The Newtown High School girls’ and boys’ track teams are optimistic going into the South-West Conference and State Championships with many postseason qualifiers.

The postseason meets have qualifying standards that the athletes must meet in order to be eligible to compete. Both teams had four competitions in January, and the girls attended an extra meet in the middle of the month. Some were held at Bethel High School’s indoor track facility and others at Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven. The coaches and athletes are looking forward to the championship meets, eager to see what they can do.

“We’re all really excited for SWCs because we have a lot of new faces and new talent. Everyone has been working so hard this season and I can’t wait to see what we can do,” senior captain Elise Barricelli said.

For the SWC Championship, which will take place at the Floyd Little Athletic Center on February 5, the girls’ team has 24 individual athletes qualified and the boys team has 14 athletes individually qualified.

“We feel great. We are all confident in our ability to do well in our races and events,” senior captain Aidan Budge said.

All of the girl’s relays lowered their times over the last couple meets, improving their spots for the state championship. A 4x800 meter relay consisting of Ally McCarthy, Riley Powers, Sophia Guevara, and Hannah Snayd broke the school record with a time of 10:02.

Snayd also qualified for New Balance Indoor Nationals with her 600 time of 1:40. Freshman Rachel Albrecht qualified for states in the 600, senior captain Emily Litke jumped a personal best in high jump qualifying herself for states, and junior Kayleigh Troy tied the school record for high jump at 5 feet.

Caleb Smith and Brock Dukate have shown their versatility throughout the season, competing in many different events with high marks in high jump, pole vault, long jump, shot put, the 55 meter dash, and the 4x200 meter relay. Freshman Oliver Guzy qualified for states in long jump at the meet on January 19.

The girls have 13 athletes qualified for the Class LL State Championship: Jamie Adams (55 meter hurdles 10.13, high jump 4-10), Katelyn Zaniewski (55 dash 8.01), Riley Powers (55 dash 8.02, 300 dash 44.58, 600 meter 1:46.97), Barricelli (55 dash 7.83, 300 dash 44.40), Amelia Daly (300 dash 45.45) Snayd (600 meter 1:40, 1000 meter 3:21), McCarthy (600 meter 1:48, 1000 meter 3:13), Guevara (600 meter 1:47.54), Albrecht (600 meter 1:49.57), Troy (high jump 5 feet), Litke (high jump 4-10), Grace Miller (long Jump 14-11), and Ella Hall (long jump 14-10).

The boys have six athletes qualified for states: Smith (55 dash 6.93), Dukate (55 dash 6.99), Kevin Murray (shot-put 40-2.75), Guzy (long jump 18-8.75), Budge (600 meter 1:31.45) Cameron Whorf (300 dash 39.47 and 600 meter 1:31.62).

The Class LL State Championship is set to be held on February 11. There, the qualified athletes will have the opportunity to compete against all of the best athletes from all of the LL schools.