Kevin Hoyt has been a fixture in Newtown road racing circles throughout the years, often coming out on top.

Now he will be leading a different pack: Newtown High School’s girls’ indoor track team. Having coached with Newtown High as an assistant since 2015, the former standout Nighthawk runner himself is very familiar with the Nighthawks.

“This year I am very excited to be coaching the girls’ team. I am looking forward to seeing all the success we will have as a team,” said Hoyt, who previously coached at New Canaan High from 2013-2015 and has been back at NHS ever since.

He ran cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track at Newtown High from 2004-’08 and was All State in cross country.

The Hawks are led by the following captains: Kaelin Rising (throws), Kayleigh Troy (jumps), Riley Powers (distance), Hannah Snayd (middle distance), Angie Romano (sprints), and Ella Hall (sprints/jumps).

Other key team members who Hoyt will rely on for success include sprinters Eva Barricelli and Aashni Shetty, hurdler Reese Smith, distance runners Ryann Heim-Sherwood and Kiera Budge distance, mid distance competitor Rachel Albrecht, and throwers Isabel Khazadain and Michaela Bonnacci.

Each group of athletes on the team has depth, Hoyt said. His goals for the season are for the Nighthawks to have strong performances at the South-West Conference Championships, State Championships, and invitationals, while compiling personal records throughout the season.

Nighthawk Boys

The boys’ squad, coached by Becky Osborne again, has a strong group of returning runners, jumpers, and throwers.

Cross country standout and this year’s Turkey Trot winner, Soheib Dissa, leads the distance corps. Caleb Smith is an-all around competitor who can score points in many events. Sprint-distance runner Colby Harrell, sprinter Victor Souza, thrower Kevin Murray, and jumpers Declan Hsieh and Tyler Weiss are also among Nighthawks to watch. Captains are Murray, Weiss, Harrell, and Smith.

“The distance in this league is really competitive,” said Osborne, adding that remains to be seen overall what the competition brings to the track this winter, but that there is always the individual element of track that keeps its participants motivated.

“That’s the beautiful thing about track. You always compete against yourself and look for PRs and getting kids to improve in every event. As a team we’re always looking to improve,” she said.

Winter indoor track is phase one of two seasons for many of the athletes who are not only preparing for indoor championship meets but also the outdoor spring track and field campaign.

“The awesome yet daunting part about track is it starts in December and goes until June,” said Osborne, adding that fall cross country runners have an even longer stretch of continuous competitions.

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