The Newtown High School girls’ and boys’ track and field teams began the season with the girls visiting Joel Barlow of Redding on April 8 and the boys at Bethel the next day.

The girls defeated Barlow 81-69, Bethel 92-58, and Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport 147-3.

Newtown’s 4x800 relay team of Keira Budge, Leah Morris, Grace Lyons, and Clara D’Amico placed first with a state qualifying time of 10:07.

Ella Hall and Lyons both qualified for states in the 100. Hall qualified for states in the 200 as well and Abby Manka hit South-West Conference qualifying with a PR in the 200. The 4x100 took second place and qualified for states.

Lyons hit a PR in the 400, breaking 60 seconds to take first place.

Aashni Shetty went undefeated for the meet taking first in 100 meter hurdles, 300 hurdles, earning a PR in long jump and triple jump, resetting her own school record with a 34-11. Amanda Reyes will join Shetty at SWC in 100 hurdles and Violet Asante-Abash qualified for states in long jump.

Budge took first place in the 1600 qualifying for states helping to pace freshman Ana Morris in her first race as a Nighthawk; Morris also qualified.

Morris took first place in the 800 with an SWC standard time of 2:35.

Isabella Walder had a busy first meet. She had a standout performance in high jump with a state qualifying jump of 4-10.

Throws saw strong performances from Izzy Khazadian, Reyes, Faith Weir, Kaylin Brisette, and Francesca Glazer.

NHS pole vault went against the two top vaulters in state and claimed the third, fifth, and sixth spots. Ashley Cote, Bridget Gioffe, and Lola Kessler all qualified for SWC and Kessler reached states with a 9-6.

On the boys’ side, Dominic Simpri won the high jump with a leap of 5-10. Orion Lowery is a freshman who ran 4:48 in the 1600. “Exceptional as far as freshmen go. He is currently the fastest freshman in the SWC. And ranked third in the state,” Coach Charlie Taubl said.

The 4x100 relay won with an impressive opener. “Aydyn Gonzalez, Hayden Bobowick, Elias Brady, and Gabriel Appiah is a very experienced group of runners who is looking to fight for an SWC win,” their coach said. “Jack Chappa is a new but impactful athlete getting second place in the discus throw.”