Sparked by Aashni Shetty’s school record-setting long and triple jump performances, Newtown High School’s girls’ outdoor track and field team sprung into action with a victorious opening meet, at Joel Barlow of Redding on April 8.

Despite the cold — temperatures in the 30s — Shetty and the Nighthawks heated up. The standout jumper broke the NHS long jump record with an 18-5 and set the triple jump mark with a 36-2.

“Aashni has been great to work with all year,” said Coach Nick Fraticelli, referring also to this past winter indoor campaign. “She is an excellent leader and is always working to help her teammates. Aashni knows how to make the minor technical adjustments to get the most out of her jumps and competes with great intensity.”

Newtown defeated the host Falcons 112-20, topped Brookfield 113-19, and beat Weston 90.67-41.33.

In the 100 meter dash, Summer-Rose Chaljub was first in 13.4 seconds; Jessie Moore took third in 13.5. Moore and Chaljub tied for second in the 200 in 28.3 seconds.

Rylan Kennedy (1:08.9), Leah Morris (1:09.1), and Charlotte Miller (1:10.4) took the three, four, five spots in the 400.

Natalie delCampo won the 800 with a time of 2:43.8

In the 1600 Ana Morris was second in 5:56.6, Teegan Svendsen was third in 6:08.2, and Clare Csaszar earned fifth in 6:11.7. Svensden won the 3200 in 13:17.9; and Annabelle Foley placed third in the race with a time of 13:40.

Shetty won the 100 hurdles in 17.2 and Isabella Walder and Marcela Corral tied for third in 18.8. Kelsey Brennan won the 300 hurdles in 51.9, Esetelle Skerik was fourth in 58.9, and Jolene Brackett fifth in 1:00.2

The 4x100 relay comprising Chaljub, Moore, Abigail Manka, and Lola Kessler, was first in 52.4. The 4x400 team of Csaszar, delCampo, Kessler, and Brennan was first in 4:38.1.

In the shot-put event Jamie Humphreys placed third with a 28-1 and Faith Weir came in fourth with a 27-4. Lily Tullis was second in the discus event with a throw of 79-8 and Weir came in fifth with a 67-7.5.

Newtown went three, four, five in the javelin event with Mackenzie Penrod recording an 80-5, Humphreys a 75-4, and Tullis 68-8.

Corral won the high jump event, clearing the bar at 4-6. Isabella Walder and Anna Parsons tied for second clearing 4-4, and Lyla Kopp came in fifth getting over the bar at 4-2.

Kessler won the pole vault competition clearing eight feet and Csaszar was fourth clearing seven feet.

In addition to Shetty’s long jump victory Charlotte Miller came in second with a 14-9 and Rachel Hugo and Walder tied for fourth with a 14-5.

“It was a very challenging day in terms of the weather as well as the level of competition. Joel Barlow, Weston and Brookfield are all excellent programs and they always bring their best to these meets. The girls did a great job of pulling together, executing their event strategies and competed with a lot of enthusiasm. This team is a uniquely positive group of people who work hard and see the goals of the team that they are working towards each day. The coaches are very pleased with how well the team did today,” Fraticelli said.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.