Boys

East Lyme

Coach: Steve Hargis

Key returnees: Sr. Ben Ostrowski (middle distance), Sr. Jon Combies (middle distance), Sr. Andrew Bernard (middle distance), Sr. Tim Myers (middle distance), Sr. Ryan Lumsden (sprints), So. Chris Apicelli (sprints), Sr. Nolan Perron (hurdles), Sr. Kote Wilkinson (throws).

Top newcomers: Jr. Andrew Handfield (distance), Sr. Dan Gage (hurdles, middle distance), Sr. Mitch Andres (sprints, jumps).

Outlook: The Vikings should be right in the thick of things in the the Eastern Connecticut Conference Large Division and at the state level. Ostrowski is one of the state's elite middle distance runners while Combies is coming off a solid cross country season, earning All-Area honors along with Ostrowski.

Ledyard

Coach: Dave Tetlow (41st year)

Key returnees: Sr. Ben Bruciati (sprints, relays), Sr. Alex Hintz-Valdez (long jump, sprints), Sr. Alex Paterson (sprints, relays), Sr. Jeff Rodman (distance), Sr. Anthony Saccone (hurdles, long jump), Sr. Tyler Torelli (distance), Sr. Christof Wegiel (hurdles, relays), Sr. Kyle Wilson (shot put), Jr. Max Armstrong (distance), Jr. Joseph Carter (sprints, relays), Jr. Adam Hildebrant (high jump), Jr. Jeremy Hintz-Valdez (pole vault), Jr. Ryan Johnson (pole vault), Jr. Nick LoBianco (pole vault), Jr. Kevin McCarthy (high jump), So. Bryce Hedman (distance).

Top newcomers: Sr. Steven Servedio (long jump, relays), Sr. Jason Smith (distance), Fr. Aaron Norica (distance).

Outlook: The Colonels will be a factor in both the ECC and Class M state meet. Tetlow, as always, has the ability to put together solid relay teams because of Ledyard's quality depth, and the Colonels have experience in virtually every event. Saccone, Wegiel and Servedio were All-Area performers in soccer as was Wilson in football.

NFA

Coach: Chad Johnson (4th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Kyle Liang (middle distance, distance), Sr. Dustin Plourde (distance), Sr. Martin Lewerk (sprints, jumps), Sr. Taylor Davidson (jumps), Sr. Chris Byars (throws).

Top newcomers: Jr. Niceforo Reyes (distance), Jr. Kobe Amos (sprints), Sr. Joe Trahan (sprints).

Outlook: NFA has won the last three ECC Large Division titles, but may not have the depth to beat Fitch this time around. The Wildcats do, however, had plenty of quality, starting with Liang, the ECC cross country champion and The Day's All-Area Runner of the Year. Johnson believes Lewert, Byars and Davidson all have the ability to challenge for ECC titles and if some of his younger athletes adapt quickly NFA will be competitive at all levels.

St. Bernard

Coach: Brad Columbus (3rd year)

Key returnees: Sr. Alex Davis (distance), Sr. Joey Ferraro (distance), Jr. Charles Rose (middle distance, pole vault), Jr. Patrick Halloran (sprints, jumps), So. Ryan Londregan (middle distance), So. Jon Burianek (distance), So. Patrick Griffin (throws, sprints), So. J.T. Gorman (sprints, jumps).

Newcomers: Fr. Connor Gralton (distance), Jr. William Rios (sprints, jumps), So. Jonathan Cabral (middle distance), Fr. James Rose (distance).

Outlook: The will be the most complete team Columbus has coached as the Saints hope to be competitive in the Small Division and Class S state meet. Gralton, though only a freshman, is already one of the top distance runners in the ECC (he was an All-Area pick in cross country), while Londregan, Halloran and Rose are solid in the middle distance and sprinting events and Ferraro and Davis provide great senior leadership.

Girls

Ledyard

Coach: Dave Tetlow (41st year)

Key returnees: Sr. Laurel Holubecki (hurdles), Sr. Adedoyin Ladoja (shot put), Sr. Halle Lehner (hurdles), Sr. Shannon Lozier (hurdles), Jr. Alix Lee (sprints, relays), Jr. Lauren Scahill (middle distance, relays), Jr. Chenoa Sebastian (hurdles, relays), So. Madison Canestrari (hurdles), Sr. Carly Loy (middle distance, relays), So. Brooke Scahill (sprints, relays).

Top newcomers: Jr. Carissa Finney (sprints), Jr. Austin Graber (pole vault), So. Jordan Houdeshell (distance), Jr. Allison Sinnett (sprints), So. Jessica Burger (sprints), Fr. Hannah Arnold (pole valt), Fr. Cassy Coates (pole vault), Fr. Olivia Holubecki (hurdles), Fr. Alyssa Samson (sprints), Fr. Hannah Terrapin (pole vault).

Outlook: The Colonels should challenge for the ECC Small Division and could be a factor in the Class M meet, too. They have one of the state's elite hurdlers in Sebastian and have enough depth to put together solid relay teams as well. Houdeshell, who made the All-Area cross country team, gives Ledyard a scoring threat in the distance races.

NFA

Coach: Chad Johnson (4th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Brianna Lenehan (middle distance, distance), Sr. Dyshelle Pemberton (sprints), So. Lauren Knerr (sprints, jumps), Jr. Camille McKenzie (sprints, hurdles), Jr. MiaLynne Park (sprints), Sr. Kathern Gabrielle (jumps), Sr. Erin Schaeffer (jumps), Sr. Brittany Grabill (sprints, jumps).

Top newcomers: Jr. Charlotte Van Sambeck (middle distance, distance), So. Ali Field (distance), Jr. Gabby Wise (jumps), So. Shannon Fowler (jumps).

Outlook: The Wildcats have won four straight ECC Large Division titles and are heavily favored to win a fifth. They have never won an indoor Class LL title, but this could be the year, especially if they develop some depth in the throws and distance events. Lenehan, who won the State Open cross country championship, is one of the state's elite middle and distance runners and Johnson's sprint medley and 4x400 relay teams are nationally ranked.

St. Bernard

Coach: Brad Columbus (3rd year)

Key returnees: So. Heather Wallace (middle distance), So. Grace Mayeda (sprints, jumps)

Top newcomers: Fr. Corey Meehan, Jr. Gia Kingston, Fr. Stephanie Babb, Fr. Jenna Barthomew, Fr. Hattie Grant, Sr. Chelsea Perry, So. Clair Boudy, Fr. Emily DeLaCruz.

Outlook: The Saints are young and rebuilding, but Columbus is excited about the solid turnout of freshman. He expects Wallace to be one of the top middle distance runners in the Small Division, Mayeda to be a consistent scorer in the sprints and jumps and newcomer Meehan to add depth in the distance races.