ECC Division I

East Lyme

Coach: Steve Hargis (10th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Dylan Hatajik (sprints, jumps), Sr. Patrick Dowd (sprints, jumps), Sr. Nick Tricarico (sprints), Sr. Tyler Valdez (sprints), Jr. Sam Whittaker (distance, middle distance), Sr. Ryan McCauley (middle distance), Sr. Riley Carr (sprints), Jr. Rob Avena (middle distance), Jr. Matt Kung (middle distance), Sr. Joe Andrews (hurdles, pole vault), Jr. Akhil Chilamkurthi (hurdles, pole vault), Jr. Makaih Olawale (jumps, sprints), Jr. Chris Gregor (jumps), Sr. Sam Highman (throws), Jr. Spencer Duthrie (throws, sprints).

Top newcomers: So. Chris Abbey (distance, middle distance), Jr. Dev Ostrowski (sprints).

Outlook: The Vikings (7-2 overall in 2017) are coming off a strong indoor season, winning the ECC Division I title, and has an experienced, talented group that just might have the depth to dethrone NFA as the outdoor champ. Hatajik is one of the state's top sprinters and a threat in jumps, McCauley established himself as one of the state's top middle distance runners and Whittaker won the 2017 ECC cross country title.

Fitch

Coach: Rich Kosta (17th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Tom Readett (distance), Sr. Alex Schwindt (jumps), Sr. Adrian Albo (jumps), Jr. Ryan Poe (distance), Jr. Ian Poe (distance), Jr. Dan Gaiewski (distance), So. Ethan Alves (hurdles), Jr. Julius Brown (sprints), Jr. Chris Holmes (sprints, jumps, javelin), Sr. Dean Faulise (throws), So. Tom Joyner (throws), So. Will Dentch (throws), So. Keshav Garcia-Patel (sprints), So. Orlando Galarza (jumps).

Top newcomers: Jr. Andrew Kerst (distance), Jr. Shea Kenney (middle distance), Jr. Lorenzo Bell (jumps), Fr. Fernando Coreas (sprints), Fr. Jake McCarty (distance).

Outlook: The Falcons have depth, particularly in the throws and distance events, to remain competitive in the division after going 4-2, 2-2 a year ago. Readett has been one of the ECC's most consistent distance runners throughout his career while Kosta is confident that Schwindt and Albo will provide points in the sprints and jumps.

Ledyard

Coach: Jose Sanabria (8th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Carl-Hens Bien-Amie, Sr. Samuel Campbell, Sr. Peter Geoly, Sr. Stanley Green, Sr. Zak King, Sr. Kyle Krupansky, Sr. Berkely Wachtmann, Sr. Collin Wiltshire, Sr. Xavier Whitmore, Jr. Travon Moore, Jr. Tyson Chrzanowski, Jr. Ian Kamperschroer, Jr. James Smith, Jr. Patrick Templeton, So. Ben Askew, So. Jaiden Bickham, So. Noah Cayangyang, So. Juan Garcia, So. Harold Phillips.

Top newcomers: Sr. Will Burns, Sr. Nuriel Preciado, Sr. Isaac Romano, Sr. Anthony Velasquez, Jr. George Bauman, Jr. Jahmik Devone, Jr. Cole Dirico, So. Ben Berlin, So. Solaiman Chowdhury, So. Caden Foote, So. Wesley Hughes, So. Xander Hutchins, So. Justin Kinney, So. Fabian May, So. Ethan Munger, So. Simon Reichart, So. Jacob Roediger, So. Hunter Williams, Fr. Ryan Hollenbach, Fr. Tyler Oliveira.

Outlook: The Colonels will be strong in the sprints, jumps and distance events, and they always put together strong relay teams. Travon Brown (sprints), Smith (jumps), Wiltshire (hurdles, jumps) and King (distance) were all place-winners in last year's ECC outdoor meet, but for Ledyard to be a factor in the ultra-competitive Division I race it must improve in the throwing events.

New London

Coach: Bob Castronova (10th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Jason Rivera (sprints), Sr. Louis Rodriguez (middle distance), Sr. John Burnett (distance), Sr. Kahlil Ramcharit (hurdles, jumps), Jr. John Mateo (distance), So. Rashawn Wright (distance).

Top newcomers: Jr. Jahri Marcus (sprints), Jr. Jahyde Marcus (sprints), Jr. Jaheed Marcus (jumps), So. Clayton Smith (sprints), Sr. Jeremy Cortes (distance).

Outlook: The Whalers don't have the overall depth to compete for a division title, but Castronova has a solid group of returning athletes and the overall numbers are up, so the emphasis will be qualifying a larger number of athletes for state competition.

NFA

Coach: Tom Teixeira (2nd year)

Key returnees: Sr. Chris Weir, Sr. Chris Hebert, Sr. Armstrong Alcius, Sr. Brenden Sholes, Jr. Jahiem Spruill, Jr. Adelino DaVeiga, So. David Osagie, Sr. Ryan Kornacki, Sr. Nathan Lieske, Sr. Shea McManaway, So. Cruz Quintana, Sr. Joshua Achille.

Top newcomers: Sr. Eddie Johnson, Sr. Cameron Belton, Jr. Jon Pierre, Sr. Amari Morgan, Fr. Joe Klick, So. Nathan Cote, So. Digby Ludlow, So. Reno Sebastian.

Outlook: The Wildcats went 6-0 a year ago and won the ECC championship meet, but graduated some key pieces, including a pair of ECC champs in Jawuan Johnson (100, 200) and Nick Fitch (800). But NFA also returns a pair of reigning champs in Weir, the school record-holder in the pole vault, and Hebert (javelin), and will be strong in the jumps (Spruill, Sholes, Alcius) and weights (DaVeiga, Hebert). The Wildcats will be inexperienced in the distance events, but Teixeira is anxious to see how this young group competes at the ECC level.

ECC Division II

Montville

Coach: Tim Egan (24th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Greg Clark (sprints), Sr. Nick Angel (sprints), Sr. Nick Donnell (sprints), Sr. Ty Mack (throws), Jr. Derek Strickland (hurdles), Jr. Rishi Iyer (distance), Jr. Zack Navarette (pole vault), So. Jerrell Fitch (jumps), So. Colin Nickerson (hurdles).

Top newcomers: Sr. Daltyn Butler (sprints), Sr. Ethan Rose (sprints), Jr. Jay Colon (distance), Jr. Julian Valdes (jumps).

Outlook: The Indians went 7-1 in 2017, the lone blemish a loss to Division II champion Stonington, and Egan believes Montville can be even stronger this spring. The Indians have depth and talent in the sprinting events, led by Clark, who won the Class S 300-meter indoor title. They also won the Class S 4x400 relay title indoors. Mack gives Montville a solid performer in the weights, Strickland will be one of the conference's top hurdlers and a young distance team has improved.

Stonington

Coach: Ben Bowne (5th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Blake Edwards (middle distance), Sr. Will Hardy (middle distance), Sr. Hayden Parrilla (jumps), Sr. Jared Rudzinsky (hurdles, jumps), Sr. Shane Smith (multi events), Sr. Cam Whalen (sprints, hurdles), Jr. Joey Hinckley (sprints, pole vault), So. Greyson DelGrosso (throws), So. Chase Flynn (middle distance), So. Rhys Hammond (middle distance).

Top newcomers: Sr. Scott Miano (throws, Sr. Jordan Moosey (throws), Jr. Ben Abely (sprints), Jr. Bennett Carr (sprints), Jr. Lucas Falcone (throws), Jr. Graham Johnstone (sprints), Jr. Harrison Rose (jumps), Jr. Martin Vernet (sprints), Jr. Max Wojtas (middle distance), So. Andrew Castagliulo (middle distance), So. Bobby Lewis (sprints, hurdles), So. Sam Light (sprints, pole vault), So. Justin McKenna (sprints, jumps), Fr. Ethan Allen-Fernandes (middle distance), Dr. Elias Dahl (distance).

Outlook: The Bears had an impressive 2017, winning the Division II title and then finishing second to NFA in the ECC championship meet. Whalen is back to defend his ECC and Class M state titles in the 110 and 300 hurdles, while Edwards, Smith, Flynn and Hammond are the reigning ECC 4x800 champs and Smith is a threat in multi events, including the pole vault. Bowne has set the bar high for this team, saying Stonington's goals are to win the ECC Division II and Class M state titles and become the first non-Division I program to capture the ECC championship meet.

Waterford

Coach: Jay Criscuolo (5th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Shayne Beckloff (sprints), Jr. Marcus Elliot (sprints), Jr. Marcus Lovell (sprints, hurdles, relays), Jr. Sam Lenes (distance), Jr. Chris Smith (jumps), Jr. Keyvon Negahbhan (jumps, relays), So. Kris Dow (distance), So. Jared Elliot (hurdles), So. Wilmar Diaz (throws).

Top newcomers: Jr. Kumar Sharma (throws), Jr. Hunter Halford (throws), Fr. Sam Menders (sprints).

Outlook: The Lancers might be hard-pressed to challenge for the division title, but increased numbers will make them a stronger dual-meet team in 2018 after going 4-3 a year ago. Beckloff is the top returning sprinter for Waterford, which graduated ECC high jump champion Devon Craig. Beckloff was a place-winner in the 100 and 200 at last year's ECC meet. Criscuolo expects Marcus Elliot, Lowell, Smith and Negahbhan to consistently score points in the jumps and relays while Lenes is the top distance threat.

ECC Division III

St. Bernard

Coach: Bill Schwarzenbach (3rd year)

Key returnees: Sr. Jacob Chace (sprints), Jr. Robbie Justice (middle distance), So. Sean Power (distance), So. James Babinski (distance), So. Liam Power (throws), So. Peter Lawton (sprints).

Top newcomers: Sr. Teddy Nosiku (distance), Sr. Graham McCauley (distance), Jr. Dan Kelly (sprints), Fr. Jack Zachem (middle distance).

Outlook: The Saints are still rebuilding with more than half of the team being first-year performers. Nosiku, a transfer from Wheeler, will help bolster a distance group that has depth and will put out a strong 4x800 relay team, while Power had a solid indoor season in the shot put and should be strong in the discus, too.

Others

Grasso Tech

Coach: Heidi DeCosta (8th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Allen Munton (middle distances), Sr. Christian Smith (distance).

Outlook: The Eagles are rebuilding as they move to a new conference (Connecticut Technical Conference). Grasso Tech graduated two key performers in Sam Gauthier (distance) and Cole Rhien (hurdles), so DeCosta will lean heavily on seniors Munton and Smith to lead a young team in 2018.

Old Lyme

Coach: Aron D'Aquila (13th year)

Key returnees: Jr. Nick Myers (relays), Jr. Evan Getz (relays), Jr. Casey Blue (relays, distance) So. Trevor Wells (distance), Jr. Gary Bocain (hurdles), Jr. Dylan Harlow (relays, jumps), So. Sam Roth (distance, relays), So. Evan St. Louis (discus), Jr. Thomas Pennie (3,200).

Top newcomers: So. Rory Cavicke (sprints, long jump), So. Will Bartlett (distance, relays).

Outlook: The Wildcats are young, but D'Aquila expects them to remain competitive in the Shoreline Conference. The 4x800 relay team of Wells, Blue, Roth and Bartlett will be a threat at the conference and Class S levels while Wells should excel in the 1,600. The distance events are definitely a strength for the Wildcats.