New London Track and Field: Back In The Game

Contractors will paint oval lines for eight running lanes and straight lines for long jump approach lanes on the track and field complex at renovated Cannamela Field today.

It will be a final piece to complete one of the area's most remarkable scholastic sports rebuilding projects - the resurrection of the Whaler track and field program. The newly-marked lanes will allow the Whalers to host their first dual meet 3:30 Tuesday against Montville.

The track makeover serves as a symbol of the program's recent transformation. For much of the 2000s, New London track and field created very little positive news other than the individual exploits of female sprinter Sharelle Green, a 200 and 400 champ from 2002 to 2004. At least the girls had Green, because the Whaler boys' team habitually resided in the bottom five point-wise in state meets...until last season.

New London's resource of athletic talent, which keeps football and basketball strong, has always been bountiful. But lack of funding, aging facilities, and apathy within the school contributed to track's demise, with the combined boys' and girls' roster size dwindling to 20 in 2008. You had to wonder why a school with so many fast-running and high-jumping athletes would struggle in a sport known internationally as "athletics."

"We knew there were a lot of great runners and jumpers in school who weren't baseball players," current NL coach Bob Castronova said. "There was no reason New London shouldn't have a successful track team."

That all changed with two major additions in 2009 - the hiring of Jeff Larson as athletic director-football coach and Castronova as track coach. The two ignited interest in superior athletes to give track a try last season, resulting in the Whalers' Class MM state runner-up finish, just two points shy of champion Brookfield.

This year, a bigger boys and girls roster has tripled since 2008, giving Castronova and Co. optimism to challenge for ECC and state supremecy.

A football infusion of athletes such as Frankie Dallas (Class MM 100-meter champ), Jevon Elmore, Craig Dysart and Carlos Lozada (NL long jump record holder) gave the Whalers dominance in sprints, relays and jumps. Track specialists David Still (800 meter champ) and Michael Lee (2nd in MM triple jump) complemented the grid influx to give NL track its best season ever.

"Jeff Larson has greatly supported all sports and he's a huge part in this turnaround," said Castronova, a standout middle distance runner at Waterford High in the '70s who now runs the U.S. Naval Submarine Base logistics center. "He wanted all football players who weren't playing baseball to come out for track as part of their off-season strength and conditioning program."

A $17,780 anonymous gift, issued through a grant, has further solidified the program, allowing Castronova to hire Jay Bakoulis, a football assistant who runs the weightlifting program, as a track assistant.

"It was an anonymous donor who was interested in offering New London youth positive activities and healthy choices," said Allison Fitzpatrick, foundation president. "The grant underwrites the expenses to run the team, pay coaches, officials and travel expenses."

Dysart and Still graduated, but much of New London's nucleus returns. The Whalers' depth is developing, meaning NL is a year or two away from posting an outstanding regular season dual meet record, but enough star power remains to make post-season title runs.

Lee, who competed in the indoor national triple jump championship, joins Lozada as state jump championship contenders. Lozada, Dallas, Elmore and freshman Orrin Parke offer plenty of sprinting depth. Castronova welcomes football players Kyle McKinnon and Jason Piontowski (400 meters) and Tywan Jenkins and Ibrihim Elahi (weight throwing). Castronova hopes the Whalers can overcome the talents of injured middle distance runner Zach Holloway

"The team knows how close we came last year after not really expecting to challenge for a state title," Castronova said. "Brookfield looks like the team to beat and Hillhouse is always strong, but I expect us to be up there. I expect the girls to double the amount (four) of state qualifiers we had last year."

Cannemela's new football field turf surface, cleared for use last November, also helps the track program. The long jump pits and pole vault and high jump surface are also new.

"The field is softer than the track and gives runners suffering from shin splints a chance to complete workouts," Castronova said. "The overall upgrade in facilities [gives the kids more pride in the track program and is increasing the number of underclassmen we have out for track."

The track's newly-painted lane lines will nearly complete the rebuilding project. New London's first state track title is perhaps the only piece remaining in the puzzle.