Local athlete is New England high jump champ

In Burlington Saturday, this year's site for the 66th annual New England Track championships, Springfield's Michael Pianka captured top spot in the high jump competition.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110611/SPORTS05/110611014/Vermonters-shine-New-England-track-championships

Vermonters shine in New England track championships

Written by
Alex Abrami, Burlington Free Press Staff Writer

10:44 PM, Jun. 11, 2011

South Burlington High School star Mollie Gribbin has rewritten the Vermont track and field state record books with performances in the 100-meter dash, long jump and triple jump. Many of her best efforts have occurred at Burlington High School’s D.G. Weaver Athletic Complex, site of the 66th annual New England championships.

“It was really nice to wake up in my own bed this morning and eat breakfast in my kitchen and then drive to Burlington High School and compete on my favorite track,” Gribbin said. “This is my favorite track by far.”

Saturday, the record-setting junior was at it again, racking up another memorable meet in front of a home crowd. Gribbin broke her state record in the triple jump (39 feet, 11.5 inches) to finish second, nabbed sixth in the 100 and ran the leadoff leg on one of the day’s biggest shocks: South Burlington’s winning 4-by-100-meter relay squad.

The Rebel quartet of Gribbin, Carly Stine, Amanda Arena and Sara Garvey used precise handoffs to motor to first place in the sprint relay, breaking their state record in a time of 49.30 seconds. In a day that produced a bevy of top-six finishes for Vermont athletes, South Burlington’s relay win was the most unexpected and unique. The South Burlington coaching staff believed it was the first time a Vermont team won a relay at the New England meet.

“Nobody thought we could win,” said Gribbin during a group interview with her giddy teammates. “I consider track and field a team sport. I practice with these girls every day, and then come out and run a team event and win it at New Englands — it’s amazing.”

Starting in Lane 2, Gribbin, Stine and Arena forged a lead for Garvey, who held off the Brockton, Mass., anchor.

“It was very unbelievable. When I got a perfect handoff from Amanda, I just went,” Garvey said.

The familiarity of Burlington’s state-of-the art facility didn’t just serve well for Gribbin and her relay teammates. Springfield’s Michael Pianka claimed the high jump. Essex’s Michael DiMambro nabbed two top-three finishes. Burlington’s Tor Dworshak had a third-place showing in triple jump. Richford’s Elle Purrier finished runner-up in the 1,600. In all, 10 Vermonters placed in the top six in 11 events at Saturday’s championship meet that featured many of New England’s best.

And to do it at Burlington, the designated home track for Vermonters, gave it additional meaning.

“Since we are hosting it this year, why not go out there and show what we got?” said DiMambro, who placed second in the 100 (10.97), third in long jump (22-1.25) and ninth in the 200.

Pianka, the state record-holder in high jump, was proud to represent Vermont.

“I’m all about team stuff, so knowing that I just didn’t win it for me, I won it for Vermont — it’s a great feeling,” said Pianka, who cleared 6-7.

Dworshak’s comfort level with Burlington’s facility was obvious. The Seahorse senior, who spent countless hours practicing at his home track, bounded 45-4.5.

“It’s a good way to end my track meets in Vermont,” said Dworshak, who will compete in the emerging elite division at next week’s national meet in North Carolina. “All my best jumps have been right here. I’m here every day.”

Other Vermonters who placed include:

* Montpelier’s Colby Cunningham placed sixth in long jump after leaping to a personal best of 21-7.25 on his final attempt. �

* Woodstock’s Elizabeth Bassette finished sixth in long jump (17-3.75), breaking the Division III record she set last week. �

* Colchester’s Devon Grammo raced to fifth in the 400 (49.80).

BFA-St. Albans’ Ed Simon (seventh in pole vault), Brattleboro’s Jacob Ellis (seventh in 800) and Essex’s Markie Palermo (eighth in 3,200) were among the Vermonters who nearly placed during another successfully-run competition by meet director Pavel Dvorak and his crew.

“There’s roughly 60 officials and many volunteers. There’s a lot of people behind the scenes. There’s no way I can take credit for all that,” Dvorak said. “I think it’s good for Vermont. All the people from New England can come to us and see how we put on a good show for everyone.”