Simsbury High Track & Field Stars Take National Stage

SIMSBURY, CT — Several Simsbury High School track and field athletes are enjoying their summer vacation knowing they enjoyed a successful June in multiple national competitions.

From June 16 to June 19, Simsbury High track and field participated in two national end of the season events.

The sprinting and jumping contingent participated in the Nike National Championships in Eugene, Ore., at the University of Oregon.

Meanwhile, the distance team participated in the New Balance National Championships in Philadelphia, Pa., at the University of Pennsylvania.

All the athletes had qualified for the national events through preliminary events during the team’s spring season.

All of the Simsbury athletes placed well in both meets, according to a school announcement released last week.

The program highlight at the Nike Nationals was Tim Watson (Penn State) winning the national championship in the high jump and the sprint medley relay team of Gabe Park (junior), Kyle Paterson (URI), Dan Coyne (sophomore) and Tim Watson earning all-American status.

Furthermore, Simsbury's Lucas Thompson (William & Mary) won the 800-meter race in the rising stars division at the New Balance meet.

Also in Philadelphia, All New England third-place finisher Olivia Birney (Yale) placed in the top 25 overall in the championship division of the women’s 800-meter run.

Other notable performances on the national stage include the Simsbury boys 4 x 100 team of Paterson, Gabe Park (junior), Zach Tartaglia (sophomore) and Watson placing fifth in Oregon.

The boys 4x800 team of Rowan Gotshall (Westfield State), Kyle Jennings (Purdue), Liam McGoldrick (Colby) and Thompson placed 12th.

Finally, the girls 4x800 team of Grace Myers (junior), Kate Martin (junior), Abby Smith (BYU) and Birney placed in the top 20 nationally.

The national meets capped an "exciting season" for the Simsbury track and field program as both boys’ and girls’ teams were State class runner-ups in the large division, wrote the high school.

The program was led by 32 seniors of which 16 are competing at the next level, including five Division I athletes.