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Chittenden County high school track and field outlook: Everything you need to know.

alex abrami, burlington free press
·11 min read

Before diving into our look at the Chittenden County high school track and field teams for the 2023 season, here are the dates and sites for this year's divisional state championships:

Division I: Saturday, June 3 at Burlington High School.

Division II: Friday, June 2 at Burlington High School.

Division III: Thursday, June 1 at Windsor High School.

Division IV: Friday, June 2 at Knapp Field in Manchester.

More: Vermont high school spring sports: Here is your one-stop shop for preseason coverage

Below are details on the eight Chittenden County high school track and field teams with key returnees and newcomers and season expectations.

BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL

Burlington's Winslow Sightler competes in the preliminary rounds of shot put at the 2022 Burlington Invitational Track and Field Meet.
Burlington's Winslow Sightler competes in the preliminary rounds of shot put at the 2022 Burlington Invitational Track and Field Meet.

• Coach: Dan Hagan (20th season)

• Girls 2022 season: Sixth at the Division I state meet.

• Boys 2022 season: Ninth at the Division I state meet.

• Key returnees: Girls — Gillian Fairfax, junior, mid-distance; Grace McHenry, junior, mid-distance; Aya Goldstein, senior, mid-distance; Mimi Dion, junior, distance; Vivian Halladay, junior, throws. Boys — Winslow Sightler, junior, throws; Sidiki Sylla, senior, throws; Ahmed Diawara, sophomore, sprints; Avi Yagoda, junior, mid-distance/distance.

• Key newcomer: Boys — Mac Murad, freshman, pole vault.

• Outlook: The strength of the Seahorse girls' program rests with the distance crew. Burlington returns all four runners from its reigning 4-by-800-meter championship relay squad, which includes Dion, who also placed third at last year's state meet, and Fairfax, a Nordic skiing state champion. Halladay, a soccer goalie, nabbed runner-up honors in shot put at 2022 states. ... On the boys side, Sightler is coming off an nearly undefeated indoor season in shot put. The junior won states and placed fourth at the New England championships in March. His outdoor PR of 55-6.25 is gaining on the school record of Steve Yates (61-6). As of April 19, Sylla, has the state's top performance in shot put at 48-1.5, giving Burlington arguably Vermont's best 1-2 combination in the throwing event. Diawara raced to PRs in the 100 and 200 at the season-opening meet at home.

CHAMPLAIN VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL

CVU's Matt Servin wins the 1,500-meter run at last year's Essex Vacational Track and Field meet.
CVU's Matt Servin wins the 1,500-meter run at last year's Essex Vacational Track and Field meet.

• Coaches: Jessica LaPlante, Cory Coffey.

• Girls 2022 season: Third at the Division I state meet.

• Boys 2022 season: Second at the Division I state meet.

• Key returnees:  Girls — Alice Kredell, sophomore, distance; Mahoune Felix, junior, sprints; Amelia Novak, junior, jumps; Harper Danforth, junior, throws; Rieanna Murray, sophomore, sprints; Madison Burnett, sophomore, sprints. Boys — Matt Servin, senior, distance; Gabe Nelson, senior, sprints; Hayden Berard, senior, sprints.

• Key newcomers: Girls — Estella Laird, sophomore, distance; Lydia Donahue, freshman, distance; Audrey Neilson, freshman, distance; Charlotte Crum, freshman, distance; Zoe Zoller, senior, distance; Maddy Connery, senior, distance; Zoe Jenkins-Mui, sophomore, pole vault; Kate Bostwick, junior, throws. Boys — Dan Knight, junior, distance; Jack Crum, senior, distance; Ethan Morris, junior, distance; Anders Johnson, junior, pole vault; Connor Simons, junior, throws.

• Outlook: Both squads will look to reload after dealing with key graduation losses. On the girls side, Kredell, who won the D-I cross-country title in the fall, Felix, Danforth, Murray, Burnett and Novak are returning state-meet scorers for the Redhawks. Among the newcomers, Laird and Crum bring experience and success from their XC season. ... For the boys, Servin, the XC state champ and indoor 1,500 champion, remains one of the state's elite distance runners. Of their 106 points scored for a runner-up finish at last year's states, 76 were credited to seniors who graduated. That group included Gregory Seraus, who broke the 20-year-old state record in the 100 dash. "The biggest goal that we have moving forward is to gel as a team, and really try to be more well-rounded in all of the events instead of being very strong in a few," Coffey said. "We have had a lot of new and returning athletes come out again this year and we are looking forward to our first meet once the Vermont spring weather decides to cooperate with us."

COLCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL

Colchester's Ryleigh Garrow finishes first in the girls 100 meter hurdles at the 2022 Vermont D1 State Track and Field Championships held at Burlington High School.
Colchester's Ryleigh Garrow finishes first in the girls 100 meter hurdles at the 2022 Vermont D1 State Track and Field Championships held at Burlington High School.

• Coach: Jeremy Hammond (third season)

• Girls 2022 season: Seventh at the Division I state meet.

• Boys 2022 season: 11th at the Division I state meet.

• Key returnees: Girls — Ryleigh Garrow, senior, hurdles/jumps; Paxton Brigante, senior, throws; Olivia Dallamura, senior, throws; Rowan MarcArdle, senior, mid-distance/hurdles. Boys — Demunga Alfani, sophomore, sprints; Stephane Mujomba, senior, jumps; Keegan Gray, senior, sprints.

• Key newcomers:  Girls — Brinlee Gilfillan, freshman, sprints; Madison Martel, freshman, hurdles. Boys — Colin Fath, senior, throws; Ethan Gamelin, senior, jumpts/sprints.

• Outlook: Multi-sport standout Garrow opened her final high school season with a PR in triple jump (36-4.5) on April 11. Committed to continue her track and field career at the University of Vermont, Garrow will look to defend her triple jump and 100 hurdles state titles in June, among other goals. Meanwhile, Gilfillan made a smashing debut: The freshman won the 100 (12.91), 200 (26.42) and long jump (17-1) at the same meet, a trio of performances that are currently tops in the state as of April 19. ... For the Colchester boys, Alfani is among the fastest sprinters in the state and Gamelin, Alfani's soccer teammate, is fast becoming a contender in the jumping events. According to Hammond, participation numbers for boys and girls are up from a year ago. "There is a real positive energy to the squad that has us feeling good about where we are and where we are heading," Hammond said. "With a large seniors class, made up of veterans and talented athletes new to us, we are looking to score some points in the larger meets."

ESSEX HIGH SCHOOL

Essex's Sara Sinkewicz wins the freshman 100 meter dash at the 2022 Burlington Invitational Track and Field Meet.
Essex's Sara Sinkewicz wins the freshman 100 meter dash at the 2022 Burlington Invitational Track and Field Meet.

• Coach: Katie White (10th season)

• Girls 2022 season: Division I state champion.

• Boys 2022 season: Fourth at the Division I state meet.

• Key returnees:  Girls — Scarlett Stimson, senior, mid-distance; Taylore Dall, sophomore, distance; Kayla Guerino, senior, sprints/pole vault/jumps; Genevieve Brzoza, senior, sprints/jumps; Ashley Clark, senior, sprints; Tess Adams, sophomore, throws; Sarah Hall, sophomore, sprints; Sara Sinkewicz, sophomore, throws/sprints. Boys — Luke Miklus, senior, distance; Kelton Poirier, junior; mid-distance; Nathan Lesny, senior, jumps/pole vault; Carl Laverty, junior, pole vault; Carter Davis, junior, pole vault; Max Lesny, sophomore; hurdles/pole vault; Nathan Lyle, junior, jumps/sprints; Hayden Pine, senior, sprints; Alex Johnson, sophomore, throws.

• Key newcomers: Girls — Ayla Gaa, freshman, distance; Grace Filan, freshman, sprints. Boys — Greg Maiberger, freshman, jumps/sprints.

• Outlook: Just like they did in the winter season, the Essex girls are aiming for a repeat championship. The Hornets return individual state champions in Sinkewicz (javelin), Brzoza (long jump) and Hall (400), while Guerino, Stimson and Adams are also among the team's returning state-meet point-scorers. Guerino and Adams are coming off double wins at indoor states. Additionally, Essex's 4x100 relay has a chance break the Vermont record; the quartet of Clark, Brzoza, Guerino and Hall and smashed the indoor 4x200 state mark at nationals. ... On the boys side, Poirier, the reigning 400 champion, swept the 300 and 600 at this winter's indoor state meet, and appears poised to challenge the outdoor 800 state record, according to White. Miklus (distance), Nathan Lesny (jumps) and Davis (throws) are also off to good starts this spring. "Many of these student-athletes are coming off a solid indoor season and are continuing to build on our strengths while addressing our challenges," White said.

MILTON HIGH SCHOOL

• Coach: Jacob Dowman (first season)

• Girls 2022 season: Ninth at the Division II state meet.

• Boys 2022 season: Did not score at the Division II state meet.

• Key returnees: Girls — Nora Hedman, senior, throws/pole vault; Olivia Thomas, sophomore; sprints/jumps; Isabella Tomasi, sophomore, sprints/hurdles/jumps; Hope Gunning, sophomore; sprints/jumps. Boys — Devin Schlegel-Barber, sophomore, sprints/throws; Amelio DeCicco, sophomore, sprints/jumps; Rob Ward, junior, pole vault/throws.

• Key newcomers:  Girls — Ainsley Charbonneau, freshman, hurdles/jumps. Boys — Quintin Mitchell, sophomore, throws.

• Outlook: Dowman inherits a youthful roster (two-thirds are underclassmen). But the Yellowjackets have promise. Thomas is the reigning D-II champion in the 100 and long jump, Tomasi is already showing noticeable improvements in the 100 hurdles and Hedman, the team captain, should be competitive in javelin and pole vault, two of the more technical events the sport has to offer. Dowman also praised his small boys team (five athletes), saying, "We have a large breadth of talent ranging from sprinting to throwing to distance running."

MOUNT MANSFIELD UNION HIGH SCHOOL

Mount Mansfield's Finley Barker seen here at the 2022 Vermont D1 State Track and Field Championships held at Burlington High School.
Mount Mansfield's Finley Barker seen here at the 2022 Vermont D1 State Track and Field Championships held at Burlington High School.

• Coach: Bill Eschholz (29th season)

• Girls 2022 season: Second at the Division I state meet.

• Boys 2022 season: Seventh at the Division I state meet.

• Key returnees: Girls — Sam Alexander, senior, throws; Fiona Stotz, senior, jumps; Tess Drury, senior, distance; Finley Barker, junior, mid-distance; Eva DeJong, junior, sprints; Maddi Doyle, junior, mid-distance; Grace Hodgdon, junior; mid-distance; Ella McEntee, sophomore, distance. Boys — Jacob Brisbin, senior, sprints; Oliver Cohen, senior, hurdles/pole vault/throws; Asa Dodd, junior; hurdles; Cyrus Goetze, junior, sprints; Owen Moriarty, junior, jumps/hurdles; Owen Bradeen, junior, mid-distance; Gavin Jacobs, sophomore, distance; Avery Gilbert, sophomore, sprints/hurdles; Raf Campanile, sophomore, pole vault/jumps; Paddy Norcross, sophomore, sprints.

• Key newcomers:  Girls — Mallory Chicoine, freshman, sprints/jumps; Chloe DeJong, freshman, sprints; Sofia Randall, freshman, mid-distance. Boys — Jordan D'Amico, senior, throws; Grady Tacy-Munroe, freshman, sprints.

• Outlook: Alexander, bound for UVM, is among the state's best throwers. She won discus at states in 2022 and opened her final spring by resetting the school record in the discipline (127-0), which is the top mark in the state by nearly 20 feet as of April 19. St. Michael's-commit Drury, the Gatorade XC award winner from the fall, will contend in distance events; her 5:06.24 in the 1,500 at the April 11 home meet was a PR. Barker, Doyle and Hodgdon give MMU depth in the mid-distance range. Eschholz said the majority of the team consists of freshmen and sophomores, 25 in all, who "will get a chance to contribute right away." ... On the boys side, MMU has a nice blend of senior leaders and promising newcomers, according to Eschholz. Brisbin, Cohen and Moiarty had productive indoor campaigns and D'Amico, a football standout, should help immediately in the throws. Campanile won pole vault at states as a freshman and already established a PR in his first meet of 2022 with a clear of 12-6.

RICE MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL

• Coach: Mark McKenna (34th season)

• Girls 2022 season: Second at the Division II state meet.

• Boys 2022 season: 13th at the Division II state meet.

• Key returnees: Girls — Alessandra LeDuc, senior, sprints; Audrey Stewart, sophomore, sprints; Elizabeth Cunningham, sophomore, mid-distance; Elizabeth Curry, sophomore, throws; Evey Slavik, sophomore, mid-distance; Safari Pike, junior, hurdles/long jumps.

• Key newcomers: Girls — Ashley Hartman, junior, sprints; Priscilla Palazzari, senior, sprints; Lily Swan, freshman, sprints/mid-distance.

• Outlook: The Rice girls tracked down the D-II indoor team crown this winter behind Cunningham, Slavik and Pike among the key point scorers. Cunningham currently owns the fastest 800 outdoor time as of April 19, and should contend in multiple individual events at the state meet. "The ladies should do well as a team this year, we have a lot of new athletes with talent across the board," McKenna said. On the boys side, all six athletes are newcomers. "We’re looking forward to seeing how the individuals perform and improve over the season," McKenna said.

SOUTH BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL

• Coach: Geoff Bennett (boys, 12th season), Dennis Akey (girls, seventh season)

• Girls 2022 season: Eighth at the Division I state meet.

• Boys 2022 season: Fifth at the Division I state meet.

• Key returnees:  Girls — Anna-Rose Barnes, senior, jumps/sprints; Megan Boyer, senior, hurdles; Mia Carmolli, senior, hurdles; Gracie Lawrence, senior, throws; Lizzy Lawrence, senior, sprints; Betsua Reyes, senior, throws; Aurora Ross, senior, throws; Cassie Scarpa, senior, hurdles/jumps; Savannah Werner, senior, throws. Boys — Parker Banas, senior, sprints; Armani Lee, senior, sprints/jumps; Ollie Cloutier, senior, distance; Carter Higgins, senior, hurdles; Vaughn Larkin, senior, hurdles/sprints/jumps; Bennett Bridges, senior, distance; Evan Pidgeon, senior, distance; Rogan Poquette, senior, distance.

• Key newcomers: Too early to tell.

• Outlook: Gracie Lawrence, Boyer and Werner are among the returning athletes who scored at states last June. Lawrence and Werner also helped the Wolves nab third as a team in the indoor state meet this past winter. The South Burlington boys were also third during indoor states, with Larkin and Pidgeon leading the way. Lee placed third in the 100 and 200 at last year's outdoor state meet and Larkin (pole vault) and Higgins (hurdles) contributed to the Wolves' fifth-place showing. Akey said the team is loaded with newcomers, pushing the total participation numbers to over 90 athletes. "We may not have the same depth as previous years, but we'll pack a punch at each meet," Akey said. "After modest showings at the state meet, we believe our veteran leadership can help guide more qualifiers at the end of season meets than last year."

WINOOSKI HIGH SCHOOL

• Coach: Kirsten Day (first season)

• Girls 2022 season: Ninth at the Division IV state meet.

• Boys 2022 season: 11th at the Division IV state meet.

• Key returnees: Boys — Joseph Abdullah, sophomore, sprints; Mathieu Munaba, junior, sprints; George Rogers, senior, sprints.

• Key newcomers: Girls — Mapenzi Selemani, freshman, sprints/jumps/throws; Dahlia Maynard, senior, sprints/hurdles. Boys — Biladi Tresor, freshman, sprints; Daidran Howell, sophomore, sprints;

• Outlook: The Spartans lost all of their state-meet scoring to graduation, but return some key athletes and bring aboard a talented freshman class that has "a lot to offer," according to first-year coach Day. "We are excited to watch Winooski Track and Field this year," Day said. "The 400 dash will be an event to look out for."

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Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont track and field: 2023 outlooks for teams in Chittenden County