BURLINGTON — The Hartford High boys track team had one of its best outings of the year at the VPA Division II outdoor state meet, finishing second to a strong Union-32 team, 148-135, at Burlington High School.

It was a 49-point improvement from third place in 2023, with eight event victories and three school records at Friday’s meet. It was also the Hurricanes’ third straight top-three team finish and the program’s best result since winning states in 1997.

“This was a great day,” Hartford coach Mike Perry said. “This was a battle all day, and the guys made us coaches so proud. Everyone contributed to this showing.”

First place for the Hurricanes were Bennett Moreno in the 400 meters (51.64) and 800 (1:59.53); Benjamin Lang in the pole vault (10 feet, 11 inches); Jordan Davis in the duscus (144-1) and javelin (164-10); and Ayodele Lowe, who set school records in the long jump (22-3) and high jump (6-0. The team’s 4x400 relay team of Jack Fournier-Stephens, Gabe Guillette, Moreno and Payton Bessette also won in a school-record time of 3:34.63.

Lowe was second in the triple jump and sixth in the 100 dash, and Davis was second in the shot put and fourth in the triple jump, with Jayden Forbes fifth. Guillette was fourth in both the 200 and 400, Moreno took third in the pole vault with Hayden Hewitt fourth, and Matthew Tsouknakis finished second in the javelin.

The 4x100 relay team — Bessette, Forbes, Fournier-Stephens and Samuel Morris — finished fourth, and the 4x800 team of Elliot Brooks, Alexander Smith, Joey Knapp and Fournier-Stephens was fifth.

The first six places scored points toward team totals.

Gigi Goodwin was third in the discus for the Hartford girls, who were 12th out of 14 schools. Perry noted that the girls 4x100 relay team of Kathryn Summarsell, Michaela Anderson, Armara Johnson and Dakota Smith and the 4x400 team of Summarsell, Goodwin, Smith and Geneva Durgin had two of their best times of the year. Maya Johnson recorded her season best in the long jump, and Flynn Moreno had a personal best in the pole vault.

Perry said the effort by both Hurricane teams brought to mind his favorite quote: “ ‘Have a day,’ and they truly did.”

“Myself and the coaching staff (Clayton Bailey and Alan Haehnel) and Jeff Moreno were so very proud of both the girls and boys teams,” Perry added.

Boys team scores: U-32 148, Hartford 135, Peoples 79, Montpelier 56, Lyndon 36, Fair Haven 26, Mount Abraham 20, Rice 16, Lamoille 15, Missisquoi 15, Spaulding 11.

Girls team scores: U-32 230.5, Peoples 73, Montpelier 46, Rice 43, Mount Abraham 35.5, Middlebury 30, Lyndon 28, Milton 21, Fair Haven 30, Harwood 9, Missisquoi 9, Hartford 6 (12th).