Class M Track: Hillhouse girls win title

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NEW BRITAIN — As Gary Moore sat back and watched his Hillhouse girls track team cruise to the Class M state title on Tuesday at Willow Brook Park, he had the look of a proud parent.

And that’s not just because his daughter, Leah, won the shot put with a throw of 37-9.75.

Moore was proud of his entire team, which utilized its depth in multiple events to win the meet.

“The kids did a really good job today,” Moore said. “I’m very pleased with what they did. They definitely stepped up to the challenge. I can’t complain about anything today.”

There was one thing, however, that had Moore and others around the event a little miffed. The girls 400 was won by Terry Miller of Bulkeley, who as recently as this winter ran with the Bulkeley boys’ indoor team. Miller, who also won the girls’ 100 and 200, edged out Hillhouse’s Jada Boyd in the 400 by less than a second.

Hillhouse’s Nyia White finished third.

Moments after the race was over, Boyd — still trying to catch her breath — said she wasn’t happy about the race itself.

New Britain, Connecticut - May 29, 2018: CIAC Class M Outdoor Track and Field Championships Monday at Willowbrook Park in New Britain. New Britain, Connecticut - May 29, 2018: CIAC Class M Outdoor Track and Field Championships Monday at Willowbrook Park in New Britain. Photo: Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 60 Caption Close Class M Track: Hillhouse girls win title 1 / 60 Back to Gallery

“I don’t think it’s fair,” she said. “I wasn’t comfortable at all. It mentally kind of throws me off, but I had to fight through it.”

Indeed, Boyd registered her personal-best time in the event at 57.49. It was far better than the first time she competed against Miller, when Moore said his girls “were almost distraught.”

“I told them, ‘You’ve got to go out there and use him to run better,’” Moore said. “And Jada ran the best time she’s ever run. I mean, what more do we want? That’s ultimately what it’s all about.”

Still, Moore admits he’s not completely comfortable with the situation.

“You know, I don’t think it’s fair to the girls,” he said. “I just think right now, there should be some changes that would make it a little more of an even playing field.”

Make no mistake — Moore believes there is a place for Miller in the event.

“I believe he should be able to compete, but is the playing field really even?,” he added. “I think sometimes people make light of it, but for a lot of these kids, this is their ticket to an education. I just feel like, sometimes all the other girls, their feelings aren’t taken into consideration for the minority. The majority gets affected, but no one cares. You have kids who’ve been training for years and years for this opportunity.”

One thing Moore and everybody seems to agree on — it’s a very complicated situation. Andraya Yearwood, a transgendered athlete, finished second in the 100 and fifth in the 200.

“At the end of the day, something needs to be done, just so there’s an even playing field,” Moore said. “And those kids are still able to compete. They should be able to compete. The question is how, and what does it look like?”

“Let’s figure out what we can do to make this thing work for everybody.”

On the boys’ side, Sheehan’s Terrence Bogan won the 100 with a time of 11.09.

“I’m happy with everything,” said Bogan, a sophomore. “I was seeded first, so I had to push myself a lot harder than most days.”

Bogan also teamed with Joe Bernick, Alberto Avila and Camden Wallace to finish fifth in the 4x100 relay with a near school-record time of 44.11.

Seymour’s Cade Klarides-Ditria won the javelin at 180-10.

david.borges

@hearstmediact.com