Two Coginchaug Athletes Compete at State Opens

Echoing from the loud speaker and through the field house at Hillhouse High School in New Haven, were the results of the boys' 1000 meter run. A small contingent of Coginchaug supporters, including race participant Aleksandr Morin, stood listening for his name. They heard sixth place, then fifth place, then finally, "in fourth place Aleksandr Morin with a time of 2:35.23".

Although the exultant cheers from Coginchaug assistant coach Jack McShane were reduced to a murmur in the over-stuffed field house, Alex's performance stood out from the crowd. By placing fourth place in the 1000m, Alex earned a spot in the prestigious New England High School Indoor Track Championship, contested each year at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, Massachusetts. 

With the meet not until Friday, March 4 - giving the top six athletes in each event from the New England states time to rest and train - Alex has time to refocus before he makes a run at All-New England status.

For Lora Manley, who qualified in both the high jump and the long jump, it came down to a matter of inches- as it usually does in field events. While her long jump mark was a foot away from her seed mark, earning a 16th place finish, her high jump mark of five feet tied her for seventh place, a spot shy of qualifying for New Englands. In fact, a jump of five feet earned all the way up to a fourth place finish. Yet, when there's a tie in high jump, the number of faults, or failed attempts at a height, are used to determine place. Unfortunately, Lora had more faults than her other competitors, dropping her to seventh place. While there is a bitter feeling in coming close to the one of the biggest stages in high school track, comfort can be found in the achievements of the season, including her 5'4'' jump that set the Shoreline Conference meet record.

Alex's 1000m run can be seen here.

A complete list of results from the State Open championship can be found here.