Newtown High School standout runner Soheib Dissa won the 1000 meter race at the State Open Track Championships, at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven on February 17, with a time of 2:30.36. This followed a first-place effort in the Class L State Championships when Dissa ran a 2:33.24, at the same location, on February 10. The Nighthawk girls’ and boys’ squads had some impressive results in the class meets, the girls in LL on February 8, as well as in the State Open.

For the girls, in the LL meet, Aashni Shetty came in third in the 55 hurdles in 8.86, and Amanda Reyes placed seventh in 9.62. Grace Lyons came in third in the 300 with a time of 42.90.

In the 1600 sprint medley relay race, Lola Kessler, Jessie Moore, Leah Morris, and Keira Budge placed seventh in 4:29.85. The 4x200 team of Ella Hall, Abigail Manka, Kessler, and Moore took tenth in 1:52.83.

Newtown’s 4x400 comprising Shetty, Rachael Albrecht, Lyons, and Natalie McLean was fourth in 4:15.18. The 4x800 team of Albrecht, Budge, Clara D’Amico, and Moore finished fourth in 10:05.28.

In the long jump competition Shetty claimed seventh with a jump of 16-05.75. Kessler was seventh in the pole vault event with an 8-06. Isabel Khazadian came in tenth in the shot-put competition with a throw of 29-09.

In the Class L boys’ meet, Noah Masotta came in fourth in the 1600 with a time of 4:32.59. Elias Brady was 11th in the 300 with a time of 38.03. Gabriel Appiah placed 19th in the long jump competition with a leap of 18-08. The 4x200 relay of Brady, Appiah, Tanner Smith, and Grady Marks was seventh in 1:36.26. Newtown’s 4x800 relay comprising Ubay Dissa, Shawn Cardamone, Mitchell Greenhaw, and Orion Lowery was 12th in 9:02.78.

The State Open featured continued individual and relay success despite some injuries and illnesses coming into play for the Nighthawks.

The girls’ 4x800 relay of Albrecht, Brooke Bulkley, Budge, and Morris came in tenth in 10:11.13. The 4x400 team of Shetty, Manka, Morris, and Albrecht was ninth in 4:31.31.

The boys’ 4x200 comprising Brady, Appiah, Smith, and Marks was tenth, clocking in at 1:35.75. Masotta came in 11th in the 1600 with a time of 4:38.85.