NHS Girls’ Track Team Sweeps Competition

By Anna Hodge

There was a winning spirit in the air at Newtown High School’s girls’ track and field team’s Senior Night on May 10. The Nighthawks swept the competition, defeating Brookfield, 105-45; Immaculate, 130-20; and Lauralton Hall, 145-5 at Blue and Gold Stadium. Newtown improved to 9-3 this spring.

The team benefited from the relay teams’ strong performances. The 4x800 relay took first, with a time of 10:12.2. The 4x100 team also came in first, defeating Brookfield with a time of 53.9 seconds.

In the 100 meter hurdles, Newtown athletes placed in the top four. Lauren Pettinelli took first in 15.8; Zoe Eggleston earned second in 17.5; Molly Arneth was third in 18.4; and Lydia Beiter followed closely behind in fourth, with a time of 18.5.

Newtown was equally successful in the 300 meter hurdles. Pettinelli, with a time of 49 seconds flat, placed first; Eggleston took second in 52.5 seconds; Beiter came in third in 52.7; and Lilly Rodriguez took fourth with a time of 56.7.

Athletes had victorious performances in other events of the meet as well. In the 400 meter dash, Alex Scarpa placed first with a time of 62.4. Reagan Cerney and Anne Martino took second and third in the 800 meter run. Cerney placed second, behind Brookfield, with a time of 2:33.3, and Martino followed in third with 2:34.6. Meanwhile, in the 200 meter dash, Brooke Newton came in first overall with a time of 26.9.

The field events proved to be a strong point for the Nighthawks at their meet. In high jump, Brianna Hart placed second, having cleared the bar at 4-10. Newtown took the top three places in long jump; Lauren O’Connell was in first with a jump of 15-10.5; Abby Blakeman took second with a 14-11.25; and Reagan Cerney placed third with a 14-9. O’Connell also took home first in the triple jump, with a distance of 33-9.5, and in the pole vault, clearing 8 feet. Abby Keough took second in the pole vault, having cleared 7-6.

In the throwing events, Amy Anyoha took second in the shot put with a throw of 28-1”, while Kristy Papaj followed in third place with a 27-10.25. Stefanie Clavette placed second in the javelin, throwing 96-5.

The NHS girls will participate in their last meet of the regular season on Tuesday, May 17 at Bunnell High School in Stratford at 4 pm, where they will compete against Bunnell and Stratford High.