Harwood Track & Field: HU senior debuts as a javelin leader at Burlington meet
April 20, 2025 | By Waterbury Roundabout Update April 23: Harwood javelin thrower Gavin Clark-Viola’s ranking was updated in this post.
Harwood varsity Track & Field competed at Burlington High School last Thursday, with the boys team finishing in fourth place out of nine teams and the girls fifth out of nine teams.
Both teams scored 40 points, according to Head Coach Jake Pitman.
Harwood senior Gavin Clark-Viola at throwing practice. Photo by Jake Pitman
A big highlight at this meet was Harwood senior Gavin Clark-Viola, who is a late addition this season, having decided to join the team for the first time during his senior year.
“Gavin has a big personality, and an even bigger arm,” Pitman said. “Our throwing coaches chose not to tell him precisely how far he had been throwing the javelin during practice as a method of keeping him grounded about his remarkable and natural talent in the event.”
At the Burlington meet on April 17, Clark-Viola threw the javelin 132 feet, 6 inches, securing him first place in the event.
Headed into Wednesday’s meet at Essex, Pitman said Gavin was ranked third in Division II javelin throwers and sixth across all athletic divisions in Vermont so far this season.
“To say this is a welcome surprise would be an understatement. We are all very happy for him. He is making a significant competitive impact for the team this season through both his raw talent and his dedication to his training for the event,” Pitman remarked. “This was a great day for all of Harwood’s throwers. They continue to deliver excellent results through their commitment to their training.”
Freshman Isabella Pockoski finished in second place in both the shot put and discus, with marks of 34 feet, 1.5 inches, and 100 feet, 2.25 inches, respectively. Senior Heidi Haraldsen finished in 6th place in the shot put with a mark of 26 feet, 0.25 inches.
In addition, both seniors Ella Cisz and Christopher Cummiskey had excellent 800-meter races on Thursday as well, Pitman noted.
Cisz smashed her previous personal best at this distance with a time of 2:47. “Ella’s performance was the highlight of the day for me, personally. She has been working very hard and is already hitting her seasonal goals,” Pitman explained.
Harwood sophomore Mason Jones hands off the baton to senior Christopher Cummiskey in the 4x400m relay. They finished fourth out of five teams with a time of 4:03. Photo by Bob Cummiskey
The coach also recounted how Cummiskey ran an excellent second lap of his 800m run after being “boxed in” by other athletes on the rail of the track during the first lap of the race. He finished in second place. “Christo had to deal with some rather poor etiquette on the track from several athletes from other schools,” Pitman noted. “He never backed down for a second, though. He ran the fastest race he possibly could while dealing with these external factors.”
Harwood sophomore Lyra Turkle hands off the baton to Ella Cisz in the girls 4x400m relay. HU girls came in third place out of four teams with a time of 4.49. Photo by Bob Cummiskey
Team Scores
Boys: Essex, 323; St. Johnsbury, 132; Burlington, 79; Harwood Union, 40; Lyndon Institute, 33; Bellows Free Academy - Fairfax, 32; Mt. Abraham, 23; Winooski, 6; Randolph Union, 1.
Girls: Essex, 302; St. Johnsbury, 96; (tied for 3rd place) Burlington, 58, and Lyndon Institute, 58; Harwood Union, 40; Bellows Free Academy - Fairfax, 37; Mt. Abraham, 24; Winooski, 3.
Harwood’s next track meet is this Wednesday at Essex High School.