By Steve Bigham

MANCHESTER – Newtown High School seniors Jeff Heller and Erin Kostecki capped off their careers last Friday with solid performances at the CIAC State Open cross country meet at Wickham Park.

Heller finished 44th overall by completing the 3.1–mile course in 17:07. Kostecki finished 86th overall in the girls’ heat, covering the 2.4-mile course in 17:29.

This week, boys’ coach Rich Pesce praised his top runner, who first came out for the team in his sophomore year along with fellow seniors AJ Palmer and Ryan Ignatius.

“Jeff said he went out for cross country as a way of just doing something prior to his real sport, which is swimming. He found out that his real sport was cross country,” Pesce said. “Jeff loves the competition that the sport brings. He is always focused before a race.”

Heller finished fourth at the South-West Conference championships last month.

Kostecki’s time was not her best on this particular course. However, her coach, Marsha Caine, credited her top runner for competing with her head.

“Erin ran a smart final race to end her high school cross country career without regrets. We decided that she should go out conservative in order to actually `race’ the final 1.5 miles. She did that by going out in about 50th place at the first mile – in a time of 5:46 – a new personal best. She was not able to maintain that pace, but remained competitive and I was very proud of her,” Caine said.

In wrapping up the season, Caine also praised the consistency of senior Jessica Snow and the determination of senior Tracy Ravetto, who battled back from injuries to finish both the season and her career on a high note.

Caine said she is very optimistic about next year’s season.