Nighthawks Shine In Track State Championships

By Anna Hodge

The Newtown High School indoor track team competed in the Class LL State Indoor Track Championships on February 12, at the New Haven Athletic Center, and came away with record setting results.

The girls’ team placed 14th out of 24 teams, and the boys were eighth out of 23 teams. Overall, the Danbury boys’ team won the meet with 66 points, while Glastonbury won on the girls’ side with 94 points.

For the Nighthawks, however, there was a great deal of individual success for John Wlasuk, who set not only a new school record in the shot put, but also a Class LL Championship meet record, with a throw of 59-6. The previous record, 55-1.5, was set by Brian Wycinowski of Cheshire in 2006.

Senior Lauren Pettinelli placed fourth in the 55 meter hurdles, with a time of 9.09 seconds, contributing four points to the team.

Newtown Head Coach Doug Russell recognized Wlasuk and Pettinelli, saying, “They came and did what they were supposed to do. Both should have qualified for State Opens, and they did.”

The girls’ 4x800 meter relay team, comprised of senior Mara Scallon, juniors Erin Begg and Jenny VanVeen, and freshman Michaela Guinee, also set a new school record with a time of 10:28.99. The medley placed 11th in the championship.

The Newtown Coach was pleased with the efforts of his upperclassmen, but particularly impressed with the results from his up-and-coming team members.

“What really impressed me were the performances of our younger kids and others on the team who have continued to improve,” Russell said. “We had many personal best performances and more freshmen and sophomores who really contributed. When you have student athletes like Jake Feinstein, Reagan Cerney, Brittany Tolla who scored points as sophomores, you really look forward to the future.”

Feinstein reset his school record in the 1600 meter run, with a time of 4:23.01. Meanwhile, Tolla and Cerney were both strong competitors in the 300 meter and 55 meter dash, both finishing in the top ten.

Amy Anyoha, who competed in the shot put, placed 13th in the event on the girls’ side. Fellow freshman, Brooke Newton placed twenty-fifth in the 300 meter dash, and Jimmy Leidlein ran with his teammates in the 1600 sprint medley, which placed 11th in the meet.

“Freshmen Amy Anyoha, Brooke Newton and Jimmy Leidlein make you realize we will continue to get stronger,” Russell said.

“As I have said throughout this entire indoor season,” the coach added, “I believe this is one of the most talented group of boys and girls I have had the opportunity to coach during the winter season.”

Three of the team’s athletes, Wlasuk, Pettinelli and Feinstein, continue on to State Opens, which will be held on Saturday, February 19, at the New Haven Athletic Center.

The following are the results from the state championship:

Boys Results:

55 Meter Dash: 8 Kenneth Toal 6.86

300 Meter Dash: 13 Peter Kerns 38.48, 18 Matt Genovese 39.09

1600 Meter Run: 3 Jacob Feinstein  4:23.01, 13 Pat Sullivan 4:46.04 

3200 Meter Run: 3 Jacob Feinstein  9:47.41, 19 Austin Baldour: 10:30.35, 21 David Klein 10:36.80 

4x200 Meter Relay: 12 Matt Genovese, Brandon Capaldo, Christopher Arnone, Kenneth Toal 1:40.41

4x400 Meter Relay: 12 Trevor Carey, James Mooney, Chad Cullens, Peter Kerns   3:48.33

4x800 Meter Relay: 9 Dieter Gutbrod, David Klein, Jordan Hensel, Pat Sullivan 8:39.37

1600 Sprint Medley: James Mooney, James Leidlein, Trevor Carey, Dieter Gutbrod 4:01.09  

High Jump: 9 (Tie) Austin Puleri  5-06.00   

Long Jump: 9 Peter Kerns 19-11.25, 13 Brandon Capaldo    19-00.25        

Shot Put: 1 John Wlasuk 59-06.00

Girls Results:

55 Meter Dash: 9 Reagan Cerney 7.73, 22 Brittany Tolla 8.13, 23 Abby Blakeman 8.15  

300 Meter Dash: 5 Reagan Cerney 43.38, 6 Brittany Tolla 43.90, 15 Lauren Pettinelli 44.87, 25 Brooke Newton 45.74

1000 Meter Run: 16 Erin Begg 3:25.62   

3200 Meter Run: 22 Erin Begg 12:24.28, 24 Jennifer VanVeen 12:27.83     

55 Meter Hurdles: 4 Lauren Pettinelli 9.09, 12 Zoe Eggleston 9.77, 17 Lydia Beiter 9.93  

4x200 Meter Relay: 14 Abby Blakeman, Cortney Beckett, Kyra Murray, Brittany Tolla 1:57.18 

4x400 Meter Relay: 9 Lauren Pettinelli, Lilly Rodriguez, Emma Fiore, Reagan Cerney 4:28.84

4x800 Meter Relay: 11 Mara Scallon, Erin Begg, Michaela Guinee, Jennifer VanVeen 10:28.99

High Jump: 7 (tie) Brianna Hart 4-08.00, 10 Cortney Beckett 4-08.00         

Long Jump: 13 Abby Blakeman 14-11.75

Shot Put: 13 Amy Anyoha  28-03.00, 14 Kristy Papaj 28-01.00