Newtown High School’s cross country teams began the season with a pair of wins, defeating the New Fairfield Rebels and Stratford Red Devils on its home course, adjacent to Reed Intermediate School, on September 10. The girls had five of the top six finishers and defeated the Rebels 18-37 and the Devils 15-50. In the boys’ race, sparked by Nick Jacobs’ one-second victory over New Fairfield’s Patrick Gibbons, the Nighthawks bested the Rebels 19-44 and Stratford 15-50.

Rylee Harrell and Emily Tressler gave the Nighthawks a one-two finish, clocking in at 21:41 and 21:58. After New Fairfield’s Ashley Hubert (22:01), Newtown’s Maddie Fetchick was fourth in 22:06, followed by Hallie Filan (22:33), and Courtney Henchcliffe (22:53). Newtown’s Ella Hage was ninth in 24:03 and Chloe Karnas came in tenth in 24:13. Teammate Emily Litke was 11th, only two seconds later.

There was not a lot of outside competition from a team standpoint with Newtown significantly out-numbering its opponents, but the nature of running always provides individual goals and expectations.

“Our girls’ times did improve a lot from our time trials,” Newtown Coach Christina Caron said.

In the down-to-the-wire boys’ race, Jacobs finished in 17:30. After Gibbons in 17:31 were Newtown’s Max Bloomquist and Jack Kuligowski, finishing in 18:34 and 19:23. Kuligowski narrowly edged New Fairfield’s Chris Martins (19:24) to the finish. The Nighthawks took the sixth through tenth spots as follows: DJ Bobowick (19:28), Daniel Sibley (19:30), Will Tainter-Gilbert (19:35), Drew Poseno (19:36), and Max Hanson (19:45).

“We’re looking for improvement from the beginning of the season to the end of the season,” said Newtown Coach Carl Strait, adding that his team members are training to get better. “Their hard work is paying off.”

On Tuesday, September 17, the teams visit Bethel to take on the Wildcats, along with Bunnell of Stratford and Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport. The boys are scheduled to race at 4:30 pm, followed by the girls at 5 pm.