Unbeaten Girls’ Cross Country Team Races Into Postseason

By Andy Hutchison

Heading into the South-West Conference championships, scheduled for Thursday (after The Bee went to press) the Newtown High School girls’ cross country squad was the team to beat.

After all, the Nighthawks, fresh off a perfect 15-0 regular season, have won seven straight SWC crowns.

The Nighthawks lost only one runner from their top seven from a year ago in graduate Natalie Villa.

The returnees were joined by Lilly Rodriquez, a 300-meter hurdler who also ran a leg in the mile relay with the track team. NHS Coach Doug Russell has been impressed with how Rodriquez, a junior, has adapted to cross country running after having only participated in track in prior seasons.

“Her competitiveness and work ethic has made her an exceptional cross country runner,” Russell said.

Rodriquez has been among Newtown’s top seven throughout this season’s races. The Nighthawks have lots of depth, which is what has made them so dangerous in the SWC year after year.

Newtown did not have a top one or two finisher in the October 13 regular season-ending wins over New Milford (a nail-biting one-point decision), Bethel and Bunnell, but they sealed up the third, fourth and fifth placements.

Anne Martino, Erin Begg and Katie Burns have been a strong one-two-three punch for Newtown and those runners have been supported by a cast of strong runners including Mara Scallon, Rodgriquez, Danni Villa (Natalie’s sister), Scarlett O’Sullivan, Hanni Braumaghim, Katy Howell, Faith Mangiafico, Kaitlyn Connolly and Leigh Gerity.

Russell calls his runners true students of the sport.

“They want to know what they need to do to get better,” the coach said.

Last year, Newtown retained its stranglehold on the SWC title despite losing five of their top seven runners to graduation the year before.

There are more talented runners working their way toward the top, but Newtown stands to be in a similar situation again next fall as O’Sullivan is the only senior in the current top seven.

“I have to say that in my six years as the head coach I have been the lucky one. I continue to get girls on this team who are excited about this sport and they always want to improve,” Russell said.

Heading into the SWC championships, Russell said is would be necessary for each one of the girls to take everything they have learned this season and put it all together if they are going to hold onto conference bragging rights.

“They know who their competition is and what they need to do in order to capture another title. We always discuss that no matter what happens at SWCs, we have another race that matters just as much,” said Russell, alluding to the Class LL State Championships.

“We run in a tough conference, but Class LL is loaded with top-ten teams,” said Russell, noting that Norwich Free Academy, Glastonbury, Ridgefield, New Milford, Cheshire and Shelton are among the top schools with which Newtown will have to contend.

“We have been recognized as a top-ten team in the state, but at this point in the season it is up to us to prove it. This group has the heart and the desire to do what needs to be done,” Russell said.

For coverage of the South-West Conference meet, visit NewtownBee.com on Friday, October 23.