Hawk Track Participants Compete In Elite Invitational

Newtown High School’s boys’ track and field team, along with 15 other high school squads, competed in the Connecticut Elite Night Invitational in Litchfield on May 4.

Running under the lights (and a full moon) were 14 qualifying competitors from Newtown.

Junior Jake Feinstein took first place in the 1600 meter race with a time of 4:24.33. Also earning first was senior captain Peter Kerns in the 200 meter dash with a personal best time of 23.12. Kerns also placed third in the 400 meter with another personal record time, 50.80.

In the 800 meter, senior captain Dieter Gutbrod had a time of 2:02.43 and finished second.

Newtown competitors had a great showing in the 3200 meter race. Running in and out of the fog settling on the field, were Paul Mangiafico with a time of 10:11.63, good for fourth, captain Jordan Hensel in 10:11.63 for fifth, and Mitchell Russo in 10:24.23, finishing in 11th. 

The Nighthawks resumed regular season action with a road meet, at Stratford on Tuesday. The Hawks defeated Stratford 102-37 and New Milford 81-65, and dropped a 78-68 decision to Weston.

Newtown’s first-place overall finishers were: John Hampford in the 110 hurdles (16.6) and 300 hurdles (44.2), Feinstein in the 1600 (4:30) and 3200 (9:55), Gutbrod in the 800 (2:03), Kerns in the 200 (23.2), Mac Morlock in the discus throw (118-3.5), and Spencer Erhardt in the pole vault (12-0).

The Nighthawks have their final regular-season meet May 15 against Pomperaug of Southbury and host New Fairfield. The South-West Conference championships will be held May 21 at Bethel High School.

While the season is winding down, Newtown Coach Dan McIlrath points out that the team is just getting started in some way.

“We have one meet to go and I’m excited to see what happens. Friday was the beginning of the end,” McIlrath said of the invitational.

“Our 3200 meter runners (Mangiafico, Hensel, Russo) all set personal records by 10 to 15 seconds. Our sprinters are seeing some times turnover (Kerns, Hampford) with a 50.8 in the 400 meters and 43.8 in the 300 hurdles, respectively,” the Newtown coach added. “It’s about how bad they want it in that last meet and, interestingly enough, we may have school record setting numbers going to SWCs this year, but only time will tell.”