris Rough, Westhill 2015

Top Returner: Sean Horrigan, Westhill, 13-06

In the pole vault, Daniel Hand's Sean Arms, after finishing 7th and clearing 13-06 last year, has surged to the top seed at 14-6, demonstrating significant improvement. Close behind is Bethel's Devin Tran, seeded second, who has also climbed the ranks since his 15th place finish at 12-06 last year. The competition is fierce with several athletes entering at 14 feet, each a potential gold medalist. These include Bunnell's Ryan Gonzalez, the Class L indoor and outdoor champion with a personal best over 15 feet, Sheehan's MM champion Dylan Vazquez, Westhill's LL gold medalist Nate Elsner, and North Haven's MM medalist Jace Matthew.

Long Jump 

State Open Record: 24-04.50 Charles Beckford, West Haven 1993

Defending Champion: Oliver Guzy, Xavier 22-03.25

The Saturday morning long jump competition is anticipated to be highly competitive. Sophomore Patrick Lynch of Lyme-Old Lyme, holding the top seed with a jump of 22 feet, 5.5 inches, will compete against senior Oliver Guzy of Xavier, the reigning champion. Their recent performances, separated by less than 3 inches, indicate a very close contest. Additionally, Yhosman Moffi of Plainville, the Class M champion with a jump of 22 feet, and Michael Ahoua of Torrington, the indoor Open and New England champion, are expected to be strong contenders. This event is predicted to be exceptionally challenging.

Triple Jump

State Open Record: 50-04.50 Omari Braswell, Hartford Public 1995 

Top Returner: Jesse Singleton Jr., Bloomfield 46-3.25

Bloomfield's Jesse Singleton Jr., the reigning Class S champion, enters as the frontrunner in the field, boasting the season's best leap over 46 feet, a personal record of 47-5. His closest competition includes Class L champion Elias Brady of Newtown at 44-9.5, and Prince Tech's Damarion Wilson, who took the Class M title with a 44-1.25 jump.

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