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Centaurs break
track records
The University of Rhode Island Invitational was the site where a couple of Woodstock Academy indoor track school records fell.
The Centaurs boys’ team accounted for both of those marks as Greg Weber set the standard for the long jump at the school when he cleared 21-feet-3 inches to take first Jan. 11.
Joe Zhou also broke a school mark when he launched a 42-foot triple jump.
Weber’s jump broke the previous mark owned by Jason Howard that was set before the turn of the century in 1999.
The senior did so in just his third-ever long jump competition.
“Greg was a surprise,” said Woodstock indoor track head coach Josh Welch.
Welch said the coaching staff was just hopeful that Weber would clear 19-feet and qualify for the CIAC state championship.
Welch thinks that Weber has a chance at an individual ECC championship in the event and could also finish in the top three in the high jump. He is also optimistic that Weber could qualify for the State Open championship.
Zhou took part in his first triple jump of the season and Welch is hopeful that he will continue to improve on his numbers as the season progresses.
Juniors Ethan Aspiras and Adam Schimmelpfennig also had state qualifying performances.
Aspiras did so in the 2-mile where he finished second in the invitational field with a 10:15.9 minute performance.
Schimmelpfennig finished the high hurdles in 8.78 seconds to qualify for States in the event.
The 4x200 meter team of Scout Favreau, Schimmelpfennig, Jeff and Eric Phongsa also qualified for States with a 1:43.74 performance.
The boys’ team improved to 4-1 in dual meets with a 1-1 performance Jan. 8. The Centaurs downed Quaboag Regional, 53.5 – 32.5 but lost to host Tantasqua, 47-39.
Aspiras was a winner in both the 1000 and 1,600 meter races. Jackson Dias, Zhou and Weber finished 1-2-3 in the high jump. Schimmelpfennig finished second in both the hurdles and 300-meter and T.J Walden was second in the 2-mile.
Centaurs Girls
Another Woodstock Academy school record is in jeopardy.
Sophomore Linsey Arends finished third in the 1,600-meter race in 5 minutes, 29 seconds Jan. 11 at the University of Rhode Island Invitational.
It leaves her just 1.1 seconds off the school mark.
“Linsey is doing great and her work prepping for postseason is just beginning,” Welch said. “Once we hit some focused speed work for the mile, I expect her to make some significant improvements.”
Senior Julia Theriaque finished tied for second in the high jump in South Kingstown as she successfully cleared the bar at 4-feet-10.
The 4x800 meter girls relay team of Meg Gohn, Iris Bazinet, Arends and Lauren Brule finished second in the competition in 11:05 which is just shy of a state qualifying time.
Daisy Li did qualify for state competition as she finished the 55-meter hurdles in 10.24 seconds.
The Centaurs girls improved their dual meet record to 5-1 Jan. 8, downing Quaboag Regional, 62-20, and Notre Dame Academy, 64-17. They fell to Tantasqua, 48-38.
Arends won both the 1000-meter (3:28.3) and mile (5:48) events. Gohn, Brule and Bazinet finished 1-2-3 in the 2-mile race. Theriaque was first in the high jump, clearing 4-feet-10 and then winning the jump-off tiebreaker at 5-feet. Li was second in the 55-meter hurdles and third in the 55-meter dash.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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