Track Competitors Ready For Championships

By Anna Hodge

For the past two weeks, members of the Newtown High School indoor track teams have continued to deliver strong performances. On January 22, a handful of the team’s standout athletes competed in the Yale Interscholastic Track Classic in New Haven. Sophomore Jake Feinstein placed 12th in the 3000 meter finals with a time of 8:57.11. Meanwhile, Seniors Lauren Pettinelli and John Wlasuk had strong runs in their respective events. Pettinelli competed in the girls’ 55 meter hurdles with a time of 8.95 and placed fifth overall. Meanwhile, Wlasuk placed first in the shot put, throwing 56-2.5, and also competed in the weight throw, where he placed second with a throw of 58-1.25.

On January 25, the entire team competed in their final meet of the regular season. Known as a “last chance” meet, it was the final opportunity for athletes to qualify for the South-West Conference Championships. However, according to NHS Coach Doug Russell, individuals who have not yet qualified for the Class LL State Championships can do so at the SWCs. Russell has a good outlook for the SWC Championships, which will be held Saturday, February 5 at Hillhouse High School in New Haven.

“I feel as though we can be very competitive at SWCs this year on both the boys’ and girls’ side,” Russell said. “This winter, with all the weather and cancellations, it has been a challenge as far as getting in all the workouts we need as well as participation in meets, but when we have had the chance to run, everyone just seems to be showing improvement. This has been an exceptional group this year. They have shown a lot of dedication and commitment and I believe it will show up at the championship level.”

The current qualifiers for SWCs and the state championships are as follows:

Girls

55-Meter Hurdles: Lauren Pettinelli: 8.6 (SWC and Class LL). Melissa Buccino: 9.6 (SWC and Class LL). Lydia Beiter: 9.5 (SWC and Class LL). Zoe Eggleston: 9.6 (SWC and Class LL).

55 Dash: Reagan Cerney: (SWC and Class LL). Brittany Tolla: 7.7 (SWC and Class LL). Kyra Murray: 8.0 (SWC). Abby Blakeman: 7.9 (SWC).

300: Reagan Cerney: 43.60 (SWC and Class LL). Brittany Tolla: 44.8 (SWC and Class LL). Lauren Pettinelli: 45.1 (SWC and Class LL). Abby Blakeman: 46.8 (SWC and Class LL).

600: Mara Scallon: 1:52.7 (SWC). Michaela Guinee:  1:52.3 (SWC).

1000: Erin Begg:  3:23.02 (SWC and Class LL).

1600: Erin Begg:  5:53.6 (SWC). Katie Burns:  (SWC).

3200: Erin Begg: 12:24.92 (SWC and Class LL). Jenny VanVeen: 12:48.7 (SWC).

4x400: 4:26.86 (Class LL).

4x200: 1:57.83 (Class LL).

Shot Put: Amy Anyoha: 29-11.0 (SWC and Class LL). Meghan Condon:  27-4.0 (SWC). Kristy Papaj:  26-1.75 (SWC).

Long Jump: Abby Blakeman: 14-0.5 (SWC). Katie Shirley:  13-7.75 (SWC)

High Jump: Brianne Hart: 4-10 (SWC and Class LL). Cortney Beckett: 4-8 (SWC and Class LL).

Pole Vault: Abby Keough: 7-6 (SWC). Lila Kohrman-Glaser: 7-6 (SWC).

Boys

55 Hurdles: Chad Cullens: 9.62 (SWC). Scott Buchanan: 9.7 (SWC). Sam Boland: 9.5 (SWC)

55: Ken Toal: 6.6 (SWC and Class LL). Peter Kerns: 6.8 (SWC and Class LL). Matt Genovese: 6.9 (SWC). Brandon Capaldo: 7.24 (SWC). Jimmy Mooney: 7.2 (SWC). Trevor Carey: 7.2 (SWC). Christian Mather: 7.2 (SWC). Jimmy Leidlein: 7.3 (SWC). Chris Arnone:  7.2 (SWC)

300: Ken Toal: 39.0 (SWC and Class LL). Matt Genovese:  39.10 (SWC and Class LL). Andre Capoziello: 41.0 (SWC).

600: Dieter Gutbrod:  1:30.9 (SWC and Class LL).

1000: Jordan Hensel: 2:53.59 (SWC).

1600: Jake Feinstein: 4:23.58 (SWC and Class LL). Pat Sullivan: 4:45.9 (SWC and Class LL). David Klein: 4:50.16 (SWC). Austin Baldour: 4:50.9 (SWC)

3200: Jake Feinstein: 9:36.70 (SWC and Class LL). Pat Sullivan: 10:15.29 (SWC and Class LL). Austin Baldour: 10:16.88 (SWC and Class LL). David Klein: 10:25.07 (SWC and Class LL)

4x400: 3:50.86 (Class LL).

4x200: 1:41.60 (Class LL).

SMR: 4:00.00 (Class LL).

Shot Put: John Wlasuk: 56-2.5 (SWC and Class LL).

Long Jump: Peter Kerns:  18-0.5 (SWC). Brandon Capaldo: 18-0.25 (SWC).

High Jump: Austin Puleri: 5-8.0 (SWC and Class LL). Peter Kerns:  5-6.0 (SWC). Brandon Capaldo: 5-2.0 (SWC).