By Kim J. Harmon

BETHEL – They never really thought it could happen . . . but they were hoping it would anyway.

Finishing the season undefeated – while only a pipe dream at the beginning of the season – became more and more plausible after the Newtown High School boys’ track team started the season at 7-0-1. But when the Nighthawks got on the bus on Monday afternoon to go face Bethel, Immaculate and Stratford, they knew they were facing their toughest challenge of the 2001 season.

Stratford.

And the Red Devils put the dream of an undefeated season to rest when they handed the Nighthawks a convincing 88.5-61.5 loss.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed about losing to Stratford,” said coach Ed Obloj. “But I’m extremely proud of what we accomplished today. We have bigger things to accomplish in the weeks ahead, so I’m very excited about that.”

Even with the loss, the ‘Hawks moved to 9-1-1 on the year with an 85-64 win over Bethel and 121.5-19.5 win over Immaculate. That sets the stage for next week’s quad meet against Notre Dame, Jonathan Law and Pomperaug.

“Running the table in the SWCs is a rarity,” said coach Carl Paternoster, “but to have had a little taste of what it could be like, we really wanted to run it. But I’m so happy where we’re at . . . and also the fact that we have an excellent opportunity to get that ‘Pomperaug’ thing off our backs once and for all.”

Kyle Tobin – as the script has pretty much gone this season – was a double winner in the 110 high hurdles and 300 intermediate hurdles. Dave Strong captured a first in the pole vault and Matt Regan took a first in the shot put for Newtown’s only other first-place finishes.

The 4x800 relay foursome of Dan Phillips, Cuyler Bryant, Jeff Heller and Dave Rod was first by more than 10 seconds over Bethel and 66 seconds over Stratford. Both Rod and Dan Maxwell qualified for the SWC meet with their effort in the 800 meters.

And the SWC meet will be held Monday, May 21, at New Milford, starting at 4:30 pm.

Newtown 85, Bethel 64

Newtown 121.5, IHS 19.5

Stratford 88.5, Newtown 61.5

 

TRACK EVENTS

 

4x800 relay – 1. Newtown (Phillips, Bryant, Heller, Rod) 9:01, 2. Bethel (;11.6, 3. Stratford 10:27.

4x100 relay – 1. Bethel 45.8, 2. Stratford 46.1.

110 high hurdles – 1. Tobin (N) 16.0, 2. Walthier (S) 16.7, 3. Janofsky (B) 17.7.

100 dash – 1. Ross (S) 11.5, 2. (tie) Christy (I), Leinhardt (B) and Ambrogio (N) 11.8.

1,600 meters – 1. Mohn (I) 4:27, 2. Perry (B) 4:35, 3. DaSilva (S) 4:41.

400 meters – 1. Koestner (I) 51.7, 2. Tanucci (S) 52.3, 3. Leinhardt (B) 52.4.

300 intermediate hurdles – 1. Tobin (N) 41.5, 2. Janofsky (B) 44.2, 3. Napoleone (N) 46.4.

800 meters – 1. DaSilva (S) 2:04, 2. Rod (N) 2:07, 3. Maxwell (N) 2:08.

200 dash – 1. Ross (S) 23.5, 2. Lima (S) 23.7, 3. Leinhardt (B) 23.9.

3,200 meters – 1. DaSilva (B) 10:27.4, 2. Heller (N) 10:53.4, 3. Rod (N) 10:59.0.

4x400 relay – 1. Stratford 3:36.7, 2. Newtown 3:38, 3. Immaculate 3:40.9.

FIELD EVENTS

 

High jump – 1. Lima (S) 6-0, 2. Burke (B) 5-10, 3. Wauthier (S) 5-4.

Pole vault – 1. (tie) Strong (N) and Frat (S) 10-0, 3. Tanucci (S) 9-6.

Triple jump – 1. Burke (S) 38-89, 2. Wauthier (S) 38-8-1/2, 3. Ambrogio (N) 38-8.

Long jump – 1. Burke (B) 20-1, 2. Tanucci (S) 19-3, 3. Mentessana (N) 17-9.

Discus – 1. Bara (B) 110-3, 2. Marinaro (B) 108-6, 3. Friedman (B) 101-6.

Javelin – 1. Jacques (S) 132-11, 2. Gonzalez (S) 126-10, 3. Bartius (B) 125-1.

Shot put – 1. Regan (N) 41-6, 2. Maguire (N) 38-9, 3. Bara (B) 38-8.