Staples girls track ends season at 7-4

The Staples girls outdoor track team finished its regular season with a 7-4 record after losing to host Fairfield Warde, 85-60 and beating New Canaan, 80-64.

"I'm happy with our season," Staples Coach Jesse McCray said. "Without a doubt, it was the most challenging schedule I had since I've been here."

Having senior captain Joselyn Henry made things easier for the Lady Wreckers. Henry won three events and finished second in her fourth event.

"I just stayed focused and I worked hard to stay on top," Henry said.

Ironically, the one event she didn't win is the one she's very impressed with, her personal best in the 100-meter dash in which she completed in 13.2 seconds. Unfortunately for Henry, Warde's Sarah Duffy (13.0) was slightly faster.

"I chose one girl to chase down," Henry said. "I tried to pass her [but I wasn't able to] but I was able to keep the other girls behind me."

She won her two throwing events, starting with the shot put (36-3) -- an event she's been familiar with for quite some time.

"It was all about technique and I knew what I had to work on," Henry said.

The discus may be a new event for her but it is slowly becoming second nature to her as well. She won the discus by throwing it 93-10.

"All I was thinking about is to get to the point where I know the technique, which I haven't mastered yet," Henry stated.

Henry won the long jump (16-10) and is becoming an elite performer in this event as well.

"I worked on my landing and I didn't let my feet drop too early," Henry said.

Junior Ingrid Johnson finished tied for first in the 400 meters (60.4) with New Canaan's Melanie Escalante.

"I knew I had to get out fast and run as hard as I can," Johnson said. "I'm happy with how it turned out."

Johnson is an 800 meter runner by trade and was the Lady Wreckers cross country team's top runner this past fall. Escalante is a sprinter by trade. Nevertheless, they faced each other in the 200-meter dash with Escalante (27.1) prevailing, but Johnson (27.3) came close to beating her.

"She's a much quicker runner and has a lot of speed than I, but I'm happy because I had my best time ever," Johnson said. "She pushed me in it and I appreciate it."

Staples also won the 4x400 meter relay (4:11.1) with Johnson leading off. Juniors Emily Hanrahan and Kristen Weiler and sophomore anchor Courtney Mullen followed.

"I just wanted to get the team off to a good start so we could win the event," Johnson said.

Junior Megan Lipset won the pole vault (9-0). Freshman Georgia Kursten took second in the 1,600 meters (5:25.1) and classmate Judy Feng (12:17.2) had a personal best in the 3,200 meters in taking third. Senior captain Kylie Gould was third in the 800 (2:26.7).

The Lady Wreckers will compete at the FCIAC championships on Tuesday at Danbury. They placed eighth at FCIACs last year and are confident they will improve their placement and Henry will play a major role in their quest.

"We're at full strength and we should do well at FCIACs," McCray said. "The runners will do well. Ingrid will run well. Our 4x800 [meter relay team] and 4x400 will do well. A lot of things will have to go right for us to finish in the top four and hopefully, we will. I know we'll give a good effort no matter what and I'm proud of the girls."

Henry said, "We're definitely placing higher than we did in the past. We're building strong 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams and they are stronger than they've been in the past."