Newtown High School’s girls’ and boys’ track and field teams had meets on April 22 and 23 — the girls at Masuk of Monroe to take on the host Panthers along with Notre Dame-Fairfield and Stratford, and the boys the next day at home against the same opponents. Both teams came out on top.

“After a week off from vacation, students exchanging in Spain, and school trip to Italy; we had some highs and lows at the meet,” said Becky Bourret, coach of the girls’ squad, who noted that the team only practiced a couple of times during the spring break week.

The girls still came out on top in convincing fashion. They defeated Masuk 121.5-28.5, bested Notre Dame 133-17, and topped Stratford 136-14.

“The teams we faced are sprinter heavy so we chose to put forth our best effort in those events knowing our distance team would do their jobs,” Bourret said.

Newtown’s distance squad went one-two in the 4x800 relay event.

In the 800 Keira Budge led herself and training partner Ana Morris to first and second, going sub 2:30. Sprinter Jessie Moore, coming off of an indoor foot injury, has turned to mid-distance in her recovery and ran the 800 to third place just shy of postseason qualification in 2:35.6 (2:35.5).

The 1600 had Clara D’Amico lead the way in a season-best time of 5:39.5 for postseason qualification. Annabelle Foley has found her stride this season and saw a lifetime PR in the mile of 5:42 — qualifying for the South-West Conference Championships and just shy of state standard — Bourret said.

In the 3200 Budge and Morris worked together to again take first and second while also qualifying for states.

Sprinters saw an exciting finish in 4x100 against top team Notre Dame with a lean at the end by Grace Lyons to secure first in a PR of 50.9; the relay also comprised Amanda Reyes, Lola Kessler, and Ella Hall.

Lyons took first in the 200 with a PR of 26.0. Reyes followed in third with a PR of 27.2 and Aashni Shetty (taking a break from hurdles this meet) took fourth in the same time, also a PR.

The 400 featured a Newtown sweep with Shetty and Leah Morris taking the top two spots in the same time of 1:03 (both good for state qualification), and Lola Kessler took third in 1:05.7.

The 4x400 relay of Lyons, Leah Morris, Moore, and Shetty had a season PR of 4:15.

Newtown’s field events competitors had a harder day after not being able to practice their skills but hung on for point scoring positions and strong placements in the pole vault, long jump, triple jump, shot-put, discus, javelin, and high jump.

The boys won against both opponents, scoring 72.83 while Masuk had 36.25 and Stratford 29.29. The squads completed 17 of 18 events; the 4x800 relay races were not completed.

In the 100 Hayden Bobowick, Elias Brady, and Gabriel Appiah were part of a five-runner tie for first in 11.5 seconds. Appiah and Grady Marks tied for first in the 200 in 24.3. Brady took first in the 400 in a PR time of 51.9 and Noah Kooper took fourth in the 400 in a PR time of 56.2.

Ubay Dissa took first in the 1600 clocking in with a PR time of 4:57. NHS had run finishers among the top five in the 1600 as Mitchell Greenhaw placed third in 5:00, Shawn Cardamone was fourth in 5:01, and Adrian Totir fifth in 5:05 — all PR times.

Derek Jopp won the 110 hurdles in a PR time of 18.1 seconds. Noah Masotta won the 800 (2:11.7) and was second in the 3200 (10:46). Orion Lowery (PR time of 2:13) and Reid Karnas (PR of 2:309.6) were third and fifth in the 800. Andrew Arena placed third in a PR time of 11:14.7 in the 3200.

In the relays, the 4x100 team of Appiah, Gonzalez, Bobowick, and Brady came in second in 44.6 and the 4x400 team of Smith, Kooper, James D’Amico, and Marks was second in 4:03.

NHS earned the third through fourth spots in the shot-put event as Jack Chappa had a throw of 41-3, Cole Wanzer 40-1, and Zachary Clouden 36-6.5 — all PR throws. Chappa took second in the discus event with a throw of 125-7, Chris Mattera was fourth with a PR throw of 93-95, and Jayden Cordova was fifth with a 69-9.

In the javelin throw competition, Chappa (133), Justyn Gonzalez (118), and Tanner Smoth (117-5.5) took the top three spots with PR efforts. Mattera was fourth with a throw of 114-4. In the high jump, Dominic Simpri was first with a PR leap of 6-2 and Liveon Gavin came in third with a PR jump of 5-2. In the pole vault event Jerimiah Stone cleared 7 feet to place second. Brady won the long jump with a 19-5.5. Appiah (19), Simpri (18-3.5) and Bobowick (16-0.5) took the second, third, and fifth spots. Gonzalez won the triple jump with a 36-10.5.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.