Greenwich boys, girls capture FCIAC indoor track and field championships in New Haven

NEW HAVEN - The Greenwich boys and girls indoor track and field teams were both winners at the FCIAC championships Thursday night at the Floyd Little Athletic Center. 

The boys won with 112 points, with Danbury next at 66. The girls finished with 116 points, ahead of second-place New Canaan's 65.

"I think [the girls team] won all four relays, so it was really a team effort," Greenwich girls head coach Peter Watson said.

Watson also credited second- and third-place finishes that contributed to the team's success.

Cardinals boys head coach Christopher Wallace said the mentality of his athletes coming into the season has really started to pay off.

"This year is like a culmination of a lot of years of hard work for this team, and they all believe in each other and have each other's backs," Wallace said.  

Greenwich Dominates Relays

Greenwich's 4x200 boys relay squad of Jack Hannafin, David Boside, Daniel Silver and Alexander Yu started the meet by winning in a season-best time of 1:32.35. 

Yu was also part of the 1,600 sprint medley that finished second with a season-best time of 3:45.85, and the 4x400 that finished third in 3:36.71. 

He was happy with his effort.

"This is the best," Yu said. "Last year, I missed my FCIAC time just barely. This year, I'm back. I'm so much better and so much more prepared."  

The Cardinals' 4x800 of Michael Yardis, Oliver Eaton, Benjamin Hayes and Ryan Newcomb won gold with a season-best time of 8:16.45.

On the girls side, Greenwich swept the relays thanks to standout performances from Riley Barber and Eliana Daplyn. Barber was on the 4x200 with Nina Silver, her twin sister Ella Barber and Chloe Culver, and the foursome finished with a season-best time of 1:45.15.

"I'm really proud of my teammates," Riley Barber said. "Our team is really well-rounded, and I'm just really proud of all of them. They all did really well."

Barber was also on the winning 1,600 sprint medley team, along with Daplyn, who was a member of the 4x400 with Gemma Hardwick, Chloe Culver, Margaret McCooe that took gold in a time of 4:09.64.

The 4x400 got interesting in the third leg when McCooe sensed that she was being passed by another runner. She looked back twice and decided to make her move, which ultimately paid off.

"The runner was right next to me, and I was going to let her pass, and then maybe try to [pass by her] then, but then I just decided to sprint the last [stretch of the race]," McCooe said. 

Other standouts

Although the relays were where the Cardinals took command of the meet, they also had victories elsewhere.

Ryan Newcomb won the boys 600 in 1:24.79, and Jacob Mobley won the shot put with a meet record of 51 feet, and a half-inch.

Hardwick won the girls 600 in 1:38.45, and Daplyn claimed the 1,000 in 2:58.40.

Both Greenwich coaches were proud of what they saw, and are expecting more good results next Saturday in states.

"We're gonna get ready for the CIAC Class LL championship," Watson said.  "We've got a little bit of time to rest. We worked really hard today. We're excited to try and go in and do something special."

FCIAC indoor track and field championships

Boys team results: 1. Greenwich 112; 2. Danbury 66; 3. Ridgefield 42.5; 4. Brien McMahon 36; 5. Darien and Fairfield Warde 34; 7. New Canaan 31; 8. Trumbull 23; 9. Wilton 18; 10. Fairfield Ludlowe 17; 11. Staples 14.5; 12. Westhill 14; 13. Norwalk 9; 14. Bridgeport Central 8; 15. St. Joseph 6.

Girls team results: 1. Greenwich 116; 2. New Canaan 65; 3. Fairfield Ludlowe 55; 4. Ridgefield and Staples 48; 6. Brien McMahon 46; 7. Fairfield Warde 22; 8. Wilton 18; 9. Trumbull 16; 10. Darien 11; 11. Bridgeport Central and Danbury 7; 13. St. Joseph 5; 14. Norwalk 1. 

This article originally published at Greenwich boys, girls capture FCIAC indoor track and field championships in New Haven.