Devin Ballard is currently a senior at Torrington High School. He is part of the outdoor and indoor Torrington track and field teams and is a member of the Black Student Union. This school year, he hopes to earn good grades and run well during his track seasons. After he graduates, he plans to attend UConn to study psychology and neurology. Outside of school, he likes to go on runs and hikes. Most of all, he enjoys spending time with his dog, Luna. Through the Raider Report, he hopes to make all students feel heard and recognized.
Three seconds from history, and just getting started. On February 12th, eleven dedicated student-athletes from Torrington High School competed at the CIAC Class L Indoor Track & Field Championships, representing their school with determination, resilience, and pride.
The 4x200m relay team of Devin Ballard, Naziah Lopez, Brody Beckett, and Joseph Daniel finished 6th overall in Class L. When compared across all classes, including LL, M, and S, their time ranked 19th in the state, an impressive accomplishment against Connecticut’s best competition.
In the 4x400m relay, Naziah Lopez, Brody Beckett, Devin Ballard, and Juan Batista ran a strong 3:46, earning 11th place. Even more impressive, they finished just three seconds shy of the Torrington school record, a mark that now feels well within reach.
The Sprint Medley Relay (SMR) team of Justin Evans, Joseph Daniel, Juan Batista, and Imtinan Alam clocked in at 4:05, showcasing the team’s depth and versatility.
Torrington’s sprinters made their mark in the short sprints.
Both Joseph Daniel and Naziah Lopez ran under seven seconds in the 55-meter dash, a significant benchmark that highlights their explosive speed.
Brody Beckett achieved a personal record in the 300m, finishing in 38.27 seconds. Beckett continues to build momentum as the season progresses.
The 55m hurdles brought both adversity and achievement.
The event began on a tough note when Rashad McFarlane suffered a fall that resulted in a broken wrist. The moment was unsettling, but his teammates rallied together and continued competing in his honor.
Talia Borja placed 11th in the 55m hurdles, competing fiercely among the state’s top athletes.
Sophomore Justin Evans earned 15th place in the same event, a promising finish that signals a bright future ahead.
Torrington also made its presence known in the field events.
Gryfn Kobylarz leapt 20 feet in the long jump, demonstrating impressive power and technique.
In the high jump, Keyo Vilayvong cleared 5’8”, which further showcased his athletic versatility.
Though this marked the final meet of the indoor season, Torrington’s athletes left everything on the track and in the field. From personal records to near school records, from breakthrough performances to moments of resilience, they competed the way they trained, focused, prepared, and ready.
Captain Joseph Daniel reflected on the team’s mindset following the championship meet, saying, “We gave it our best performance and walked out motivated to compete again in outdoor, job’s not finished.”
That hunger to improve echoes throughout the team. Sprinter Naziah Lopez shared his perspective on pushing through challenges: “Even if you think you might lose, you’ll be fine as long as you don’t give up. Surpass your limits. A path will open up for you.”
With outdoor season just around the corner, the foundation has already been built. The speed shown in the 55m will translate to the 100m and 200m. The 4×400 squad, only three seconds off the school record, now has unfinished business. Underclassmen like sophomore Justin Evans gained valuable state-level experience that will carry forward. And with athletes hungry to improve, personal bests this winter could become school records this spring.
Indoor season may be over, but Torrington track and field is far from finished.