Newtown High Girls’ Track Team Wins Twice In Opener

By Anna Hodge

After rainstorms postponed the event twice, the Newtown High School girls’ track and field team competed in its first meet of the season, at the newly renovated NHS Blue and Gold Stadium, on April 14. The Nighthawks defeated two of its three competitors; Newtown defeated Bethel 116-34 and Masuk of Monroe 101-49, and fell to Weston 85-65.

Lauren Pettinelli placed first in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 48.5. The senior also came in first with her performance in the 100 hurdles, with a time of 15.9.

“I feel I did the best I ever did in my first meet. I had two personal records, in both hurdle races,” Pettinelli said. “I would love to beat the school record for the 300 meter hurdles, since I already did in the 100 meter hurdles.”

A number of athletes from the distance crew were also top finishers. Senior Anne Martino placed second in the 800 with a time of 2:32.9; Senior Mara Scallon, with a time of 5:52.6 placed second in the 1600. Teammate Katie Burns, a junior, followed closely behind in third, with a time of 5:59.2.

In the 3200, juniors Erin Begg and Jenny VanVeen earned spots in the top three; Begg came in second with a time of 12:15, and VanVeen followed in third place with a time of 12:27.9.

 Lauren O’Connell, a junior, took home first- and second-place accolades. She placed first in the triple jump, with a distance of 31-5.5, and earned second in the long jump.

“I think I performed well for the first meet, but I need to work on my form. That way I will be able to jump longer for long and triple jump and clear higher for pole vault,” said O’Connell, adding that she hopes to eventually hold a high school record in one of her events.

The Nighthawks had strong performances in the throwing events. Freshman Amy Anyoha placed first in the shot put competition, with a throw of 29-7, followed, in third place, by sophomore Kristy Papaj, who threw 26-11.

Juniors Megan Condon and Stefanie Clavette placed in the top three for the discus; Condon received first place, throwing 83-8, and Clavette placed third with a throw of 73-8. Condon placed third in the javelin with a throw of 74-11.

Newtown’s relay teams had success at the meet as well. The 4x800 meter relay team achieved first place with a time of 10:17. Junior Erin Begg, a 4x800 relay team member, said she was happy with the results.

“It was a great time for our first meet,” Begg said. “I hope we can break the school record by the end of the season.”

The other relays also finished in the top three. The 4x100 team came in second overall with a time of 55.2 seconds. Meanwhile, the 4x400 relay team placed third with a time of 4:35.

The Hawks look forward to many more meets filled with individual achievements and overall success, and return to action April 26 at Joel Barlow in Redding. Newtown, after visiting Pomperaug of Southbury on May 3, will host a meet May 10 at 4 pm.