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Danbury Dream Invite

Another CT record, US#1 for Cabral

Saturday, May 24, 2008 - Danbury HS, Danbury CT

DyeStat onsite with John Nepolitan


FULL RESULTS Timed by Grimes Times - Meet report - Preview

John Nepolitan Galleries General 36 pix - Race Sequence 26 pix - BUY DANBURY DREAM ACTION PIX

Highlights
  • Glastonbury sr Donn Cabral 8:56.35 2-mile, his third state record (5k, 10k) and third US#1 (mile, 10k) of the year. Danbury sr Willie Ahearn big PR 8:57.92 right behind him
  • Branford CT's Matt Casey 1:53.77 to win the 800; favorite Parker Boudreau DNF with mild injury
  • Ellington CT's Andrew Sullivan 6:08.14 to win 2k Steeple
  • Hall CT's Everett Hackett 4:20.55


Left, Cabrall and Ahearn after their sub-9s; right, Casey nips Hula in the 800. Photos by John Nepolitan


Cabral and Ahearn top CT State 2M record

Meet Wrapup by John Nepolitan

MileEverett Hackett (Hall HS, Ct), jumped to the front at the gun, leading through splits of 64, 2:11 and 3:17, then finishing in a swift 62+ to cross in 1st in 4:20.55. The hosts’ Justin Rau came home in a strong 4:23.32.

800 – The race was supposed to be a state record attempt by Danbury’s Parker Boudreau, but in the end it was Matt Casey (Branford, Ct) holding off Alex Hula(Litchfield, Ct), 1:53.77 to 1:53.86, with David Krinjak(Manchester, Ct) in 3rd in 1:54. Bourdeau was in front at 600 meters, reached in 1:22, but was forced to drop out due to a slight Achilles tendon problem

2000 Meter Steeplechase
– Defending champ Andrew Sullivan (Ellington, Ct) came in with the goal to get a NON qualifying time, and that is just what he got, leading wire-to-wire and crossing the line in 6:08.14.

2 mile – The final event of the night featured the meet’s deepest field and, in the end, produced a new Conneticut state record.

Coming back from the mile to play the role of pace maker, Everett Hackett towed the field through three straight laps of 66s before dropping out. Behind Hackett, a line of Donn Cabral (Glastonbury, Ct) , Willie Ahearn (Danbury, Ct) and Colby Delbene(Pawling, NY) formed.

Once Hackett finished his duties, Cabral jumped to the front and started to press the pace, quickly gaining a gap on Ahearn and Delbene. The mile post was reached by Cabral in 4:28 and, slowly over the next 2 laps, the Foot Locker finalist pulled away. Behind the leader, Delbene passed Ahearn, waking up the Danbury senior, who then started a long drive to chase the leader.

Just when it looked like Cabral would have to push all the way to the finish alone, Ahearn started to close in. With just 200 meters to go, the Texas bound Ahearn pulled to Cabral’s shoulder. The pair fought around the turn, but Cabral would not yield the lead and in the end would hold on for the win. The final results produced the top 2 times ever run by Connecticut athletes. For his efforts, Delbene would get a personal best in getting 3rd.

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Meet Preview by John Nepolitan

When your team has national-class athletes, you like to see them be able to compete against the best possible talent that is available and try for some special performances. When a school has a top-flight facility it looks to host quality events. That is what Coach Rob Murray and his Danbury(CT) team will do this weekend when they host The Danbury Dream Invite on Saturday.

Danbury has qualified for the last 2 NTNs and has won the NSIC 4 x Mile championship this past indoor season, scaring the national record. This weekend, some of the members from those teams will take to the schools fast Mondo track with some of the best runners from CT and a few neighbors in an effort to run fast and challenge records. The meet schedule is fast and compact, but each event will have some excitement. If you have no plans on this holiday weekend and are anywhere near Danbury, stop by and see some of the best runners in the Northeast do battle against each other and the clock.

Order of events (boys events only) - 1 heat of each with field size limited - 7:30 p.m. start with rolling schedule
  • 800-meters
  • 1-Mile
  • 2-Mile
  • 2000-meter steeplechase
  • Open 3000-meter steeplechase
Event previews

800 - The first race of the evening could very well set the tone as the host school’s Parker Boudreau leads a field that of sub-2:00 half-milers. Boudreau has run a 1:52.94 this season in winning the Hartford Invitational, sitting until late in the race, but there will be no sitting here as a pacesetter is scheduled to take the field through 500 meters in 1:07. Boudreau recently ran a 1:20 600-meter time trial all alone so he knows the pace he needs to attack the race goal of sub-1:50. Anything under the 1:50 barrier will bring the leader close to the Connecticut state record of 1:49.95 set in 1987 by Mike Remigino. One runner who could challenge for the win could be Cos Loxsom(Wilber Cross HS, CT). It was Loxsom who Boudreau sat on at the Hartford meet and, if he is feeling well this week, he will be part of the field.

1-Mile - The top two entries in the field are Everett Hackett (Hall HS, Ct), who recently ran a personal best 9:19.09 for 2 miles at the Hartford Invitational, and Matt Casey(Branford, Ct), who has bests of 4:18.74 for the mile and a 1000 best of 2:30.45.

2-Mile - A second Connecticut state record could be under attack as Donn Cabral (Glastonbury, Ct), Willie Ahearn(Danbury, Ct) and Colby Debene(Pawling, NY) head a field that is looking to go sub-9:00. Cabral, a 2 time footlocker finalist, is the US leader at both the mile (4:09.80) and 10,000 (30:52.08), so he has both the mix of speed and strength needed to attack the 9:00 barrier. Earlier this season, Cabral also ran a new Connecticut state record in the 5000 with a 14:32.60 clocking, while his best for 3200 dates back to last year’s 9:02 – but he has not really attacked the distance this spring. Ahearn has a recent 4:13.48 mile to his credit and was the anchor leg on the NSIC championship relay team this past winter. Delbene is a NY State class "C" xc champion and two weeks ago won the Loucks Games in a state leading time of 9:10.76.

2000 steeplechase - Runners will be chasing the NON qualifying time of 6:14.

Open 3000 Steeplechase - This race will include local college and club athletes and any high school runners who did not make the 2000 meter event. It will be more difficult, but the NON 9:45 qualifying standard will be the target.



Danbury HS Stadium Directions

From the West: Take I-84E to Exit 5. After the stop sign, get in left lane and take a left at the light at the bottom of the hill onto Rt. 39. When you get to the next light, get into the right lane and go straight onto Clapboard Ridge Rd. and up the hill. Danbury High School will be on your right. Go just past the high school and you will come to a light. Take a right at that light onto East Gate Road. Take the first right into the stadium parking lot.

From the East: Take I-84W to Exit 5. Once you get off the exit, get in the left lane and go left at the traffic light onto Clapboard Ridge Rd. Go up the hill. Danbury High School will be on your right. Go just past the high school and you will come to a light. Take a right at that light onto East Gate Road. Take the first right into the stadium parking lot.






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