The Darien Times

Wave way ahead of the pack in race for East crown

Written by Steven Buono
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 11:58 AM

Boys Indoor Track

With 177.5 points, Darien High won the FCIAC East boys indoor track title, running a mile out ahead of rival New Canaan in second with 116 at Wilton on Jan. 27.

“I knew we could win big at the FCIAC East meet if all our guys did what they’re capable of,” said Darien coach Tyson Kaczmarek. “And that’s exactly what happened. The other coaches and I are really proud of the team, and happy that their hard work and dedication has paid off.

“We couldn’t be happier to have the FCIAC East title back.”

The Wave was edged by the Rams for the same medal in 2011 and set out to reverse the finish from the start of the season.

Wilton was third with 98.5 points, Fairfield Warde next with 62 points.

Darien had strong performances across the board, with highlights including wins in the 4x225 relay, three pole vaulters tying for second, and a 1-2-3 sweep in the 45M dash.

Its distance runners, jumpers and throwers also led their fields.

The DHS 4x225 team of C.J. Raia, Cameron Smith, Elliott Helgans and Corey Eppley had a time of 1:54.88, for a top finish.

Sweeping the 45 were sprinters co-captain Corey Eppley (5.93), Spencer McMullin (5.95) and Nicholas Lombardo (5.98).

Co-captain Matt Pik was second in the 600 (1:31.02), with co-captain Judson Bergman right behind in 1:31.42 for third place.

And the 300 also saw a strong finish for DHS.

Eppley ran a 39.07 for second, Pik finished close behind in 39.43 for fifth and McMullin was seventh in 40.54.

The Wave went 4-6 in the 1000, respectively, with Brian Davey posting a 2:52.70, co-captain Michael Coe a 2:54.53 and Andrew Xiong 2:57.19.

Darien’s distance events were just as strong.

In the 1600, co-captain Michael Johnston placed second in 4:46, co-captain Charlie Baird came in third in 4:53, Brian Davey finished in 4:59 for sixth and Eli Converse was seventh in 5:11.

The story was the same in the 3200 with Darien runners crossing the line in a close 2-5 pack. Johnston ran a 10:43 for second, Coe 10:51 for third, Baird was fourth in 10:52 and Alex Ostberg fifth with a time of 10:53.

The Blue Wave also led in most of the field events. Three Darien pole vaulters tied for second: Will DeRocco, Windsor Hall and Nicholas Palmer all jumped 10-feet.

Two of the Wave’s high jumpers, Harlan Smith and Nicholas Lombardo, tied for second with 5-10 jumps, and C.J. Raia finished fifth with 5-08.

Lombardo also finished third in the long jump with 19-03.75.

Darien shot put finished well, with William Lochtefeld throwing 44-00 for second, Spencer McKeough fourth with a 39-09 throw and Reed Coots was seventh with 37-10.

The FCIAC Championship Meet is slated for 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Hillhouse High School in New Haven.

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