Xavier boys, Mercy girls claim Southern Connecticut Conference indoor track championships

NEW HAVEN - The Xavier boys and Mercy girls won Southern Connecticut Conference indoor track titles Saturday at the Floyd Little Athletic Center.

Xavier claimed its fourth SCC boys crown in five seasons, and eighth overall, with 70 points. Hamden and Lyman Hall tied for second with 58, and Amity was third at 57.

Mercy won their first SCC girls title since 2016, and third overall, with 77 points. Hillhouse was second (62) and Hamden third (48.5).

Consistency was the key for Mercy, according to head coach Matthew Conyers, who has been leading the program since 2019 and credited alumni for laying the foundation for success.

"We're as balanced and as deep as we've ever been," Conyers said. "I think that's the strength of us this year. In years past, we might have had a lot of mid-distance athletes or we had a lot of distance athletes."

Xavier head coach Chris Stonier has had a lot of success during his tenure, but said that his team simply getting the job done is what makes him the most pleased.

"Kids ask me about the special moments I remember, and I say that it's really hard to think because a lot of these championships are won when everybody just does what they need to do," Stonier said. 

4x400 Boys Thriller

Going into the final event of the meet - the 4x400 relay, Xavier held a five-point advantage over Hamden. Winning the race would clinch the crown, and the Falcons delivered thanks to performances from Brendan Russ and Zander Laudati.

Going into the third leg of the race, Hamden had the lead, but on the first stretch of the second lap, Russ passed the Green Dragons' Travon Council to give Laudati the lead for the final leg.

"On that final [200 meters], I was on [Council], and I knew I could get him after the curve, so after that curve, I just sprinted as fast as I could and let my training do the rest," Russ said.

Hamden's Vill-Andre Harris attempted to do what Russ did, putting pressure on Laudati on the final lap. However, the Xavier freshman held on for the victory and was mobbed by his teammates in celebration.

"I really wanted to show up for my team and make a difference, and I think I did that," Laudati said.

Scarfo, Wasiolek, Roberts Pace Mercy

Mercy had good showings from sophomore Cora Wasiolek, junior Madelyn Scarfo and senior Sarah Roberts.

Roberts won the 600 with a season-best time of 1:36.64 and the 1,600 with a season-best 5:15.47.

"Time and time again, we can ask [Roberts] to do a lot, no matter what she's facing, and she always delivers for her team," Conyers said.

Scarfo won the high jump with a personal-best 5 feet, 2 inches, and finished second in the 1,600 sprint medley with teammates Molly Mones, Heather Meisinger and Beatrice Perrault in a time of 4:33.26. 

"[In the high jump], I cleared 5-2, which is what I was trying to do for a while," Scarfo said. "There was a lot of support [from my teammates] and I stayed super positive."

Wasiolek won the 1,000 with a personal-best 3:07.12. She ran another personal best in the 3,200 for a second-place time of 11:25.08.

"I was definitely nervous before my races, but I knew what I had to do," Wasiolek said.  "I knew what points I needed to score, and I was just glad that [we were able to medal]."

Top Performers

Guilford's Kaylin Diglio and Lyman Hall's Aaron Rich were named the championship meet's most outstanding performers. 

Diglio won the 55 hurdles in 8.76 and the pole vault with a height of 11 feet. Rich took top honors in the 300 (34.81) and won the long jump with an SCC meet record of 24 feet, 4 ½ inches.

Other Standouts

Xavier's Michael Fusaro, Landon Rubano, Jackson Gould, and Peter Torello won the 4x800 with a time of 8:19.07.

The Falcons also won the 1,600 sprint medley with a season-best 3:42.99 from the foursome of John Simpson, Justin Torres, Russ and Xavier Laudati.

Stonier was happy for his team's success, particularly his seniors. 

"That's three conference championships in four years (for the seniors)," Stonier said.  "This is a senior group that's never lost a class championship yet."

Conyers praised his team for their continued improvement throughout the season.

"From the first practice to today, this team has always brought the right mix of spirit and focus, and they have always understood the opportunities in front of them," Conyers said.  "I was proud to see them continue to come together today as a group."

SCC Indoor Track Championships 

BOYS
Team scores: 1. Xavier 70; 2. Hamden 58; 2. Lyman Hall 58; 4. Amity 57; 5. Hillhouse 32; 6. Sheehan 31; 7. Daniel Hand 29; 8. North Haven 23; 8. West Haven 23; 10. East Haven 18; 11. Guilford 16; 12. Shelton 15; 13. Fairfield Prep 10; 14. Notre Dame 8; 14. Wilbur Cross 8; 16. Cheshire 5.
Individual winners
55-Justus Richardson (West Haven), 6.43
55 hurdles-Scott Aminawung (Sheehan), 8.03
300-Aaron Rich (Lyman Hall), 34.81
600-Mahkai Heyward (Hillhouse), 1:25.39
1,000-Alexander Medina (Hamden), 2:34.30
1.600-Luke Cushing (Amity), 4:24.49
3,200-Luke Cushing (Amity), 9:42.44
Long jump-Aaron Rich (Lyman Hall), 24-4.50 (SCC meet record)
High jump-Ethan Rich (Lyman Hall), 6-8
Shot put-Cameron Saunders (Hamden), 50-1.25
Pole vault-Sean Arms (Daniel Hand), 15-00
4x200-Fairfield Prep (Jeremiah Langston, Theo Rudolph, Brody Sommers, Jackson Pinzon), 1:32.14
4x400-Xavier (John Simpson, Justin Torres, Brendan Russ, Zander Laudati), 3:31.48
4x800-Xavier (Michael Fusaro, Landon Rubano, Jackson Gould, Peter Torello), 8:19
1,600 sprint medley-Xavier (John Simpson, Justin Torres, Brendan Russ, Xavier Laudati), 3:42.99

GIRLS

Team Scores: 1. Mercy 77; 2. Hillhouse 62; 3. Hamden 48.5; 4. Amity 45; 5. Sacred Heart Academy 44; 6. Guilford 35.5; 7. Lyman Hall 23.5; 8. Sheehan 21; 9. Shelton 18.5; 10. Foran 16; 11. Wilbur Cross 12; 11. North Haven 12; 11. Daniel Hand 12; 14. West Haven 10; 14. Jonathan Law 10; 16. Career 6; 17. Cheshire 4; 17. Lauralton Hall 4.
Individual winners
55-Shanez De Roche (Hamden), 7.21
55 hurdles-Kaylin Diglio (Guilford), 8.76
300-Amaira Trayham (Wilbur Cross), 40.75
600-Sarah Roberts (Mercy), 1:36.64
1,000-Cora Wasiolek (Mercy), 3:07.12
1,600-Sarah Roberts (Mercy), 5:15.47
3,200-Annecy Vlieks (Daniel Hand), 11:03.78
High jump-Madelyn Scarfo (Mercy), 5-2
Long jump-Nyasia Taylor (Hillhouse), 17-01
Pole vault-Kaylin Diglio (Guilford), 11-00
Shot put-Alexandria McWatters (Foran), 37-06
4x200-Hamden  (Megan Stallworth, Mariah Drake, Shanez DeRoche, Chyle Bond), 1:47.76
4x400-Hillhouse (Darea Vargas, Briana Thompson, Riley Mckiver, Deanna Moore), 4:13.44
4x800-Sacred Heart Academy (Makenzie Spooner, Sally Banks, Abigail Chang, Camilla Murphy), 10:12.71
1600 sprint medley-Lyman Hall (Mary Magno, Sadie Tierney, Isabelle Champagne, Angelica Gournaris), 4:28.63

This article originally published at Xavier boys, Mercy girls claim Southern Connecticut Conference indoor track championships.