Connecticut athletes rack up eight gold medals at RI Classic

Danae Rivers ran the mile run at the Rhode Island Classic the best way she know how. She took control from the start and never looked back.

The Wilbur Cross junior earned gold at Saturday’s meet with the nation’s fifth fastest time of 5 minutes, 1.30 seconds.

“It was a good race to start the season,” said Rivers, the defending New England indoor and outdoor mile champion. “The pace was really good. I’m hoping for a good season.”

Rivers, who owns a best of 4:47, defeated another sub five-minute runner and quality talent, junior Bella Burda of Arlington, N.Y., who was second at 5:02.29.

Despite a field that featured several national-caliber runners, Rivers didn’t hesitate to take the pace out hard. She held a comfortable cushion over the chase pack at the 800-meter mark, passed in 2:24. Burda, who would capture the 3,000m later in the meet with a nation No. 1 of 10:08, made a move the final lap to try and catch the Wilbur Cross standout but came out short in the end.

Rivers’ time ranks No. 5 nationally.

“The season has been going pretty good,” she said. “I’m looking forward to it and have fun with these ladies.”

Windsor junior Sashana Hinds was less than a half a second from her best with her winning time of 41.32 in the 300-meter dash. She was hoping to run faster on the flat oval. Last week, she ran the nation’s ninth quickest time in the country with a winning 25.61 at the New Haven Invitational.

“I think my start was good,” Hinds said. “I felt like I got tight throughout the race and that affected my time a little bit.”

Norwich Free Academy sophomore Kelsey Hall copped the pole vault with a height of 10-9. With a strong kick on the final lap, South Windsor junior Michael Stroker overtook the Wheeler School (RI) senior Ian Stellar to take the 3,000m with a time of 9:14.34. Stellar was second at 9:15.13.

In the boys’ triple jump, Courtney Rush, a junior from Windsor, had a winning leap of 46-6.25 (US #10), a nearly three-foot personal best. Finishing second was East Hartford’s Stephen Sam at 43-1.

Rush’s winning effort came on his last attempt of the afternoon.

“I was really tight because I ran the 300 before,” said Rush, who placed fourth in that event with a time of 36.62. “My coach just told me to have some patience on your second phase and I got up on that one.”

Connecticut had the top three finishers in the 55m dash with Windsor sophomore Kyshawn Bonner edging sophomore teammate Chris Mack with his time of 6.56. Mack placed second at 6.61. He was followed by Norwich Free senior Andris Vitai at 6.72.

Bloomfield won three relay events in the nine-hour meet. The Lions placed first in the girls’ sprint medley (4:25.04) and shot put (101-07) relays. The boys also took the shot put (139-04.25) relay.