During an impressive regular season, the members of Greenwich High School’s girls track and field team showed they had the potential to produce a 2025 season to truly remember, one that would make program history.

The regular season meets saw the Cardinals perform at an optimum level while defeating each opponent they faced on their way to winning the FCIAC West Division title and on May 24th at Danbury High School, they made an emphatic statement, achieving a victory the program and school will always remember.

On the strength on numerous outstanding performances, Greenwich won the team title at the 2025 FCIAC Girls Track and Field Championships at Danbury High School, earning a championship team score of 125 points. The victory marked the first time Greenwich captured the team championship at the FCIAC Championships since the 1984 season.

Greenwich out-performed 15 other teams in the competitive, 16-squad FCIAC Championships and did so in convincing fashion. Ridgefield High School placed second in the team standings with 102 points, 23 behind the Cardinals and New Canaan finished third with 90.5 points. Wilton (78 points) and Trumbull (51.5 points) rounded out the top five teams at the FCIAC Championships. Junior Eliana Daplyn, junior Theresa Knuth, senior Sophia Riche` and junior Nina Silver are the captains that helped guide Greenwich to its first FCIAC team title in 41 seasons.

“I think this victory was bound to happen with all the work our girls have been putting in at practice,” Knuth said. “We are a dedicated team and have all the components now to compete in these big meets. Jumps, throws, distance and sprints are all covered throughout our points and everyone contributed in some shape or form today.”

Greenwich, which is guided by head coach Peter Watson, showcased its depth in both the running and field events, making its mark in nearly every race and event. The Cardinals totaled five first place finishes and a wealth of top five finishes at the much-anticipated FCIAC Championships.

As is always the case, the Cardinals soared in the relay races at the conference championship meet. The 4×400-meter relay team of Gemma Hardwick, Silver, Margaret McCooe and Daplyn combined for a winning time of 4:02.06, a PR for the Cards’ quartet of athletes. Ridgefield was the runner-up (4:11.46).

In the 4×800-meter relay, Orla Muir, McCooe, Adriana Bozza and Hardwick teamed up to win the FCIAC gold medal in 9:37.08 – also a PR for the runners. Ridgefield also placed second in this relay (9:44.00). Silver, Daplyn, Riley Barber and Ella Barber were a close fifth in the 4×100 relay (50.44 seconds), which was won by Ridgefield with a time of 49.34 seconds. Daplyn claimed the gold medal in the 400-meter run, crossing the finish line in a personal-record time of 57.95.

Silver took third in the 400 (59.80) and Allison Rayment from Wilton placed second (58.11).

“Winning the 400m and setting a personal record was a really special moment because it was my first individual FCIAC title,” Daplyn said. “After finishing as the runner-up in the indoor championship, I came into the race especially motivated to win. I’m incredibly grateful for my teammates, coaches, and for God, who have all supported me throughout the season.”

Silver left the 400-meter competition especially pleased with her performance.

“Although my 400m race wasn’t a PR, I’m so happy I was able to come away with third place,” Silver said. “A year ago, I was running about seven seconds slower in the 400m and I put in a lot of working in the time leading up to outdoor to get to where I am today.”

“This is my first time placing in an individual event at FCIACs and I’m glad to help the team score points,” she continued. “I’m so incredibly grateful to have a teammate like Ellie (Daplyn). Not only is she a captain with me, but also a close friend. I don’t just respect her because she is phenomenal runner, but truly the kindest and most considerate person I know.”

Riche` captured the winner’s medal in the 100-meter hurdles, achieving a personal-record time of 14.82 seconds for the Cards. Anna LaBant of Wilton finished an extremely close second in 14.83 (at PR).

“Going into FCIACs, I knew I had a shot at winning the 100-meter hurdle final,” Riche` said. “I just had to stay calm and focus on my form. I finished prelims with a 15.09 PR, dropping two seconds, which I was already super happy about. In the final, the competition was tough and it came down to an incredibly close photo finish, but I ran another PR of 14.82.”

“The tailwind and my aggressive lean at the finish made a great difference,” Riche` continued. “I’m proud of of this win (improvement from last year’s third place) especially since the GHS hurdlers and I have worked so hard together through all conditions, constantly pushing each other.”

Riche` also turned in a second place finish in the 300 hurdles at the FCIAC Championships, clocking in at 46.42 – also a personal-record. Wilton’s LaBlant won the 300 hurdles in 45.87 (a PR).

Freshman Sophie Passalacqua garnered the gold medal in the 1600-meter race for GHS. Passalacqua posted a championship time of 5:07.38, which was a personal-record. Cardinals teammate Ava Passamano, a junior, was 11th in the 1600 (5:36.39, PR) and junior Sydney Friedman finished 17th (5:58.44).

Passalacqua also medaled in the 3200-meter race, finishing second with a time of 11:04.89. Staples junior Sarah Bogdan was the 3200 winner (11:01.59). Bozza, a freshman, finished in 10th place for the Cardinals (11:47.90). Hardwick, a GHS junior, earned the silver medal in the 800 run, registering a time of 2:19.27. Fairfield Warde junior Alexandra Morgan won the 800 race in 2:19.19, while Muir, a GHS junior, was fifth (2:26.08) and McCooe, a junior, took sixth (2:28.44).

In the 200-meter final, freshman Ella Barker had Greenwich’s best finish in the race, placing eighth in 26.50 seconds. Trumbull sophomore McKenzyi Bell took the 200 title in 25.81.

Knuth paced the Cards in the throwing events at the FCIAC Championships. She was the runner-up in the shot put event and had a third-place finish in the discus. Knuth had a throw of 35’7 in the shot put, a personal-record performance. New Canaan senior Lauren Smith won the event with a personal-record throw of 38’8.5.

“Shot put for me was a huge focus going into this meet,” Knuth noted. “I had worked very hard on my release and trusting my consistency. I definitely got the outcome I wanted and was so proud to earn big points across all three throwing events for my team. I was thrilled to see my teammates and coaches come support me for a bit in the throws.”

Knuth had a distance of 105’5 in the discus, which was won by Smith of New Canaan (115’5). Smith also won the javelin title (120’6) and Knuth medaled, placing sixth (83’0).

Riche` claimed the silver medal in the triple jump (34’11), while GHS teammate Juliette Pelham, a junior, took sixth (34’05). New Canaan’s Milana Hutchins was the triple jump champion (35’3.25).

With the FCIAC championship in their possession, the Cardinals will now look to make some more history at the state meet. They will compete in the CIAC Class LL Championships at Willow Brook Park on June 2. The field events are scheduled to start at 3 p.m. and the running events are slated to start at 4:30 p.m.

“My co-captains Nina, Theresa and Sophia have truly made this season unforgettable and I’m so lucky to get to lead beside them,” Daplyn said. “This year, I’ve really learned to trust in God’s timing and I’m excited to see what He has in store for our team at states.”

Knuth reflected on the team’s historic FCIAC victory and what it took to accomplish such a significant feat.

“Our coaches have prepared us well for this crazy weather by making us practice in all kinds of conditions and definitely urged this victory upon us,” Knuth said. “You can tell by our team spirt how close we are with one another just by how we come together to cheer for each other.”