Centaurs  repeat as  ECC Div. I  champs
For a second consecutive year, the Woodstock girls’ track team claimed the ECC Div. I championship with an 88-62 win over Norwich Free Academy last week.  
 “It felt absolutely amazing to go undefeated two years in a row,” junior Juliet Allard said. “I felt it was a really big goal for this season. As defending champs from last year, we knew we had to come back even stronger this year and I thought we did that. It felt really, really good.”
Coach Josh Welch did not go in with as much confidence as he came back with from Norwich.
He and the NFA coaching staff talked briefly prior to the meet, both had scored things out prior and it looked pretty even going in, maybe a 10-point differential.
“We ended up walking away with a lot more than I thought we would walk away with. We had some stellar performances and some surprises. It made for a really exciting meet,” Welch said.
Allard and Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain both had fantastic performances, each figuring in four first-place finishes for the Centaurs (3-0, 3-0 ECC Division I).
“I think it felt about equal (to last year),” D’Alleva-Bochain said of the team repeating as champs. “Not to say there was pressure, we knew it could be done, so I felt like it had to be done. Maybe that made for a little more pressure, but it didn’t away from the fun of it.’
Allard joined Ella Lidonde, Elise Coyle and Emma Weitknecht to win the 4x100m relay and shattered the Woodstock Academy school record in the process. The quartet crossed the line in 50.3 seconds.
The previous record, set in 1999, was 50.91 seconds. “I was so happy about that and it felt so good,” Allard said.
Welch, obviously, called that time “smoking fast” but he was most happy to see the quartet continuing to move in a positive direction. He thinks the group could lose another half-second and get under the 50-second mark.
Allard also placed first in the 100m, 200m (where she tied her own school record) and 300m hurdles.
“It was a pretty solid day,” Allard said. “I haven’t run the 200m in a long time. It was my first time running it in over a month and only my second time all season but it felt really, really good. I felt strong. It was a good day. I felt confident in all my races.”
All Welch has to do now is clone her.
“I wish she could do more events, she is killing it,” Welch said. She could finish in the top three in a handful of events.”
D’Alleva-Bochain was first in the 800m and javelin and was a member of the winning 4x800 and 4x400m relays.
Which one did she like most?
“I liked the 4x800 because I’m mostly an 800 runner and I like the idea of doing it as a team,” the sophomore said.
It would not have been Welch’s choice.
“We had some surprises and Izzy is a great example. She has thrown the javelin, roughly, twice at this point and she went from 60-something feet to the high 90s which is competitive at the state level and it came out of nowhere. That was exciting to see,” Welch said. “She’s an absolute workhorse. She hasn’t had the opportunity to really set personal best performances for her own 800 but she has been amazingly consistent with her 4x800 and 800 times being always where we need them to be.”
Julia Coyle was also a part of the 4x800m team and also won the 1600 and 3200m races.
Weitknecht was also first in the 100m hurdles and second in the 300m hurdles.
The Centaurs needed the performance in the 100m hurdles from Weitknecht.
Senior Jillian Edwards was well out in front, but tripped in the event.
“I didn’t think we were going to get it (a first-place) and we kind of needed it. For Emma to be able to back up Jillian (after the trip) and still get the winning points was amazing,” Welch said.
Talia Tremblay, despite some shin issues, was a part of the winning 4x400 and 4x800m relay teams.
Fellow senior Reegan Reynolds won the triple jump.
Olivia Tracy was also a member of the winning 4x800m relay team and was second in the 800, 1600 and 3200m races.
Avery Plouffe was second in shotput and Lily Morgis was second in discus.
Next up for the Centaurs is the ECC championship meet on Monday at East Lyme High School (the meet ended too late for this edition).
“I think we have a really good shot at ECC’s,” Welch said. “Scoring breaks out a little differently with the larger number of places and, in most instances, will benefit us. The break up of Division I and Division II which means five other teams will also be taking points which should help. I think we have four, five or six events where we are a strong lock for first or second place.”
Welch admitted he is also feeling good about the Class MM state championships which will take place on Tuesday, May 28 at Willow Brook Park in New Britain.
“I don’t know if we have a state championship team but it’s not far from it,” Welch said. “The NFA coaches think we have a shot at it. Could be, could be, but I don’t want to think too far ahead.”
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy

Sophomore Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain finished with four first against Norwich Free Academy last week.

Junior Juliet Allard was first in the 300m hurdles, 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay against Norwich Free Academy. Photos by Marc Allard/Woodstock Academy.

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