Name: Chenoa Sebastian
Class: Freshman
School: Ledyard High School
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Accomplishment: ECC Track and Field Champion, 100 meter high hurdles.
Ledyard High freshman Chenoa Sebastian spent the fall and most of the winter scholastic sports season as a Colonel cheerleader.
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She loved being part of that team, but something inside her urged her to try something new. Little did she know, she had an untapped, remarkable talent in the sport of track and field.
Without any formal training or experience, Sebastian became the Eastern Connecticut Conference Large Division indoor track champ in the 55-meter high hurdles. With a whole season of outdoor track to practice, Sebastian took it up a notch to blow away all competition by nearly one second in winning the ECC Track and Field 100 meter high hurdles (16.2) in the outdoor track title meet May 21.
"It's pretty easy because of my height but I have to work on my form," Sebastian said. "My sister, Kyla was very good in the hurdler in high school, so I tried it because it looked like fun."
Key to her success: Size, speed, natural talent and listening skills.
Ledyard girls' track coach Dave Tetlow, a hurdler in college, saw a natural in Sebastian.
"Hurdling is tough because you need size and speed," Tetlow said. "She has both so it clicks on very nicely. She's got a lot of talent and is very coachable. She can turn into a really awesome hurdler. Her times are fast now and she's just learning the technique. It will be a test to see if she can make it to the State Opens and New Englands."
If not this year, then definitely in the future for this member of the Eastern Pequot Tribe and North Stonington native who is enrolled in the Ledyard Vocational-Agricultural Program.
"She'll have to get into the low 15s for the State Open," Tetlow said. "I have no doubt she'll get there later if not this year. She has a great future."
Sebastian showed off her raw speed, running the first leg of Ledyard's 4x100 meter relay team that finished first in the ECC and set a school and conference meet record of 49.58. Sebastian, Allie Loy, Kaylyn Bruciati and Emily Loy comprised the squad.
"She did the job giving us an early lead," Tetlow said. "Then we got a nice finish from Emily to set a nice record."
