Montville — Just in case Stonington needed a reminder about the importance of Wednesday's track and field meet, the Bears received one earlier this week.

Make that several reminders.

"Our coaches have been hyping us up all week," sophomore Rhys Hammond said. "They know this is probably the most pivotal division meet that we're going to have."

The Bears responded with an inspired team effort, sweeping both meets against Montville.

The Stonington girls won 85-65 and the boys posted a 79-71 victory. Neither team has lost a divisional meet since 2015. They're both on the verge of clinching Eastern Connecticut Conference Division II titles.

The margin of victory was larger than expected with the girls.

The Bears competed without senior Kate Hall, their top sprinter, as well Gwen Anderson (hamstring injury). An illness forced Hall to miss the meet.

"We were pretty nervous coming in," Stonington girls' coach Jeff Parkinson said. "The guys took care of the business. I've been doing this for almost 15 years now and I'm about as proud as I've been of the girls."

Credit Stonington's superior depth for the sweep.

In the girls' meet, the Bears (3-0, 3-0) received important contributions from senior Emma Diamanti and junior Keegan Donahue. Diamanti won both the shot put (33 feet, 4 inches) and discus (96-6), while Donahue took first in the pole vault (8-6), 200 meters (a personal best 27.7 seconds) and joined Emma Small, Jess Detwiler and Lindsey Orr on the winning 4x400 relay team that finished in 4:30.4.

Other key individual winners for the Bears included: Aliza Bell, javelin, 100-0; Lila Rich, high jump, 4-6; and Detwiler, 400, 1:02.2.

Senior Sarah May had a big day for Montville (3-1, 2-1), winning the 100 in 13.1 and long jump in 14-10. The latter event she started competing in just a couple of weeks ago. She also ran a leg on the winning 4x100 relay team that also included Lexi Peck, Jamila Linder and Maddie Beaupre.

With four events left, the Bears held an eight-point lead before pulling away.

"The Stonington girls were fantastic today," Montville coach Joel Finnegan said. "They asked a lot of their kids. They were short-handed and they had kids step up. I applaud their effort. They had kids run multiple races.

"... We were disappointed with how we finished the meet. We have to find a way to finish stronger. We have smaller numbers than in recent years. A month ago, we weren't a very good team, so we've come a long way to compete with Stonington."

In the boys' meet, Stonington (3-0, 3-0) gradually built a secure lead.

Hammond helped lead the charge in the track events. He cruised to wins in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. He also took first in the 800, crossing the finish line nearly in step with teammates Chase Flynn and Blake Edwards to seize the top three spots.

"I'm lucky to have both of them as my practice mates because we push each other in practice and all run the same speed," Hammond said.

Hammond has come on strong in his second season. He set the meet record in the 800 on Saturday in the Marty Robbins Invitational in Durham. His winning time was 1:57.54.

Senior Cam Whalen also piled up the points for the Bears, winning the 100, 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles. Shane Smith finished first in the pole vault and discus.

Greg Clark ran away from the field in the 200 and 400, posting a pair of victories for Montville (3-1, 2-1). Junior Tyrone Mack took first in the shot put in 45-10.

"That's not a bad throw," Mack said. "My PR is just an inch farther."

g.keefe@theday.com