SWC Track Championships —

Boys Win Title, Girls Second … Records Broken

By Anna Hodge

Newtown High School’s indoor track and field athletes make setting new school records and dominating a regional championship look easy. On Saturday, February 4, the boys won the South-West Conference championship, taking first with 93 points; the girls, meanwhile, took second with 81 points, six points behind winner Immaculate of Danbury.

As a whole, the Nighthawks racked up a total of eight school records and one SWC meet record, set by Jake Feinstein in the 1600 meter [two mile] run.

Feinstein, who set the record in the 1600 meter at last year’s SWC meet with a time of 4:24.55, broke his own mark, finishing in 4:23.43 and taking first in the event. Feinstein also contributed to the performance of the 4x800 relay team. The junior and senior teammates Palmer Lintz, Pat Sullivan, and Dieter Gutbrod set a school record in the relay, finishing in 8:31.29.

“I was very pleased the 4x8, mile, and two-mile triple,” Feinstein said. “I haven’t raced much this season, so to be running those times all alone is a real confidence-booster for the meets to come over the course of the next month. My goal for states is to break my 4:18 mile (personal record) and win it as well. State opens will be a deciding factor between focusing on the mile or two-mile, as the two-mile is generally my stronger event.”

The 4x200 relay team also dominated in the meet. Jimmy Mooney, Peter Kerns, Brandon Capaldo, and Trevor Carey set a new school record and took first place in the event, finishing in 1:36.61.

Individual record-setting performances were also major contributions to the boys’ team’s ability to gain the most amount of points overall. Peter Kerns set several new school records in the 55 meter dash, with a 6.71, and in the 300 meter dash, with a 36.75. In the high jump, Hunter Bassett tied the current school record at 5-08.

The girls’ team had an equally impressive amount of performances. Reagan Cerney set a new school record in the 600 meter run, finishing in 1:40.6. The 4x800 meter relay also set a school record. With a time of 10:24.64, Reagan Cerney, Hannah Schwartz, Erin Begg, and Jenny VanVeen took fourth in the event.

Meanwhile, Lauren O’Connell reset her school record in the pole vault event. O’Connell, who set the bar at 11 feet, is excited about her accomplishment and the team’s future at states. “I hope to keep improving and can’t wait for Thursday’s meet,” O’Connell said of the Class LL state championships, which were scheduled to have been held on Thursday, February 9 (after The Bee went to press).

 Doug Russell, head coach of the boys’ and girls’ teams admitted he hasn’t seen such an athletic and competitive group of athletes in a long time.

“It was just an incredible night,” Russell said. “I’m really proud of them, both the boys and the girls.”

Feinstein had similar thoughts on the championship. “The team did phenomenal, and I was very proud of each and every one of them, Feinstein said. “The boys taking first and the girls taking second just shows that Newtown has a dedicated track team all around. Everyone works so hard and without our great coaches, the performance Newtown put on Saturday wouldn’t have been possible.”

Russell added his thoughts on state championships. “Boys should finish easily in the top ten, if not better, Russell said. “It’s always tough to tell with the girls. Either way, there will be exceptional showings at states.”