By Senior Correspondent Marty Ogden, Editing and Graphics by Ron Knapp

The best of the best will arrive at Floyd Little Athletic Center with field events scheduled to start at 11:30 am and track at noon on Saturday to prove for once and for all who are the best individuals, relays and teams in CT for the 2026 indoor track season. Let the games begin. 

Live Results from Paynes Corner Timing

Top two teams in 2025: Bloomfield - 95, Glastonbury - 47

Returning Defending Champions and Performance from last year:

- Samiya Eady 7.09 Manchester

- Lauren Kropo 39.17 Naugatuck

- Lauren Kropo 1:33.08 Naugatuck

- Chase Gilbert 4:44.68 Lyme-Old Lyme (CT and State Open record)

- Lauren Parrett 11:05.55 Glastonbury

- Vanessa Agyemang 8.30 Bloomfield

- Jenna Luoma 5-02.00 Ellington

- Vanessa Agyemang 19-05.00 Bloomfield

Team Competition Showdown

After three days, crowning champions in four Class meets based upon school size, it all comes down to one final battle. The CIAC State Open is a different type of competition. Points are much harder to come by and only the best of the best can score in individual events and relays. MySportsResults tried to predict who had the best chance at winning the Open a month ago. You can check out those early predictions here in our earlier article and see how close we were.

To win this championship on Saturday, you can’t just be good, you have to be lucky. Some very good athletes and relays did not make the Open because either someone was sick or hurt at the wrong time or they were disqualified for a rule infraction or just plain had an off day. And now you have to avoid the same pitfalls to be able to pull off the win. But for those that reach the top of the mountain, they can forever claim to be part of a State Open championship team and all the memories that go along with it. Let’s take a look at some of the favorites on the girls side and what they will have to do to claim the title. 

Bloomfield: Projected points based on seeds 53.25

This is going to be a close one… or it might just be a blow out. Several teams will be going head to head against each other so if Team A upsets Team B, that is picking up points for one team and losing points for another. Based on seeds, Bloomfield, who has won four State Open championships in the last eight years, is the slight favorite. One strength Bloomfield has is that they have ten potential scorers so if one person is off, they can make up those points. Saphyr Brown, 2nd last year is the top seed from the Class S championships but will face defending champion Samiya Eady. This could be a swing event for both teams.  

They have two potential scorers in the 55m Hurdles. Defending State Open champion Vanessa Agyemang is the third seed, but state leader D'Asia Duncan clipped a hurdle in the Class S finals and comes in as the 9th seed.  All that means is that the senior won’t have a good lane for the prelims but could still win if she runs up to her potential. Bloomfield has three potential scorers in the girls long jump. Agyemang and Brown went 1-2 last year at the Open and Brown won as a freshman. The pair have plenty of big meet experience and are sure to score major points between them. April Nathaniel stepped up at last year’s outdoor State Open and if she does the same this year, could provide more points. 

Payton Sirdine has been a veteran of the State Open battles since her freshman year and has been competing in the sport for a decade already. Last year she was the State Open runner up but this year she is seeded 6th with a 38-00.25 throw that won Class S. 

The relays have always been traditionally strong for Bloomfield and this year is no different. The sprinters are as solid as usual and with Duncan returning to anchor the SMR they will be looking to defend their title in the event. Like the SMR, the 4x200m is seeded 2nd and there is a great chance the 4x400m could score even though they are seeded 8th. 

Greenwich: Projected points based on seeds 50

Greenwich is having a strong year having already won FCIACs and the Class LL championships mostly on the depth of their relays and middle to long distance runners. The 3rd place finisher last year at the Open, the Cardinals will try to move up one or two places. Despite having their top middle distance runner Eliana Daplyn falling due to “incidental contact” during the 600m they still have points available in the event from Gemma Hardwick who avoided her fallen teammate and zipped into the lead over the last 50m of the race and is now seeded 3rd. Sophie Passalacqua will try to break five minutes for the first time and then double back for the 3200m. This double is always difficult at the Open but if she pulls it off, it will go a long way towards their title hopes. 

Of course there are always the relays that are strong for the Cardinals. Their 4x800m is the defending State Open champions and they are sure to want history to repeat itself. With Daplyn coming into the SMR on fresh legs that will certainly help their chances and potentially move them up from their third place seed. Greenwich could start their day off strong by scoring points in the 4x200m and finish off even better in the 4x400m where they are ranked 2nd coming into the meet. All together, Greenwich is looking to score 20 points in these four events. 

Greenwich is more than just a track team. Points are expected from Theresa Knuth in the shot put. The senior has reached another level these past few weeks, throwing 39 ft for three straight meets. She comes into the meet seeded third and is close to breaking 40 ft. 

Windsor: Projected points based on seeds 47

The Warriors have won ten straight Class L titles but haven’t won a State Open since the streak began in 2016. Things are so close this year, this could be the year it finally happens. Tomari Gillespie was a triple gold medalist at the Class L championships winning the 55m hurdles, 55m and running a leg of the 4x200m relay. While she will certainly be busy the first third of the meet, she could contribute a good chunk of her team’s point totals in that time period. Another triple gold medalist was Paige Wilson who was the lead off leg in the 4x200m, won the 300m and led off again in the 4x400m. All three come into the Open as the top seeds and could bring in up to 30 points. The 4x800m was 5th last year and is seeded 4th this year. But what is really in Windsor’s favor is the number of people seeded 5th through 9th. All those people could move up. Since this is expected to be a close meet between several teams, two points in one event and one point in another could make the difference between coming home with a plaque or just a high finish. 

Glastonbury: Projected points based on seeds 32

Glastonbury has won 11 Class LL titles in 20 years with three State Open championships in that period. While this has been a “down” season, the Guardians were still 4th at Class LL, only four points out of 2nd. Lauren Parrett comes into the meet as the top seed in both the 1600m and 3200m event but will likely scratch the 1600m and move into the 4x800 to improve their chances there. In the 3200m she will once again go head to head against Sophie Passalacqua of Greenwich. Carolyn Kamp is seeded 4th in the 1000m and is the anchor of the SMR that is also seeded 4th. With a little bit of luck their 4x400m could also pick up a point or two as well. 

Manchester: Projected points based on seeds 26

Samiya Eady hates to lose. No matter where she is seeded she always seems to find a way to come out on top. She is a two time State Open champion in the 55m and has the state’s fastest time of 7.05 from the Yale Invitational. She also comes in as the top seed in the 300m. In the 4x200m she had the fastest of all the Class meets of 24.56 to come from way behind to win the Class LL title in the relay. If her team could keep her a little closer to the leaders, they have a shot at winning that event as well. The Redhawks are not a one trick pony. They also have Harper Shirley who is seeded 5th in the 1600m and 9th in the 3200m. With a small PR, Cailyn Wilkins could also add points in the hurdles.

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Events to Watch

4x200m

The first event of the day often sets the tone for the rest of the meet. The girls 4x200m features three teams that should finish in the top of the standings. Bloomfield and Windsor’s seeds are only a couple of tenths apart. The two teams have been challenging each other in the sprints for well over a decade now and always bring out the best in each other. Bloomfield is the defending State Open champion and has the state’s fastest time of the season. But Windsor is seeded #1 based upon the times from the Class meets. Add in Manchester and Naugatuck and you have pretty much every possible State Open champion in the sprints/ jumps running one of the legs in this relay. Danbury’s meet record of 1:42.14 might be a tall order but you could see one of the deepest 4x200m relays in a long time on the track on Saturday afternoon. 

4x800m

From the shortest relay to the longest relay, the 4x800m often resembles a chess match more than an actual race. Hall was the Class LL champion and is the top seed. But what usually happens at the Open is a couple of teams take someone from another event and put them into the relay which will significantly drop their time. Greenwich would like to defend their title and getting 6-10 points will certainly help in the battle for a trophy at the end of the meet. New Canaan and Glastonbury could certainly put people in the relay that didn’t run at the Class meets and move up a few places. And while Mercy’s top two distance runners, Roberts and Wasiolek aren't on the card and can’t do this event, the depth of their team is apparent as they are still seeded top six. 

1000m

Danae Rivers' meet record of 2:50.26, set ten years ago, is in genuine jeopardy of being broken. Gilbert’s time winning that crushed the Class S 1000m record was only .03 slower than River’s time. The Lyme Old Lyme runner led wire to wire and had a 13 second lead at the finish; she might have several girls who will at least be in ear shot on Saturday. Mercy’s Sarah Robert ran a 2:55 at a developmental meet by herself and seems to be in better shape now. Sofia Holovatska of South Windsor has dropped about 10 seconds since last year in the 1000m, running 2:57 the past few weeks. Add in Fairfield Warde’s Alexandra Morgan who was 3rd at last year’s Open and Carolyn Kamp of Glastonbury and it will be very tough to make New Englands in this event. 

55m Hurdles

In the crazy world of high school track and field rankings don't matter and performance on the day rules. Brien McMahon’s Gabby Rivera stepped-up at the Class LL championships and won, finishing under 8:30 for the first time in a time of 8.24, CT #12 all-time. On the same day in the following meet state leader D’Asia Duncan clipped a hurdle and her Bloomfield teammate, defending State Open champion, Vanessa Agyemang pulled away for the win. Windsor’s Tomari Gillespie was defeated by the pair at CCCs but came back last week to win Class L in a time faster than both Bloomfield runners and is seeded 2nd. While the money is still on Duncan, this could be anybody’s race. 

55m

Manchester's Samiya Eady has dominated the 55m event, going undefeated against all Connecticut girls for the past two years. But Lauren Kropo of Naugatuck and Saphyr Brown of Bloomfield have both defeated her this winter; Kropo in early January, and Brown more recently at the Hillhouse Varsity Showcase. Eady, who holds the state's fastest time this season at 7.05 (ranking her fifth all-time in CT) and has already captured the CCC and Class LL titles, enters the State Open. However, Brown's winning time of 7.13 from the Class S championship gives her the top seed time. This race is shaping up to be a highly anticipated rematch of last year's State Open, where the two athletes finished first and second. Also in the field are two Windsor girls Gillespie and Jaida Murray who could also score points for their team.This is another event where the team title just might hang in the balance. 

1600m

Last year’s State Open was a total shock when Lyme Old Lyme junior Chase Gilbert not only upset All American Brooke Strauss but she broke the state record in the 1600m. This year if Gilbert has enough energy after her 1000m race then she will hopefully lead several other girls under the 5-minute mile mark. Lauren Parrett will most likely go into the 4x800m and come back for the 3200m so that leaves Sophie Passalacqua and Hazel DeLucia to battle it out to try to get under 5 minutes. Manchester’s Harper Shirley and Cora Wasiolek of Mercy will look to make New Englands in an individual event. 

1600m SMR

The 1600m sprint medley relay is usually a crazy event at the State Open and teams that score often come from unexpected places. While it is true the 800m leg is very important, the sprints can get the anchor a solid lead which they might be able to hold on to victory. Bloomfield should have a big lead coming from their sprinters. They will hand off to D’Asia Duncan, herself a 2:13 800m from her state record heptathlon performance last spring. She wasn’t challenged until 300m to go, but was able to pick it up over the last lap to claim the Class S title. She is sure to have more in the tank, but she will definitely need it because Mercy anchors Sarah Roberts, a sub 2:10 800m runner. Greenwich should be right with the main pack and Eliana Daplyn is one of the state’s best 600m and 1000m runners this year and will come into the SMR fresh and could also come from behind like she did to win the Class LL championship. Ridgefield should be right in the mix as well and Nonnewaug should also come from behind to join the party in the second half. 

300m

Last year both Samiya Eady of Manchester and Windsor’s Paige Wilson were charged with false starts in their respective Class meets which knocked them out of contention at the Open. Naugatuck’s Lauren Kropo was the state’s top ranked sprinter last year but never got a chance to compete against her two fastest rivals. This year all three are seeded in the mid 40 second range and it could come down to a photo finish as these three championship caliber athletes will sprint to see who can win the State Open title. 

3200m

Distance runners get three chances a year to build up extensive resumes and many of these runners have multiple honors. Lauren Parrett is the defending State Open champion and the Glastonbury sophomore is currently the state leader in the event. At the Open during cross country, Sophie Passalacqua of Greenwich finally got the better of her fellow sophomore and took 2nd at the Open. Senior Anna Vlieks of Hand, the Class M champion, was All New England last spring. Staples’ Sarah Bogdan really entered the state’s elite last spring when she earned All New England in the 3200m and this fall when she finished 4th at the Open. In her first year of full time running New Canaan’s Sienna deKanter has already won Class L titles in cross country and last Friday’s Class L 3200m race. Sarah Roberts was All New England last year in the 3200m but if she runs, it will be after the 1000m and SMR anchor leg. Hazel DeLucia has the 2nd best time this year in the 3200m and was 3rd last year at the State Open. 

Shot Put

The top six girls in the shot put have distances between 39 to 40 feet this season which means this event is totally up in the air. Woodstock’s Avery Plouffe will get to compete last in the prelims because she comes in as the top seed from her Class M season best winning toss of 40'-5.25. This year’s top toss comes from Alexandra Lockwood of Fairfield Ludlowe who has gone over 40 feet twice with a best of 40-6.75. Greenwich’s Theresa Knuth isn’t too far away and has reached over 39 feet the last three meets. Alexandria McWatters is usually in the 36-37 foot range this year but the athlete from Foran has had two tosses over 39 feet. Every once in a while it all comes together at the very end of the season. It is hopefully happening for Southington junior Sara Fares who has been hitting in the 33-35 ft range but popped off a 39-1 to take 3rd at Class LL. Finally there is Bloomfield's Payton Sirdine who has made the Open all four years in high school and was State Open runner-up last winter. She has a best of 39-1 this year and will try to help her team in their title defense. 

Other Top Seeds Include:

High Jump: Frieda Patzner - 5' 5" Fairfield Ludlowe, Jenna Luoma - 5' 2" Ellington, Greysen Thomas 5' 2" Lakeview, Ayden Darvil 5' 2" Suffield

600m: Lauren Kropo - 1:33.98 Naugatuck, Alexandra Golder - 1:36.87 Hall,  Gemma Hardwick 1:38.07 - Greenwich 

4x400m: Windsor 4:04.08, Greenwich 4:04.90, Newington 4:05.13

Pole Vault:  Kaylin Diglio - 11' 6" Guilford, Sophia Ciarleglio -11' 0" Sacred Heart Academy, Teagan Czaja - 10' 6" East Lyme, Kendall Cunningham - 10' 6" Fairfield Warde, Eva DiGarbo - 10' 6" Ledyard, Lily Royce - 10' 6" Brien McMahon, Kamryn Plikus - 10' 6" Montville, Manar Abis - 10' 6" Staples

Long Jump - Vanessa Agyemang 18' 11" Bloomfield, Saphyr Brown - 18' 8.25" Bloomfield, Nyasia Taylor - 18' 1" Hillhouse

It’s not too early to think about your plans for summer training that could include attending the Foss Running Camp!