Sudbey’s School Record Pole Vault Effort Helps Hawks To Fourth Place

By Andy Hutchison

WESTON — Newtown High School’s girls’ outdoor track and field team placed fourth at Tuesday’s South-West Conference Championships at Weston High as Lauren Sudbey broke a school record with her pole vault effort.

Sudbey, a senior, also claimed first place in the long jump event and was runner-up in the triple jump competition.

Newtown senior Rachel Taback also had a memorable day as she won first in the discus throw with a toss of 114-10.

Sudbey cleared 10-6 in the pole vault competition to set a new NHS mark. Her long jump of 16-5 was best overall at the meet and her triple jump effort of 33-5.5 helped the Nighthawks earn 77.5 points as a team.

Weston won the meet with 134.5 points. Newtown was narrowly edged out by Pomperaug (79) for third.

“The competition this year is much better than it has been in past years,” said Newtown Coach Doug Russell, speaking of the level of parity in the field.

“The SWC meet is really the epitome of everything we’ve worked for all season,” added Newtown’s Emily Korth, who was sixth in the pole vault event (9-06) and fourth in the high jump along with Keegan Frobey (4-08).

Newtown’s Lauren Pettinelli placed third in the 100 hurdles in a time of 16.71. In the 3200, Anne Martino (11:56.78) and Katie Burns (12:00.27) were sixth and seventh respectively. The 4x800 relay team of Martino, Mara Scallon, Erin Begg and Natalie Villa placed third (10:01.30).

The SWC Championships kicked off the postseason, which continues with the class state finals, State Open and New England race.

“This is the beginning of the second season as far as I’m concerned,” Russell said.