Youth Runners Compete In State And Regional Meets

By Andy Hutchison

Several Newtown youth track and field athletes have sprinted, raced, hurdled ... and (literally and figuratively) jumped to a higher level this spring/summer. Standout participants in the Parks and Recreation-sponsored program recently competed in state and regional competitions against top runners from other youth programs.

Designed for boys and girls in grades four through eight, this first-year program was established by Newtown High School Assistant Track Coach Eileen Fish as a way to expose up-and-coming runners to track and field before they get to high school. Now, having competed against out-of-town, and in some instances out-of-state, runners at championship meets, some of the participants have gotten even more of a taste for what high school track will entail in the years to come.

“It’s great for them to have seen the competition,” Fish said. “It helps them with their confidence and helps them get an idea of what to expect as they go along.”

The following eight runners qualified for the State Championship at Yale and, because of their strong performances, moved on to compete in the Regional Championships (grades provided are the most recent completed): Jesse Coighlin, fifth grade, 80 meter hurdles; Casey Demers, fifth grade, 80 meter hurdles; Kelly Coughlin, fifth grade, 1500 meter run; Chris Manfredi, fourth grade, 1500 meter; Joey Whelan, fifth grade, 1500 meter; Jenny Indelicato, sixth grade, 100 meter dash and long jump; Alex Shkreli, seventh grade, 100 meter dash and long jump; and Lydia Beiter, seventh grade, 100 meter hurdles and long jump. The regional event, held at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, included runners from all of the New England states in addition to New York and New Jersey.

Indelicato and Beiter both qualified for the National Junior Olympic Games, which are scheduled to take place in Detroit at the end of the month. Although the local running standouts will not be making the costly trip, just receiving this recognition might be priceless enough. Certainly the experience of advancing to compete in big races should pay off, if for no other reason than simply because of the exposure to tough competition and out-of-town race venues these runners have gained.

The Coughlin sisters and Demers all said getting to participate against out-of-town competition was fun and that it was exciting to face top-notch runners in the state and regional races.

“It’s a lot harder because they’re really amazing,” Indelicato said of the runners in the state and regional races.

What’s more, these boys and girls took home some positive off-the-track experiences. Beiter and Shkreli both said meeting people and making new friends was the highlight of being involved in the program.

“I liked to travel around to the other schools,” Whelan added. “I like to compete with myself and with the other kids.”

The spring season got rolling in the spring and roughly three dozen up-and-coming runners practiced twice each week at the NHS track and competed in local weekly meets.

“It’s exciting. It’s our first year and they did really well,” Fish said. “They steadily improved all year.”

Newtown’s Recreation summer track camps are offered July 14–18 (sessions are held 9 am to noon and 12:30 to 3:30 pm) and August 4–8 during the same times. same times. Youth runners may sign up through Parks and Recreation. Call 270-4340 for information.