Dear Coach:
The 38th Annual Hartford Public High School Invitational Outdoor Track and Field Meet will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2009 commencing at 9:30 am at the Veterans' Stadium, located at Willowbrook Park in New Britain CT. It will include athletes from fourteen states: Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maryland, Pennsylvania. New Hampshire, Maine, Virginia, Kentucky, Washington DC and Delaware as well as Canada.
This meet is considered by many to be one of the largest and most outstanding on the East Coast. It has consistently produced athletes who have gone on to compete and gain recognition in the Golden West and National Interscholastic track meets held annually for outstanding high school track stars throughout the United States. Olympians and past winners from our meet include Jonathan Riley (5000m), Laura Gerraughty (Shot Put), and Brian Chaput (Javelin).
Highlights from the 2008 meet included a 4:09.09 clocking by Donn Cabral of Glastonbury and a 4:52.70 by Anna Shields of Lewis Mills in the 1-mile Runs, double wins by Dominic Smith (Bloomfield) in the 400m Dash in 47.56 and 200m Dash in 21.52, two meet records by Becky O'Brien of Greely ME in the Shot Put with a throw of 49-05.75 and the Discus Throw (148-05) and another meet record of 179'0" in the Hammer Throw by Victoria Flowers (Classical RI). On a cool and wet meet day in 2006, top performances were recorded by Brittany Sheffey of Bellport NY in the 800m (2:10) and a 2k Steeplechase record of 6:36.37 from Lindsey Ferguson (Saratoga Springs). Top performances came from the men from James Nixon of Hyde Leadership in the 200m (21.61) and Mark Amirault of Xaverian Bros. in the 2-mile (9:01). The 2005 meet included top male performances from Chris Barnicle of Newton North in the 1-mile (4:11.10), an 800m duel to the wire between Bryan Scotland (St. Benedict) and Rob Novak (Bordentown), Walter Henning (St. Anthonys) in the Hammer Throw (217-8) and Matt Maloney (LaSalle Academy) in the Javelin (231-05). Top female performances were turned in by Lindsey Ferguson (Saratoga Springs) in the 2k Steeplechase (6:44.63), the Westerly 4x800m (9:15.60) and Kaitlyn Fitzgerald (Mt Sinai) in the Pole Vault (11-0). The 2004 meet featured one of the fastest Men's 2-Mile races in the nation with the top five runners breaking 9:00 minutes, led by Chris Barnicle of North Newton MA in 8:50.82. The Women's meet was highlighted by outstanding performances by Saratoga Springs 4x800 (9:07.73) and Nicole Blood's 10:10.73 in the 2-Mile Run.
Meet Information: We hope that your team or some of its members will be able to compete. All meet information including entry procedures, fees, rules and minimum standards are available at the online meet website hosted by www.MySportsResults.com. Please note that all meet registration will be conducted online, performance marks will be validated and there will be absolutely no athlete additions or changes (except for scratches) to an event on meet day.
Facility: The Irv Black Mondo Track is an 8-lane, 400m mondo track, including the runways for the long jump, triple jump and pole vault. It is recommended that 1/4-inch spikes be used. Spikes in excess of 1/4-inch will not be allowed on the running track and/or runways. The shot put and discus competition areas are depressed concrete circles.
Awards: Only individual champions will be declared, no team scores. Large Heisman-type trophies will be awarded to the meet's top performers in track and field. Loving cups will be presented to the meet's MVPs. Watches will be presented to the winners in each event and Olympic style medallions will be presented to the next five place winners.
Sanctions: The meet is sanctioned by the CIAC, PSAL and the National Federation of High Schools for Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Maine, Virginia, Kentucky, Washington DC and Delaware. This meet is sponsored Hartford Public High School with assistance of corporate sponsors.
Sincerely yours,
Lindy J. Remigino, Meet Director