Bunnell Girls Track and Field is all Business Against Stratford

On Monday April 29th on the track and field course of Bunnell High School the Bunnell Girls faced off against the Stratford Girls team in an eighteen event showdown.

Athletes competed on the track to see who was the fastest and in the field to see who can jump, throw, and vault the highest and furthest.

Stratford was looking to stop a losing streak that dates back to at least 1986.

Both Bunnell and Stratford share the track for training purposes and both call Bunnell home for their home track meets.

Prior to the start of the meet both the Bunnell and Stratford Seniors were honored by their school administrations as it was the final meet at Bunnell for the seniors before they begin their next ventures after graduation.

The weather conditions were picture perfect with sunny skies, temperature around 70 degrees, light and variable breeze out of the southwest.

The first event on the track was the 4X800. It went to Bunnell as they ran unopposed with the team of Erin Ickowitz, Morgan Grey, Ashley Dobler, and Hannah Barr.

That gave Bunnell the early 5-0 lead.

Next up was the 4X100 Relay. Bunnell’s team of Kiley Tote, Kendall Dolan, Gabi Gonzalez, and Carina Rivera (51.7) was one-half a second better than the Stratford team of Niyah Lewis, Lucia Carmona, Arianna West, and Jaylen Evans (52.2).

While the hurdles were being set up on the track the attention turned to the field events.

In the Javalin Event, Stratford’s Winner Tshibombi cut the temporary Bunnell lead down to seven by launching one 60’-8” to top everyone. In second was Bunnell’s Malaika Mattis at 59’-2” and in third was Bunnell’s Alyssa Sanchez at 56’-8”.

In the High Jump, Bunnell’s Kayla Johnson was the best jumper in the vertical event with a jump of 4’-10”. Second place was a tie between Stratford’s Angelina Taccogna and Bunnell's Alyssa Sanchez at 4’-6”.

Back on the track in the 100 Meter Hurdle Event Bunnell’s Lincey Bazile (15.8 seconds) and
Olivia Watson (18.7 seconds) took first and second. There was a third place tie between Stratford’s Marissa Taccogna and Bunnell's Kaliyah Frasier at 19.6 seconds.

While the track was being cleared of hurdles, the Discus Event was taking place. It was Bunnell’s Johnson with a throw of 97’-3” in first. Stratford’s Hailey Powell in second at 78’-2”. In third was Bunnell’s Matilda Tote at a distance of 77’-2”.

The next event on the track was the 100 Meter Dash. Bunnell’s Rivera nearly beat Stratford’s Arianna West by one-tenth of a second 12.7 to 12.8. Bunnell’s Kiley Tote and Gabi Gonzalez tied for third at 13.2 seconds.

The 100 Meter Dash was followed by the 1600 Meter Run. Bunnell’s Mia Skartsiaris topping the field with a time of 6:33 followed by Stratford’s Isabella Pato at 6:45. In third was Bunnell’s Duny Yanes at 7.19.
Next up was the 400 Meter Event where it was all Stratford. In first was Mary Carmody at 64 seconds. In second was Jaylen Evans at 66 seconds and in third it was Teagan McCaughey at 67 seconds.

Results of the Pole Vault Event were trickling in and it was all Bunnell with Emery Janicki at 7’-6”. In second was Alyssa Sanchez at 6’-0”. There was a three way tie for third between Alisha Meranville, Promise Iboki, and Paige Fabian at 5’-6”.

Back to the track, in the 300 Meter Hurdle Event Stratford took the first two spots as McCaughey was first at 55.2 seconds. In second was Ashlyn Santos at 56.4 seconds and rounding out the top three was Bunnell’s Olivia Watson at 57.4 seconds.

In the 800 Meter Event Bunnell’s Barr was the top runner at 3:33. In second it was Bunnell’s Jehzyell Seperack at 3:46. There was no third place finisher.

The 200 Meter Dash saw Bunnell sweep the event as Rivera came in first at 27.3 seconds. In second was Kiley Tote at 27.5 seconds. In third it was Bazile at 27.6.

With the meet more than halfway over Bunnell had a commanding 87-31 lead. Any hopes for a Stratford victory would have to be in the final five remaining events.

The meet’s attention swung back to the field where in the Long Jump Event Bunnell’s Bazile’s leap of 16’-3.25” was the top jump. Stratford’s Taccogna was second at 15’-75” and in third was Bunnell’s Chloe Samson at 14’-11”.

Next on the track was the grueling 3200 Meter distance run. Stratford’s Pato was the top runner at 15:08 followed by Bunnell’s Skartsiaris at 15:22 and Yunes in third at 17:04.

Two field events were left and the 4X400 Relay were the only event left on the track.

In the Triple Jump Bunnell’s Samson first at 32’-6”. In second was Bunnell’s Promise Iboki at 30’-5.25”. In third Stratford’s Taccogna at 30’-3”.

The last field event was the Shot Put. Bunnell swept the event with Johnson in first with a throw of 30’-6.5”. In second was Princess Simon at 25’-4”. Third place went to Stratford's Deandrea Paisly at 24'-11".

The final event of the meet was the 4X400 Meter Relay. Stratford team of PRTeagan McCaughey, Ashlyan Santos, Evelyn Valdovinos-Torres, Mary Carmody (4:38)outlasted the Bunnell team Eva Bucknor, Erin Ickowitz, Addison Huntting, Alisha Meranville (5:06).

Final score saw Bunnell 101.17 Stratford 47.83.

Bunnell’s record goes to 7-2 as they look to be a top contender for the South West Conference Championship held later this month.

Stratford goes to 3-6. They will travel to Bethel on Monday May 6th, 4:00 pm, against the Wildcats and the Weston Trojans.

Up next for Bunnell, Tuesday May 7th, 4:00 pm, at Joel Barlow against the Falcons, Masuk Panthers, and the New Fairfield Rebels.