Heart boys track and field looking to compete in NVL, also taking aim at Class S title

It was full speed ahead for the Sacred Heart boys in wins over St. Paul and Crosby
on Tuesday at Crosby High School. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69)

Sacred Heart boys track and field improved to 7-1 with wins of 79-70 over Crosby and 119-29 over St. Paul during Tuesday’s tri-meet at Jimmy Lee Stadium.
The Hearts aspire to compete at the highest levels of both the NVL and Class S, where they were the runner-up to Derby. In running events, Sacred Heart can compete in anything from the 200 meters to the 3200.
“I’ve got great coaches, I’ve got great kids,” Hearts head coach Tom Festa said.
Sacred Heart has strong athletes up and down the lineup, led by a strong distance team paced by senior Jonny Warren. 
“We’re moving forward where we want to go,” Festa said.
The Hearts also step up to fill voids when they occur. For instance, star E.J. Williams is out a couple weeks with a sprained ankle. In steps Noah Francisco, who took first place in the 110-meter hurdles in a time of 20.66.
“Everybody steps up now that E.J. is out,” Festa said.
Festa also listed names like Mechai Hayes, Andre Anderson, Mike DiGiovancarlo, Nyron Drunnaramanio and Zach Francisco. Klajdi Cepa is solid in the throws and the javelin. In a show of depth, three Hearts have qualified for states in the 200 meters so far this season.
Sacred Heart has to go up against Derby, Seymour, Woodland and Naugatuck for NVL supremacy. In Class S, Derby and Immaculate are among the major foes.
The wins for the Sacred Heart boys were the following:

4×800: Zach Francisco, Adam Pepin, Nick Salerno, Jonny Warren, time of 9:29.46
110H: Noah Francisco, 20.66
1600: Warren, 4:42.36
200: Mechai Hayes, 23.65
3200: Warren, 10:27.89
4×400: Z. Francisco, Michael DiGiovancarlo, Andre Anderson, Hayes, 3:37.01
HJ: Drunnaramanio, 5-8
LJ: N. Francisco, 18-10
TJ: Tajeem Staley, 36-9




SACRED HEART GIRLS

Jenna French and the Sacred Heart girls also picked up wins over St. Paul and Crosby
on Tuesday at Crosby High School. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69)


The Hearts improved to 5-3 with wins of 113-26 over Crosby and 109-34 over St. Paul on Tuesday.
“They cheer each other on, they all work hard,” Festa said.
Junior distance runner Jenna French is a big-time contributor for Sacred Heart. Sophomore Beverly Okoronkwo was mentioned by Festa, and she had a solid day against the Bulldogs and Falcons. Okoronkwo qualified for the state meet in the 200 and is close in the 400, Festa said.
Veronique Recile, Elysa Lopez and Nicole Dasilva are tremendous sophomores, and Asia Chapman is a freshman who will have to be reckoned with down the road.
Senior Michele Vasiliou is solid in the throws.
“They just compete and they work hard,” Festa said.
The wins for the Sacred Heart girls were the following:

4×800: Melany Boivin, Nicole Dasilva, Ashlyn Arcuri, Jenna French, time of 12:39.34
100H: Ashley Vasiliou, 20.63
100: Asia Chapman, 13.79
1600: French, 5:39.74
400: Okoronkwo, 66.42
800: French, 2:37.21
200: Okoronkwo, 28.32
3200: French, 12:44.90
4×400: Lopez, Dasilva, Victoria Creaven, Arcuri, 5:27.47
HJ: Madeline Bouffard, 4-6
SP: Michele Vasiliou, 30-4.5
Discus: Michele Vasiliou, 78-1
Javelin: Alyssa Parrillo, 75-6