DeRoo Breaks SWC Records; Hawks Place Fourth In SWC

By Andy Hutchison

Elise DeRoo said earlier in the season that she wanted to get her 1600 meter run time under five minutes by the end of the season. With her latest run to the finish line, the Newtown High School senior took another step toward reaching that goal, and in doing so, set the South-West Conference record in the event. DeRoo broke the SWC’s 1600 record at Monday’s conference girls’ track and field championship at Bunnell High School in Stratford.

DeRoo knocked another two seconds off her time to win the race in 5:03.38. The previous SWC best, achieved only a year ago, was 5:09.68.

The Newtown standout also took home first place in the 3200 meter run and broke another SWC mark with a time of 10:58.76 (the previous best was 11:04.18).

“Elise just put her mind to it that she was going to be successful,” Newtown Coach Doug Russell said.

DeRoo made her mark as a member of the cross country team in the fall and has worked hard to have success during the spring season, Russell said. The coaches work with DeRoo to monitor times for each lap during practice and be sure her pace is on target. She still has a few weeks to bring her time down under five minutes with the Class LL State Championship race slated for June 2, the State Open on June 9, and the New England race on June 14. At the rate DeRoo is going, getting under five minutes is looking like a strong possibility.

DeRoo initially broke a nearly 20-year-old NHS record in the 1600 on April 21 with a time of 5:12 and has since raised the bar for the school’s best time in the event with each subsequent race.

“She’s been cutting off two seconds every single meet since she broke the school record originally,” Russell points out.

DeRoo also set an NHS record with her 3200 time of 11:03.5 last week. She, of course, broke her own record in the SWC meet.

In addition to DeRoo’s individual success, the Nighthawks had some other impressive finishes and, collectively, had a good day in Monday’s SWC meet. NHS placed fourth among 16 conference schools. Newtown had 52 points. Weston, with 122, took top honors, followed by host Bunnell (97) and Masuk (61).

“I was incredibly pleased with the outcome,” Russell said.

The 4x800 relay team, comprising Natalie Villa, Mara Scallon, Kaitlyn Kakadeles, and Tania Domingos, placed ninth (10:34.30).

The 4x100 team of Meghan Barbour, Kristen Hudock, Annika Garrett, and Emily Lockhart was eighth (55.07).

The 4x400 team of Kelley Sullivan, Lockhart, Lauren Pettinelli, and Lilly Rodriquez was eighth (4:26.30).

Sullivan came in sixth in the 400 meter dash (1:03), Domingos was eighth in the 800 (2:30.65), Sara Pollock finished sixth in the 3200 (12:08.47), Anne Martino was tenth in the 3200 (12:41.88), and Pettinelli was sixth in the 300 meter hurdles (50.70).

The Hawks had success in the field events as well, with throwers and jumpers finishing among the top in the conference. Rachael Taback placed first in the discus throw (108-08). Russell said that with her ability, Taback will be in contention for qualifying for the New England meet. Other top-five finishes included: high jumpers Garrett and Keegan Frobey who tied for third (4-8) and Lauren Sudbey (fifth, 4-8). Sudbey was fourth in the pole vault (9-6) and fifth in long jump (14-9).

Emily Kluga was eighth in the javelin throw (93-06), Taback was eighth in shot put (28-05.25) and Jaclyn VanWaalwijk was ninth in the discus throw (82-02). Korth earned seventh in the high jump (4-08) and sixth in pole vault (9-0).

A number of Newtown’s top point-getters are expected to be a part of the program for years to come, which has Russell excited about the future as well as the present. Pettinelli is only a freshman and the coach said her placement in the 300 hurdles is impressive for a first-year high-schooler.

Newtown earned 11 wins during the regular campaign and Russell is thrilled with how the girls have performed.

“I think the season’s been very successful,” he said.

And the members of the NHS squad hope that success carries over into June with state and New England meets around the corner.