Rocco ties Bartlett record in 100 meters

by Steev Riccardo

FISKDALE - Bartlett senior co-captain Rocco DiStefano joined teammate and fellow senior co-captain Nikita Truhanovitch in becoming the second player in the last 15 years to either tie or break a school record in track when he tied the school record for the 100 meter dash this past week.

DiStefano’s 11.2-second 100-meter dash this Wednesday in a Southern Worcester County League meet at Tantasqua Regional High School in Fiskdale helped his team defeat Millbury and nearly beat track powerhouse Tantasqua.

“It felt great, I honestly didn’t think during the race that I was breaking a record,” said DiStefano.  “It wasn’t the race that I thought I would break a record in.  I was actually trying to break the record in the 400 meters”.

“It came as a surprise to me since I was mostly training for the 400 meters.  The 100 isn’t really my forte anymore,” said the Springfield College-bound sprinter. “Still it was a great accomplishment, I was ecstatic and amazed. I am still going to strive to come in first the rest of the year, do well at Districts, and make it to All-States.”

Bartlett Track Coach Paul Lango said Jerome Ellis and Alex Anpontuah, a pair of Bartlett legends, previously shared the record and acknowledged that D-Stefano’s feat was a great one.

DiStefano also won the 400-meters and the javelin throw and he closes out his amazing career at Bartlett High School in style.

Truhanovitch, who tied a record by Chris Chase in the 110-hurdles last year, continued to have a brilliant campaign winning the 400-meter hurdles and placing second in both the 110-meter hurdles and the triple jump on Wednesday.  He also came in third in the long jump.

Bartlett’s third senior co-captain Arthur Hackenson continued his dominance by winning both the shot put and the discus throw.

Senior Christian McManus, who is also having a great outdoor track season, came in second in the 200-meters and second in the high jump.

Freshman Jacob Simonis also impressed all at the meet by coming in third overall in the 3200-meters.

The team of McManus, DJ Kirby-Thomas and the eight grade tandem of Marco Zaky and Justin Speights won the 4X100 meter relay with an impressive time of 48 seconds.

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