Gavin Sherry Runs 8:59.80/4:01.88 Double At CIAC Open Championships

By Mary Albl of DyeStat 

Gavin Sherry still thinks of himself as a 2-mile guy. And that’s coming after an historic 1,600-meter run at the Connecticut State Open Track and Field Championships on Thursday at New Britain’s Willow Brook Park.  Sherry, a junior from Conard, shattered the Connecticut Open and overall meet and overall state record of 4:08.42 from 2016 by Eric van der Els by running 4:01.88.

“I definitely always have thought of myself as a 2-mile, long-distance guy and I still do,” Sherry said after his race. “As great of a race as that was, I think I can run very fast in the 2-mile and 3,200. I think I've got  a lot more to give there. (But) I think this was a great representation of what I can do in the mile.”

Just a few hours later on Thursday, Sherry came back in the near 90-degree weather to win the 3,200 in another Open record time of 8:59.80. Sherry bested the meet record of 9:00.20 by Xavier’s Adam Vess, established in 2007. That’s two records for the standout distance runner who still has more to give. Sherry is set to compete later this month at The Outdoor Nationals, presented by Nike, in Eugene, Ore. 

“I believed in what I could do, and I did it. That’s all you can really ask for in a race,” Sherry said. 

 In the 1,600, as Sherry almost broke four minutes, it was a race that featured 10 runners all under 4:20. Wolcott senior Nicholas Bendtsen, who finished runner-up (4:06.09) and also under the record time, established an honest and fast first 800 meters that Sherry credits for pushing him to his time. 

"That first 200 was a really solid start to the race,” Sherry said. “I definitely couldn't have done it without him (Bendtsen).”

Conard head coach Ron Knapp said a focus this spring with Sherry's training has been speed. He explained the goal was to run under 4:05 and see how the rest of the field reacted. 

“Gavin told me after the race that after they went through the half (800) so fast, he said, ‘Why not just keep going?’ He’s never been someone to shy away from putting it all on the line. It was fun,” Knapp said. 

In the 3,200, Manchester’s Aidan Puffer, who elected to focus on the longer race, led for most of it. Sherry positioned himself right behind Puffer and was able to utilize his speed and make a kick in the last 150 meters to pass and take the win. Puffer finished second in 9:03.85.

“It was kind of a messy race, after 1,200 I just took the lead because I was fed up with the slower pace and I think everyone else just used that to their advantage and just stuck with me,” Puffer said. “And Gavin waited until like 100 meters and just got me...that was tough mentally, but it was a fun race.” 

In the boys team race, Hillhouse of New Haven won the State Open title with 50 points, while Hall was runner-up with 44 points. Hillhouse was led by another historic performance from standout thrower, Gary Moore Jr. On his final throw of the afternoon in the discus, Moore broke the Open record of 182-11, that stood since 1969, of Pete Dreissigacker of Amity. Moore’s throw was 188-7, which is US#12. 

“It felt really good,” Moore said of his accomplishment. 

Moore, who is coached by his dad and Hillhouse head coach, Gary Moore, said coming into the meet he had voiced he wanted to break that particular record. 

“My mom and my dad said they were just worried in their chairs watching me throw … they said (after) they were extremely proud,” Moore said.

He added to his already banner day by winning the boys shot put title (59-5.50) and finishing fifth in the javelin (161-4) to score 24 points for his team. 

In the boys 800, Cheshire senior Ryan Farrell ran an Open record of 1:50.58, which is US#6. His time barely surpassed the Open record of 1:50.63, which was held by Henry Wynne since 2013.

In the girls team race, Danbury was able to repeat as Open champions from 2019 as standout sprinter Alanna Smith pulled off the triple winning the 100, 200 and 400 for the Hatters. Danbury scored 44 points to win the trophy, as Glastonbury finished in second (38 points).  Smith,  a junior, clocked 12.03 seconds in the 100, 24.49 in the 200 and ran 56.78 for the 400. 

Also on the track, Conard's outstanding distance runner Chloe Scrimgeour, who holds the US#15 time in the 3,200, won the event in hot conditions in 10:21.61.

“I was hoping to run 10:10 or under, but I think the weather just got to me,” she said. “But overall I think it was a fine race, I'm happy to just be able to run.”

Next for Scrimgeour, she is planning to run the 2-mile at the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle. 

In the field events, junior Shea Green of Weston took down the girls overall and Open javelin record with 154 feet. She broke former Ridgefield thrower Ellie Gravitte's record of 152-7 from 2013. Her mark is US#5. 

Also in the field, Kentucky-bound thrower Leah Moore, the older sister of Gary Moore Jr., had strong finish in her final Connecticut meet as she won the shot put (41-2.50) and discus (131-0).