Spring preview: Boys, girls track athletes to watch in 2024

The outdoor track and field season is underway with local boys and girls teams preparing for the Eastern Connecticut Conference and state championships.

The CIAC divisional championships will take place on May 28-30 at Willow Brook Park in New Britain. The CIAC Open championship is June 3 at Willow Brook Park in New Britain.

“This season, the team expects to continue to improve after a challenging season in 2023,” said NFA boys coach Tom Teixeira, now in his eighth season at the helm . “The roster has grown enormously and boasts well over 100 members. This team features athletes new to track who have been very successful athletes in other sports. Both new and returning members will need to evolve into varsity contributors for this team to compete both in the ECC and Class LL championships.”

The Norwich Free Academy girls outdoor track team has high expectations after the Wildcats captured the ECC indoor championship last February .

“The team has several key returners from last year and from the team that just won the ECC large division title during indoor,” said Wildcats first-year coach Jeff Wadecki. “We should compete for the regular season title and the overall championship title at the end of the season. The team looks to have several individual athletes and relay teams compete at the state level.”

More: Spring notebook: Ellis Tech's Lopez tosses no-hitter

Plainfield’s Kevin Grant is in his 21st season with the Panthers.

“Our team numbers have increased,” Grant said. “We expect to challenge for an ECC division title and increase our state qualifiers.”

Griswold also has a good turnout. The Wolverines will host meets this spring in a sparkling new track and field facility.

“We’re looking to be competitive in the chase for the ECC Division 3-4 championship,” Griswold boys coach Cory Tobler said. “Individuals will be looking for strong finishes in the Class M meet.”

More: High school boys and girls tennis players to watch this spring

Here are the boys and girls track athletes to watch this spring:

Boys Track Athletes To Watch

Chris Amy, Junior (Norwich Free Academy), Oliver Aubin, Junior (Norwich Free Academy), Dylan Bailey, Freshman (Griswold), Sawyer Barile, Senior (Norwich Free Academy), Joal Barros, Junior (Norwich Free Academy), Isaiah Benoit, Sophomore (Killingly), Zeke Benoit, Sophomore (Killingly), Isaiah Blades, Sophomore (Griswold), Everton Brown, Junior (Killingly), Max Brown, Senior (Griswold), Moshea Gittens Brown, Senior (Norwich Free Academy), Lucas Cabral, Senior (Norwich Free Academy), Luke Cassidy, Junior (Griswold), Marchocher Civil, Sophomore (Norwich Free Academy), Zander Chaves, Senior (Ellis Tech), Jesse Croteau, Junior (Norwich Free Academy), Taylor Corson, Sophomore (Ellis Tech), Aaden Cutter, Sophomore (Griswold), Jackson Fleming, Junior (Griswold), Kevin Garcia, Senior (Ellis Tech), Hunter Giovanni, Junior (Ellis Tech), Mason Hill, Senior (Ellis Tech), Mason Holt, Senior (Norwich Free Academy), Brenden Hopkins, Junior (Griswold), Sebastian Infantes-Reyes, Junior (Plainfield), Xavier Jackson, Senior (Norwich Tech), Kyle Kornacki, Junior (Norwich Free Academy), Tycen LaBelle, Freshman (Griswold), Ryan Lillibridge, Junior (Norwich Tech), Andrew MacIntyre, Senior (Killingly), Brendan McCool, Senior (Plainfield), Mason Mercier, Sophomore (Plainfield), Robinson Meuse, Junior (Norwich Free Academy), Kaleb Moore, Senior (Plainfield), Reese Newson, Junior (Norwich Free Academy), Brady Nottage, Senior (Ellis Tech), Aiden Peltier, Senior (Griswold), Matthew Perea, Junior (Griswold), Josh Perrin, Junior (Plainfield), Owen Pothier, Junior (Plainfield), Sean Silva, Freshman (Griswold), Yohan Siongco, Sophomore (Norwich Tech), Jeremiah Smith, Sophomore (Killingly), Carter Sullivan, Senior (Killingly), Joshua Turner, Junior (Griswold), Calvin Vandale, Sophomore (Killingly), John Veader, Junior (Plainfield), Lucas Weitknecht, Freshman (Norwich Tech), and Quinton Zevetchin, Sophomore (Ellis Tech).

Girls Track Athletes to Watch

Elya Anor, Junior (Norwich Free Academy), Sofia Ayer, Senior (Norwich Free Academy), Shanaya Brown, Senior (Killingly), Shakayla Campbell, Sophomore (Plainfield), Karina Chan, Junior (Norwich Free Academy), Cam’Rynn Cross, Freshman (Plainfield), Neveah Dailey, Freshman (Plainfield), Riley Davis, Junior (Norwich Free Academy), Jenna Difusco, Sophomore (Killingly), Annika Fishlock, Senior (Plainfield), Rebecca Gardner, Junior (Killingly), Lily Gilbert, Senior (Norwich Free Academy), Hannah Graham, Senior (Norwich Free Academy), Caroline Holmberg, Senior (Norwich Free Academy), Ryley Hubert, Sophomore (Griswold), Melody Hutchinson, Sophomore (Killingly), Victoria Iozzi, Senior (Ellis Tech), Emerson Joly, Sophomore (Killingly), Abigail Lawton, Freshman (Plainfield), Olivia Luurtsema, Junior (Norwich Tech), Emily McDonough, Junior (Griswold), Emma Miller, Senior (Killingly), Sydney Mullen, Senior (Killingly), Fabiola Nelson, Senior (Norwich Free Academy),Madison Pudvah, Sophomore (Griswold), Olivia Ryley, Junior (Griswold), Samantha Schies, Senior (Norwich Free Academy), Aaliyah Thayer, Junior (Plainfield), Kaitlyn Titus, Junior (Norwich Free Academy), Jessie Williams, Freshman (Killingly), and Sophia Wooten, Sophomore (Griswold).

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Spring preview: Boys, girls track athletes to watch in 2024