Stapleton Emerges On National Radar In Not One Event, But Two

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

BOSTON – If she had to choose, Tess Stapleton would always pick the long jump over the hurdles. 

“Long jump is my baby. I’ve done it forever, since I was like four feet high,” Stapleton said. “It always has my heart.”

Nowadays, though, the hurdles are running a close second. Saturday at the New England High School Indoor Championships at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, the junior from Fairfield Ludlowe CT defended her 55-meter hurdle title in a meet-record time of 7.88 seconds, shattering Vanessa Clerveaux's (Brockton MA) record of 7.97 set in 2012.

Stapleton's time also lowered the state record she already owned.

A few hours later, she won the long jump title for the second consecutive year, going 19-6.50.

“Today, I’m not surprised at the progress,” Ludlowe jumps/hurdles coach Justin Tomczyk said. “I think it’s the amount of progress. I would never, ever bet against her.” 

This winter, Stapleton has blossomed into a top national-level talent in both events. She’s currently tied for US#4 in the hurdles and her long jump mark is US#6.

“I can’t even explain it,” Stapleton said. “To see my name in the top 5, it’s definitely unexpected but it’s also motivating.” 

Growing up, Stapleton said she bounced around from sport to sport but didn’t excel in any of them. However, the one constant was her speed. At 6 or 7 years old, she started going to local age-group track meets on Thursday evenings in the summer, where she discovered the long jump.

She stuck with the long jump and in the eighth grade she picked up a second event, the hurdles. The two technical but exhilarating events fit her extroverted persona.

“I could never just run. I know I’d get bored,” she said. “I love flying through the air in the long jump pit, and I love going over hurdles. It’s genuinely fun for me.” 

Excelling at the state level in her first two years of high school, Stapleton’s junior year has seen her make rapid progress.  

“Last summer she really bought into the full lifting routine, learning the Olympic lifts,” Tomczyk said. “Once she got that power and strength, she already had the technical skill set, but to get the strength behind that, that improves the trail leg, that improves the pop. It’s really unbelievable.” 

Without an indoor track to train at, Stapleton does what she can at Ludlowe, utilizing the school gym and the outdoor track for training. She will also travel to The Armory in upper Manhattan, or to Ocean Breeze on Staten Island, something she’s started doing twice a week.

She said training with others and having additional sets of eyes to provide feeback have aided her development. 

“It’s unbelievable the amount of sacrifice and work ethic that she puts in,” Tomczyk said. 

Stapleton will now gear up to compete at the New Balance Nationals Indoors in two weeks. A year ago, she was not in the conversation. Now she has a chance to medal in two events. 

“I’ve never been so excited,” Stapleton said of nationals. 

Added Tomczyk: “In her case, sky is the limit.” 

Sherry runs US#1 2-Mile

Another week brought another nation-leading time for Conard CT sophomore Gavin Sherry. Running in the 2-mile, Sherry put down a blazing 8:53.25 to win the event and break the meet record of 8:57.99 set in 2018 by Ryan Oosting. Fellow sophomore Aidan Puffer also went under nine minutes, finishing runner-up in 8:58.10. Five runners clocked under 9:13. 

“I knew it was going to be a good race,” Sherry said. “(Game plan was) race hard and hope for the best.” 

Similar to last week at the Connecticut State Open, where Sherry and Puffer both went out fast together, the two ran out into the lead, establishing an honest pace. With about three laps to go, Sherry picked up the pace, separating himself from Puffer. Sherry said he was happy with the time heading into New Balance Nationals, where he will run the 2-mile and 4x1 mile relay. 

Other highlights on the track included Stonington CT senior Rhys Hammond winning the 1,000 in a US#3 time (2:28.12). Five runners finished under 2:30. In the boys 600, St. Raphael Academy RI junior Darius Kipyego clocked 1:19.78. He’ll run the 800 at NBNI. 

In the field, sophomore Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan of Woonsocket RI claimed the boys shot put crown with a personal best throw of 60-10.25. 

“It feels amazing to throw 60,” he said. “I’ve been working hard all season.” 

On the girls side, the Greenwich girls 4x800 relay of Bianca Granitto, Grace Collier, Zoe Harris and Mari Noble ran a US#4 time of 9:17.27, while Nicole Anderson of Billerica MA won the 1,000 (2:53.38).