Weaver's Daundre Barnaby has a record setting day
 As the New Haven Track and Field Center was emptying there was little doubt who the star of the Connecticut State Open Championships was. Daundre Barnaby (Weaver) had stepped onto the track three times and each time produced a performance that left fans amazed. Any one of his races would have been enough to garner a headline, but the combination of a new state record in the 600 meters, a US #3 time in the 300 meters and a scorching anchor leg that helped bring his team in to a meet record was something special especially when those 3 performances are part of a 5 hour meet and none of his events were the first or the last of the afternoon.
The first time Barnaby (photo left by John Nepolitan) would step to the track would be the showdown that was most looked forward to. A last weekends State Class meets Cas Loxsom (Wilbur Cross) had taken control of the State Record with a 1:20.87 clocking. Barnaby would come very close in winning his class setting up a showdown between the distance strength of Loxsom and the long sprinter speed of Barnaby. Starting in lanes Barnaby broke on top with Hamden’s Chris Fitzsimmons right on his shoulder. Passing through the opening lap in about 25 seconds it was almost a sure thing that the State Record would be re-written. Loxsom was able to get past Fitzsimmons and to Barnaby’s shoulder as the pair passed 400 meters in 53 seconds. At the top of the back straight with 150 meters to go Loxsom would attempt to get by, but would be held off. Forced to settle in there was going to be one last rush. That rush by Loxsom came off the final turn, but Barnaby was not going to be denied and held on for a 1:20.29 – 1:20.65 win. His first gold of the afternoon and Barnaby had taken the state record and meet record. The times for the leaders would be the #5 and #7 times in the USA in 2009 and # 2 & 3 on the dyestat metro elite list.
A short time later Barnaby would return to the track for the 300, run as a straight final on time, and this time face Austin Von Ohlsen (Ridgefield) who earlier in the afternoon won the 55 meters. Von Ohlsen was one lane outside Barnaby and after 100 meters had a slight edge on the Weaver senior, but then Barnaby went to work. Gliding away from the field, Barnaby would stop the clock at 34.10 a 2nd meet record and the #3 time in the nation for 2009. In the next to last event of the program, Barnaby would take the stick for the anchor leg of the 4 x 400. By the time he received the stick the race was over all he simply had to do was get around two laps and his day would be over. Not really shifting into high gear until he hit the back straight, Barnaby cruised an easy looking 47.9 leg to bring Weaver over the line in a 3rd meet record 3:25.27. 3 wins 3 meet records – easily the star of the day.
While Barnaby would grab the spotlight for the day, there were fireworks before he hit the track. At the far end of the fieldhouse the boys shot put  was in the middle of a see saw battle. After the preliminary round Chad Nadeau (Plainfield) had grabbed the lead from the favorites and held that lead until the final round of throws. Stepping into the ring for his final throw after having improved on each throw of the competition, Danbury’s Robert Guider uncorked a 54’ 7.5” throw to grab the lead. Nadeau (photo right by John Nepolitan) would be next up for the final throw of the competition and would respond with a 55’ 0” throw to wrestle back the title. For Nadeau an upset win, for Guider extra points for his Danbury team looking to retain the team crown.
Danbury would go on to win the team title and once again it would garner most of its points from its strong middle distance team. The Bubniak brothers Dan and Joey would each claim individual titles to lead the way. Dan winning the 1000 and Joey, who had been the early season national leader in the mile, would win the 1600 in 4:27.50 – far off his season best of 4:17.01 for the full mile, but the important 10 points were what mattered today. In the days first track final Joey had also brought his team up to grab 2nd in the 4 x 800 behind Hamden, just nipping Amity at the line. Danbury would score a meet record of its own in taking the Sprint Medley relay in 3:37.34 – Wilbur Cross’s 3:37.51. Getting the baton for the 800 meter anchor leg in last Cas Loxsom of Wilbur Cross would work his way to the lead after 400 meters only to have Danbury go by and it almost looked like a replay of the 600 where Loxsom would try to get past the leader coming off the last turn, but would once again get held off.
 While Danbury would rely on its middle distance runners for its team points in its drive to team honors, the Weaver girls would use a core of sprint talent to win the girls crown. Led by senior Catherine Milledge, Weaver (photo right by John Nepolitan) would score 54 of its winning 68 points in the sprint events. Milledge would lead a 1-2 finish in the 55 and add a leg on the winning 4 x 200 team. Adding additional wins by Marsha Raynor in the 300 and Cassandra Bennett in the hurdles Weaver would go on to a 68 – 44 win over Norwich Free Academy.
While the boys shot put at the start of the day provided drama, the girls shot out was the scene of the days most dominating win. Rachel Aliotta (Cheshire) would win the event by almost 5’ with a toss of 41’ 6.5”. Only a junior, Aliotta is sure to dominate next year as well as the following two placers behind her will be moving on to college in the fall.
Coming into the day it was thought that a second state record might be threatened when recent state record setter Emily Ando (Weston) took to the pole vault runway. Ando had set the current state record of 12’ in winning the SWC Champiosnhips, but today would have to settle for a 4 way tie for 3rd with a 10’ clearance. Ando will have another chance next year to improve on her record, but will have 2nd placer Kaylan Pickford (Norwich) and fellow 3rd placer freshman Robin Bone (Darien) to contend with. While Ando struggled, Kim Johnson (Norwich) was able to match her seed of 11’ and claim the title
For the top six in each event, except the pole vault and sprint medley relay, the season does not end in New Haven. In two weeks qualified athletes and relay teams will advance to the New England Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center.
 
Team Champions Danbury Boys and Weaver Girls
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