3 Races At National Meet Turn Into 3 School Records For Rockville High School Track Athletes

VERNON, CT — In the words of head coach Nick Willette, "the party continued" for four members the Rockville High School Boys Indoor track team as they took on New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston at the "Track at New Balance."

The runners — Devant Bariffe, Will Davis, Otavio Pinto and and Emmett Kristoff — were entered to complete in two relays and one individual race throughout last weekend.

Friday night featured the Sprint Medley Relay (legs of 200 meters,200 meters, 400 meters and 800 meters), in which the team finished eighth overall, just missing the podium with a new personal best and school record of 3:30.94. The time bettered their old record by 7 seconds. The time was also a new U.S. 11th- and Connecticut fifth-fastest time ever, Willette said.

Saturday featured the boys Open 800 meters, where Emmett Kristoff was on a mission to perform well and get a new personal best. Kristoff finished second in his heat and did earn himself new bragging rights as he crossed the finish line in 1:55.99, bettering his previous school record by nearly 2 seconds.

On Sunday, Willette said "the boys were back in town" to take on the 4-by-400-meter relay.

Bariffe, Davis, Pinto and Kristoff flew to a heat-winning time of 3:24.45, bettering their previous record by more than a second.

Willette said of the performance, "There were a lot of proud coaching moments from the coaches in the stands.

Willette continued by saying that "we have worked so hard this season to be at our best for this meet. It's tough to get all four athletes to perform at their best on the same day and at the same time. The goal was to complete hard in each race and bring home three new school records."

Willette also said that, "The boys have a lot to be proud of. There is something really special about putting your high school's name across your chest and competing at the highest level with everything you've got. They made their coaches, families and school proud. These are memories that will last a lifetime."