CONNECTICUT STATE MEET

Chase Gilbert, Sam Leone Rule Wickham Park, Win Connecticut State Open Titles

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Old Lyme senior Chase Gilbert had to wait four years, but she finally captured the State Open crown that had eluded her throughout a standout high-school career. East Lyme’s Sam Leone prevailed in a dramatic boys duel Monday at Wickham Park in Manchester, Connecticut. 

After two third-place finishes and an injury sandwiched in between, Gilbert controlled the race from the halfway mark, clocking 17:50.08 to claim her long-sought title. Gilbert ran the sixth-fastest time at the challenging Wickham Park, bettering her time from a week ago at the Class S divisional championship race. 

Sophomore Sophie Passalacqua of Greenwich (18:04.76) and Lauren Parrett of Glastonbury (18:08.41) followed closely behind. Staples senior Sophia Bogdan (18:38.72) and South Windsor’s Sofia Holovatska (18:44.77) rounded out the top five.

Behind her, Glastonbury defended its team title with 84 points, edging New Canaan (99) and Mercy (123).

The top 25 individuals and six teams advanced to the New England Championships, set for Saturday at Thetford Academy, Vt. 

The boys race delivered one of the closest finishes in recent memory. Leone, a senior from East Lyme, and Griswold junior Tycen LaBelle traded surges over the final mile before Leone pulled away on the closing hill to win by less than a second in 15:37.52.

LaBelle crossed in 15:38.33, followed by Amity’s Luke Cushing (15:58.10), Oxford’s Joseph DeLuise (16:04.79), and Fitch’s Julien Silva (16:06.32).

Greenwich claimed the team title with 87 points, anchored by Ryan Newcomb (ninth, 16:13.15) and Benjamin Hayes (25th, 16:35.26). Xavier and East Lyme tied at 104, with the Falcons taking second on the sixth-runner tiebreak.

The State Open was postponed from Friday to Monday due to weather. 

TEAM CHAMPIONS

Greenwich boys 87 points; Glastonbury girls 84 points - RESULTS

CLASS DIVISIONALS (Held Saturday, October 25) 

CLASS LL: Greenwich boys 32 points; Glastonbury girls 44 points - RESULTS

CLASS L: Amity boys 72 points; New Canaan girls 70 points - RESULTS

CLASS MM: Xavier boys 57 points; Mercy girls 38 points - RESULTS

CLASS M: Ledyard boys 74 points; Daniel Hand girls 78 points - RESULTS

CLASS SS: Haddam-Killingworth boys 34 points; Haddam-Killingworth girls 25 points - RESULTS

CLASS S: Thomaston boys 88 points; Lyman Memorial girls 47 points - RESULTS