As one of the oldest track and field meets in New England, the 91st Greater Hartford Outdoor Track and Field Invitational, hosted by East Hartford HS on Saturday, featured several performances that moved athletes up in the season rankings in several events as well as three meet records from the jumps pit. In the meet that started in 1931, East Hartford boys team scored their 7th team title, first since 1977, with 70 points over runner-up East Lyme with 55 and Bloomfield with 54.5 of the 31 teams. In competition that started in 1995, the Bloomfield girls won their third team title scoring 130 points over second place EO Smith with 78 and Glastonbury with 53 points in competition with 25 teams.
The multifaceted talents of senior Gabriella Zeller (Lewis Mills) continued from her indoor season as she leaped to a meet record, CT#1 and PR of 18-10 in the long jump. Her leap surpassed the 2019 mark of 18-7.5 set by Chelsea Mitchell (Canton). Zeller the sped to a win in the 300m hurdles in 46.67 for a CT#6 rank this season. Sophomore Darielys Arnold (New London) silver medal PR leap of 18-4.5 propelled her to a CT#3 ranking.
Laniyah Henderson (Bloomfield) popped her own meet record and PR with a mark of 39-9.75 in the triple jump that moved her into the top 50 nationally and a #2 on the state all-time list. Her mark exceeded the 2000 jump by Nicole Toney (Conard) of 39-1.5. Toney is the state record holder with her leap of 41-4.25 also set in 2000.
The final meet record was set by junior Rashard Williams (Southington) who extended his winning streak in the long jump this season with his PR of 23-5.75 and now a CT#2. He has come a long way since his indoor PR of 21-9.5. His leap bettered one of the older meet records of 23-2 that was set by Gary Bailey (HPHS) in 1978.
Girls Featured Performers
For the second weekend in a row, frosh Samiya Eady (Manchester) was a double gold medalist as she blazed to her PR in the finals of the 100m in 12.24 ahead of sophomore Nacquelia Fletcher (Bloomfield) in her PR of 12.37. Eady returned later at the end of the meet for her win in the 200m in 25.13 over Fletcher with her PR of 25.56.
Two of the top milers in the state, Tess Sherry and Liv Sherry (Conard) turned their attention to the 800m and sped to CT#2-3 with Tess winning in her PR 2:12.68 and Liv a step behind in her PR 2:12.81.
After her 800m 6th place effort of 2:12.96 on Friday night at the Loucks Games, Gabby Hernandez (EO Smith) returned closer to home to win the…
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