There's that old saying: "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." For Newtown High School's girls' outdoor track and field team, three-time runner-up to Weston, the new saying can be "If you haven't beaten them, get one of their coaches to join you."

Rich Marcello, who previously worked as an assistant under Head Coach Matt Medve with conference juggernaut Weston, takes over head coaching duties for the Nighthawks this spring.

Marcello is familiar with the rivalry, which includes Weston edging Newtown by a mere half point for one of those three titles. Newtown wasn't so close last year, but was runner-up nonetheless, and Marcello believes his new squad can overcome Medve's group.

"I learned so much from him. I'm excited to go against him now," the first-year Newtown leader said.

Marcello, who also works as a professor and an exercise clinician at Sacred Heart University, is thrilled to have the opportunity to coach at Newtown High, and notes that the program is loaded with talented runners, throwers, and jumpers, and he would like to bring the Nighthawks to the top.

"We want to win the championship," said the coach, adding that another goal is to send as many qualifiers to state class and open championships as possible.

Tough competition stands to come from Weston and New Milford, Marcello anticipates.

"The seniors are itching to get the win and they've been really, really close," Marcello said. "They seem determined."

Captains are distance runner/pole vaulter Lauren Russo, hurdler/sprinter Makenna Cerney, distance runner Erin Tressler, middle-distance runner Camryn Cicarelli, and shot-put/discus thrower Annika Alexander.

Russo, Cerney, and Alexander all had first-place finishes in last year's outdoor conference championships, and Russo (in the pole vault competition) and Carly Sweirbut (in the 55 meter hurdles) both took home titles in this past winter's indoor championships. Newtown's 4x200 meter relay team won the indoor title, and some of that relay is represented in the outdoor season's 4x100 contingent. Marley Marson is anther standout thrower back with the team.

The season begins Wednesday, April 19, when the Hawks host New Fairfield to take on the Rebels and Joel Barlow of Redding, beginning at 3:45 pm.