By Senior Correspondent Marty Ogden, Editing and Graphics by Ron Knapp
Soheib Dissa has been carrying the banner for CT distance runners on the national stage with a NBNO runner-up finish in the 2000m steeplechase and an All American finish at Foot Locker Nationals in cross country. This winter the Newtown senior ran a 4:04.80 mile at the Millrose Games, the 2nd fastest time in state history and just missed his 3rd all American honor after his 7th place at NBNI. This weekend, Dissa travels west to the Arcadia Invitational in California where he should have a great opportunity to chase Alex Ostberg’s ten year-old state record of 8:43.93 in the 3200m. Manchester’s Aidan Puffer was the most recent competitor in the 2022 multi-national meet where he finished 5th in 8:46.48, second fastest in CT history.
Xavier has been the standard of CT distance runners for over 50 years and their athletes have won countless state titles, CT records and All American honors. Teammates Jack Ouellette and Owen Martin have already broken the school records in the 1000m, 1600m mile, 3k and 2 miles this indoor season and will be looking to break more this spring. Last spring the pair were half the team that broke the state record in the 4xMile to get 4th at NBNO. Ouellette has committed to Boston University and Martin will head off to Rutgers next fall.
Lyman Hall’s Thomas Conklin will try to go 4 for 4 this spring. Last year he won the State Open 600m indoors and won the 800m from the slow heat outdoors. This winter he came from behind to defend his 600m title and at NBNI he anchored his team to the CT state record in the SMR (3:26.53) which earned the Trojans All American for the 2nd straight year. He will compete for University of New Haven next year.
East Lyme has really stepped up the past few years as evident of their New England runner-up finish during the fall cross country season. They have been led by junior Sam Leone and senior Sean McCauley who have been instrumental in the Vikings’ success. Leone was 2nd at the Open in the 1600m but avoided a fall at New Englands to give him the win in the mile. He was All New England and top ten at the Open in cross country as well. McCauley handled the 2-mile for the Vikings and was 2nd at the Open and 5th at New Englands. But then at NBNI, he popped off a 9:05.50 for the 2-mile which is the 7th fastest time All Time in CT history. In cross country, the senior who will attend Iona University next year, was 4th at the…
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