Before Bloomfield left for the State Open Tuesday at the Floyd Little Athletic Center, the coaching staff gathered for a quick meeting at the high school.

The coaches wanted to make sure they were ready, and maybe most importantly – they wanted to get head coach Garfield White to relax.

"They told me the kids were just going to do what they do and to have faith," White said. "They told me everything was going to be all right."

Soon enough, the Warhawks proved that their coach had nothing to worry about.

Anchored by two victories from basketball-player-turned-track-star Demario Gray in the high jump and long jump, Bloomfield won its first State Open title in indoor track and field with an impressive 61 points.

The Warhawks defeated perennial power Danbury and defending champions Staples by 7.5 points and 21 points, respectively.

"We've come a long way," White said. "We're no longer just a sprinting school. We cover almost every event and that has always been our goal – to expand. We're expanding well and not losing our identity."

Darien won the girls title with 66.33 points over Hillhouse (57) and Bloomfield (30).

The Warhawks have long been a power in Class S but had never really been considered a favorite in the Open. They were a sprint and jumps team. They didn't think they could win the Open.

After beating Windsor for the CCC Championship, the Warhawks secured place as a favorite, Tuesday they proved it. Gray won the long jump by a foot with a dominating jump of 23 feet, 5 1/2 inches and then jumped 6 feet, 10 inches to win the high jump, just a quarter inch off the Open record set by Bloomfield's own Jamie Tobias.

The Warhawks also got first place finishes in the 55 meter hurdles and shot put from Isaiah McEwen and Isaiah Brooks respectively. McEwen ran 7.56 to win the 55 hurdles over Northwest Catholic's Galo Rodrigueez (7.84) and Brooks took the shot put with a throw of 53-2. He was a foot and a half better than runner-up Adam Rock.

This past Thursday, White suggested that the team was one of the best ever at the school. Tuesday night, the Warhawks all but confirmed it.

Bendzinski Gets Dream Finish

RHAM junior Chrissy Bendzinski was watching the Millrose Games this weekend with her dad and coach, Mike, when he made a simple but important observation.

"He was talking about how Alberto Salazar coaches his athletes and how even if they're in a bad situation — they just relax and let the race unfold before you overreact," Chrissy Bendzinksi said.

So the junior, who had battled her share of adversity this season, did just that – she stayed patient.

It worked. In the type of race that would make Salazar proud, Bendzinksi came from behind to win the 1,000 meters at the State Open and surprise favorites Brianna Lenehan of Norwich Free Academy and Kellie Davis of Hillhouse.

Bendzinski, who was seeded three seconds behind Lenehan, ran 2:56.68 for her personal best and beat Lenahan by two seconds and Davis by more than five.

"I'm just so overjoyed and happy and grateful that I was able to pull through from being on the bike and not even being able to run to what I did today,'' Bendzinski said. "I'm in awe."

After the cross country season, Bendzinski fought a high ankle sprain, then shin splints and eventually the flu. She had to scratch out of three races. But that wasn't going to happen Tuesday. Bendzinski let her opponents dictate the race early on then made her move in the final 200 meters, passing Davis and eventually Lenehan in the final 100 meters with a powerful kick.