SWC Championship Bound — NHS Track Competitors Have Success At Meet

Eighty members of the NHS Indoor Track team traveled to Staples High School in Westport to compete in a South-West Conference Developmental meet this past Saturday. Newtown had three first place performances at the meet with Lauren Pettinelli claiming first in the girls 50-meter hurdles with a time of 8.73, Rachel Taback taking first in the girls’ shot put with a throw of 31-8.5 and John Wlasuk registering first in the boys’ shot put with a throw of 41-3.5. Six members of the team also qualified at the meet for the SWC Championships. They include Ken Toal in the 55 dash with a time of 7.50, Matt Genovese in the 55 hurdles with a time of 9.61, Austin Baldour in the 3200 with a time of 10:50, Peter Kerns in the high jump (5-2), Kevin Bonacci in the long jump (17-2) and Abby Keough in the pole vault (6-6).

Several others improved upon their SWC qualifying times and distances.

The following athletes have qualified for the SWC Championships which are scheduled to be held February 7 at the New Haven Athletic Center at 4 pm:

Boys

55 dash: Kevin Bonacci 7.14, Dave Hutchinson 7.24, Matt Narel 7.35, Matt Genovese 7.47, Brendan McNamara 7.49, Ken Toal 7.50

55 hurdles: Marc Bonacci 9.34, Brian Cawley 9.52, Josh Milas 9.55, Matt Genovese 9.61

300: Matt Genovese 40.74, Dave Hutchinson 40.86, Ken Toal 40.95

600: Palmer Lintz 1:35.39

3200: Austin Baldour 10:50

High jump: Kevin Bonacci 5-8, Peter Kerns 5-2

Long jump: Shane Casey 17-9.5, Kevin Bonacci 17-2

Pole vault: Josh Milas 10

Shot put: John Wlasuk 42-3

Girls

55 dash: Lauren Pettinelli

55 hurdles: Lauren Pettinelli 9.43

600: Natalie Villa 1:52.93

1000: Erin Begg 3:34.06

1600: Natalie Villa, Erin Begg, Mara Scallon

High jump: Emily Korth 4-6, Emily Ashbolt 4-4

Long jump: Lauren Sudbey 15-9.5, Emily Korth 13-9

Pole vault: Lauren Sudbey 9-6, Emily Korth 9, Abby Keough 6-6

Shot Put: Rachel Taback 32-8.5