Alumni Track Meet Pits Old vs. Young

A team of nearly two dozen alumni of 's track program braved chilly weather to take on the current team in an exhibition at the high school during the third annual Alumni vs. Varsity Meet.

As they have for the each year of the event, the alumni emerged as winners, defeating the varsity squad 91-59. The meet was held Saturday, April 16 during a raw, rainy day at the James L. MacVeigh athletic complex. Twenty seven alumni were present at the event and 20 competed.

"The meet is a great opportunity for the alumni to stay connected to the team and to teach the current kids about their events," said head coach, Rich Biondi, himself a BHS alumnus. "As the head coach, I want the athletes to know about the previous athletes and to respect their contributions to the program. The meet is a great deal of fun, and for the third consecutive year, the Alumni were victorious."

The alumni were paced by Eric Perkins, class of 2006, who won the high, triple and long jumps; Bryan Vinci, class of 1998, who won the 400 and the 200 meter dashes; Chris Stonier, class of 2003, who won the 1600 and 3200 meter races. In all, alumni competitors won 13 of the 18 events.

The varsity squad was paced by who won the 110 high hurdles; Kevin Gell who won the 800 meters; Alex Case who won the pole vault; and Sam Blackstone who won the javelin. All are seniors on this year's squad.

The oldest alumnus was Doug Black, who graduated from Branford in 1970. This year, the meet was also open to youth competitors from the middle school's track and cross country program. Six youths competed, Biondi said.

Senior Tom Dextradeur, a long distance specialist, helped organize the event this year as part of his senior exhibition project.