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Annabel Shackett

 

By Ron P. Coderre

This week’s RPC column is dedicated to former Putnam resident and owner of Chase Graphics Jim “Hemo” St. Jean.  As a high school athlete St. Jean was a standout football receiver for the Putnam Clippers as well as a speedy basketball player with great leaping ability.  St. Jean blew out another candle on the cake on April 21.

Woodstock Academy, which boasts a number of great track and field performers in its long and storied history, is sending another athlete to the college ranks in September.  Annabel Shackett, surrounded by family, friends, coaches and school officials, announced her intention to attend Assumption College in September.

Shackett, who has been a member of the Centaurs track and field team for four years, signed her letter of intent at noon on Wednesday, April 22 in a ceremony held in the Bracken Administrative Conference room on the Woodstock Academy campus.  A three-sport star at Woodstock, she is recognized as one of the top javelin throwers in the Eastern Connecticut Conference as well as a quality performer in running events.  Shackett, who also was a soccer standout as the goalie for the Acads and a member of the basketball team, turned down a number of other college offers to play soccer, opting to accept a scholarship to Assumption where she’ll concentrate on throwing the javelin. 

Assumption College an NCAA Division II school located in Worcester, Mass., is a member of the highly competitive Northeast 10 Conference.  The last Woodstock Academy female athlete to attend Assumption College was Leslie Lupien who was a standout scholar/athlete on the Lady Greyhounds basketball team.

Shackett is the daughter of Andy and Tia Shackett.

Local Runners Fare Well in Boston

The Boston Marathon, which was marred by the devastating bombing that killed three people and injured hundreds in 2013, thankfully went off without a hitch on Monday, April 20.  More than 30,000 male and female long distance runners toed the starting line in Hopkinton, Massachusetts for the 26-mile, 365-yard trek to the finish line at the Prudential Center.

Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia, who won the 2013 event and turned over his winning medal to the community of Boston as a symbol of his support of the “Boston Strong” initiative, repeated as the winner this year and plans on retaining the medal this time.  Desisa’s winning time in the 119th running of the granddaddy of all marathons was two hours, nine minutes and 17 seconds.

The first American male runner to cross the finish line was Dathan Ritzenhein who broke the tape in seventh place in a time of 2:11:20.  Kenyan Caroline Rotich, who sprinted to the finish line to win by four seconds over Mare Dibaba, was the top female runner in a time of 2:24:55.  American Desiree Linden was fourth in 2:25:39.  Last year’s overall winner, Meb Keflezighi finished eighth in 2:12:42.

More than 30 runners from throughout Eastern Connecticut competed in this year’s marathon, many posting respectable finishing times.  The top northeastern Connecticut finisher was Plainfield’s Michael Stadolnik with a time of 2:40:19.  His closest local finisher was David Lusignan in 3:04:24.  Both Lusignan and Stadolnik have participated in the O’Putnam 5K and the Deary Memorial Race.

Elizabeth Edwards of Thompson was the top local female to cross the finish line in a time of 3:12:09.  Jenna Siekierski of Putnam was the next female in 3:45:47, with Pomfret’s Amy Paige the third local female in 4:05:27.

Behind Stadolnik and Lusignan were area male runners Andrew Gasiorek of Pomfret (3:18:29), Brett Jackson of Plainfield (3:27:37) and Robert Duval of Wauregan (3:32:57).  Veteran runner and a man who has run in Boston on numerous occasions, Harry Lepp of Danielson made his way over the course in 5:28:44.

The Boys in the Van

Two of northeastern Connecticut’s most avid bicycling enthusiasts Doug Porter and Dennis Kelly, both of Woodstock, recently returned from a few days in Greenville, S.C.  The pair went south to participate in a four-day TREK Training Camp, which helps bicyclists from up north to prepare for the upcoming cycling season in by prepping in the warm southern weather.

Unfortunately for Kelly and Porter the weather man didn’t cooperate.  During their stay in South Carolina they encountered cool days and rainy conditions.  According to reports, 13 cyclists started the four-day, 200 mile trek accompanied by an emergency van for bicycle or cyclist breakdowns.  The rule was, when you and your bike go in the van, you stay there for the remainder of the ride.

The 200-mile ride was broken into legs of 32, 74, 60 and 34 miles.  Only two riders, Kelly and Porter, completed the trip on bicycle, despite the adverse conditions.  It seems that those riders relegated to the van were urging Kelly and Porter to join them, but the pair pedaled their way to the finish, much to the dismay of the other 11.  Way to make us proud, boys.

Tiger Hall of Fame Adds Numbers

Tourtellotte Memorial High School inducted its initial class of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.  The Class of 2015 is scheduled to be inducted on Saturday, June 20 at 2 p.m. in the Thompson Public Schools Auditorium.  Among those to be inducted is Carolyn Babbitt of the Class of 1984.

Babbitt, one of the greatest harriers to grace the North Grosvenordale campus, ran cross country for four years.  During that time she attained Connecticut All State honors in 1981, 1982 and 1983.  Her teams won the Quinebaug Valley Conference Championship all four years.  She was honored as a QVC all star and the team’s Most Valuable Player.  The teams on which Babbitt ran were undefeated in dual meets during her Tourtellotte running career.

Babbitt, the daughter of A. David and Peg Babbitt, also starred on the Lady Tigers softball team for four years.  She later went on the Holy Cross College in Worcester, where she ran cross country for the Crusaders.

They’re Back

The high school golf season is underway despite some chilly and sometimes soggy conditions.  The Killingly Redmen under the direction of coach Kevin Marcoux appears to be the local team that others will gauge their success on.  The team is once again paced by twin brothers John and Drew Aitken.  The brothers, who are juniors at Killingly, have led the team to a 4-0 start out of the gate.  In a recent tri-match against Norwich Free Academy and East Lyme at Norwich Golf Course the twins turned in outstanding performances with John gaining medalist honors with a 37 followed closely by Drew with a 38.  

RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: “”In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us.” Flora Edwards

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