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02/12/2024 12:24 AMThe Branford boys’ and girls’ indoor track teams were represented quite well in the postseason at their conference and state title meets–showing the culmination of all their hard work since the beginning of the campaign.
At the SCC Championships on Feb. 3 at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven, the boys’ squad finished in a three-way tie for 12th out of 18 schools with eight points. The girls placed ninth, with a collective team tally of 24 points.
The girls did come away from the day with a conference crown in the running lanes. Junior Glorianna Buckley took tops for the 600 meters in a time of one minute and 43.21 seconds. Freshman Maddie Aguilar followed her in ninth (1:49.60, a personal best). In the 55 dash, senior Joelle Budz came away with a sixth-place showing in 7.5 seconds. Budz was then third for the 300 event, with a personal-best mark of 42.74 seconds, while Buckley finished eighth (also personal-best time of 43.72 ticks).
Additionally, senior Avery Clouse earned a personal best mark of 4 feet-10 inches to tie for second for the high jump. Junior Ella Stone also came in seventh with the long jump (16-3.5).
For the girls’ final standings, Cheshire and Shelton were declared co-champions after tallying 63 points apiece. Also, Hillhouse was third (with 48 points), Mercy finished fourth (42 points), Career saw fifth (41), sixth was Sheehan (31.5 points), Hand came in seventh (29), Sacred Heart Academy came in eighth (25 tallies), Amity was 10th (23.5 points), Guilford was 11th (17), Hamden was the 12th-place squad, as was West Haven (16 points each), Cross was 14th (14), Law came in 15th (six points), Foran was 16th (three), Lauralton Hall was 17th (two points), and North Haven finished 18th (one tally).
“We have a very strong nucleus of athletes, and we need to add to that group,” said girls’ squad Head Coach Kevin Connell. “The girls have made a commitment to the weight room and becoming better athletes, and it has paid off. Our captains in sprinters Joelle Budz and Chayse Gueco have done a great job keeping the girls focused throughout the season. Budz has been one of the top sprinters in the SCC for most of her career, and a valuable asset in relays. Gueco is a state qualifier in the 55 dash, and a reliable relay runner.”
Additionally in terms of in-season accomplishments for the girls, senior Lucy Moran set a school record in the 3200 in the first meet. Junior Djamilla Toukour was a state qualifier in the 55 and 300, along with the 4x400 relay. Aguilar emerged a state qualifier in the 600.
On the boys’ side at SCCs, the 4x400 relay team was ninth in three minutes and 48.13 seconds with Nathan McCall, Tyler Peterson, Ryan Andrus, and Peter DiStasio. The 4x800 grouping was 11th (9:31.94) with Noah Hauswirth, Mason Porras, Sam Coppola, and Nolan Weted. Also, senior captain Enaji Muhammad placed 10th for the long jump (19-6.75).
“Enaji Muhammad is an elite athlete. Last spring, he cleared 6 foot-6 inches in the high jump to establish a new school record,” said Head Coach Rich Biondi for the boys’ team. “Enaji, a student of his events, has worked diligently in all aspects of his training regimen. Additionally, Enaji has qualified for Nationals in Boston in March. I believe his best performances are ahead as he prepares to compete in the spring and in college.”
In terms of the final team standings for the boys, Xavier took the crown with 128 points, while Lyman Hall was a distant runner-up (85 points). Elsewhere, Hillhouse came in third (53 points), Amity achieved fourth (40 tallies), Shelton was fifth (26.5), Hand came in sixth (25), Hamden placed seventh (18), North Haven was eighth (15 points), Sheehan was ninth (13), 10th place went to Notre Dame-West Haven (11), East Haven followed at 11th (10 points), Cheshire and Guilford tied for 12th (eight points), Cross came in 15th (six points), Fairfield Prep was 16th (five points), Foran was 17th (three), and West Haven had two points to finish 18th.
“The work that the athletes put in during the winter months really is a springboard to their spring seasons. The strength and conditioning program under the supervision of Coach Chuck Budz has begun to show dividends,” said Biondi. “All of the athletes, unless recovering from an injury, have improved in their respective events. Every day at practice, the coaches have stressed life lessons such as self improvement, working together as a group, setting goals, etc. The captains and athletes have completely bought into the culture of the program, which has made everyday an enjoyable experience.”
Captains for the boys this year were seniors Muhammad (high jump and long jump), Carter Moore, Sam Harwin (both also long jumpers), and distance runner Sam Coppola. Biondi detailed that each of these young men have been a coach’s dream to work with, as quintessential conduits between coaches and athletes.
“As vocal leaders and role models, the captains have been stellar,” said Biondi. “In regards to helping the younger members of the squad on the track or in the weight room, the group has been truly a pleasure to work with.”
At the Class M State Championship a week later on Feb. 10 at the same venue, the girls placed a strong sixth with 29 points. Moran went the distance and claimed a state crown in the 3200, with a championship mark of 11 minutes and 18.48 seconds. Clouse was second for the high jump (4-10). Budz claimed third for the 55 (in a time of 7.37 seconds) while she was also fifth for the 55 hurdles (7.48) and 300 (43.14 ticks). Buckley placed fifth in the 600 (in 1:42.27), Stone found sixth for the long jump (16-7.25), and the 4x400 relay was seventh (4:20.83) with Budz, Buckley, Toukour, and Aguilar.
The boys’ squad’s day in Class M was highlighted by Muhammad leaping to first with respect to the high jump (6-4). Additionally, the 4x400 relay placed 10th (3:48.02, a new season-best time) with McCall, Peterson, Andrus, and DiStasio. The group finished tied for 15th with Joel Barlow, with 10 points each.
"Overall, the athletes performed very well. All of the kids had a seasonal or personal best. The performances were a testament to how hard the athletes trained, and their ability to elevate their performances in a championship meet,“ said Biondi. ”Enaji has continued his historical season. He now has earned All-Sectional, All-SCC, and All-State Team honors. Winning the high jump and being a state champion is an accolade that he has worked very hard for. Enaji is competing with a great deal of confidence, and I believe that his best jumps are in the very near future."
The boys’ roster for the 2023-2024 season is comprised of seniors Andrus, Coppola, Harwin, Hauswirth, Sean Healy, Benny Juela Garcia, Moore, Muhammad, Mason Porras; juniors Zachary Berner, DiStasio, John Fichtenholtz, Ralph Jean-Baptista, Benito Kwadade, Benito Kwadade, Paul Lesyk, McCall, Romeo Owusu-Boateng, Luksh Patel, Peterson, David Regan, Coleman Shanley, Supremee Shrestha, Veerdeep Singh, Gavin Smiarowski, Jacob Sweeney, Justyn Velasquez, Nolan Weted; sophomores of Charles Budz, Logan Ly, Mathias Verdesoto, Francesco Zweeres; plus freshmen Rhamell Fairclough, Cormac Fichtenholtz, Andrew Mayne, and Cooper Ranton.
The 2023-2024 girls’ roster is composed of Budz, Kimberly Caracondo, Clouse, Chayse Gueco, Cecile Hazen, Gianna Jara, Moran, Anna Plaksonova, Anna Plaksonova; juniors Ava Allen, Kermeria Arthur, Buckley, Stone, Toukour; sophomores with Sophia Alvarez, Keyaria Arthur, Anaia Chambers, Stacia Comen, Kiara Guevara-Cragwell; plus freshmen Aguilar, Beulah Anigekwu, Mi-Amor Jackson, Sarit Juela-Garcia, Emma McAdams, Lauren Reid, Lindsey Reid, and Gabriela Silva.
Both Biondi and Connell have been head coaches for the Hornets for 30 years, and were each assisted by Chuck Budz.