State Championships—

Track Team Members Set More Records

By Anna Hodge

It seems that not a week goes by when Newtown High School’s boys’ and girls’ indoor track teams haven’t set a new school record. Or, in the case of this past week, five new school records. While at the Class LL State Championships on February 9, at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven, both teams took seventh in their divisions. On the girls’ side, Glastonbury won the meet with 91 points; the Newtown girls scored 21 points. Meanwhile, the boys had 23 points; Staples High took first with 80.5 points.

Among the new school record holders is Peter Kerns, who took fifth in the 300 meter run and set a new school record with a time of 36.62. Kerns set the former record of 36.75 in the event the previous week at the South-West Conference championships.

In the 1600 meter run, Jake Feinstein set a new school record with a time of 4:21.73. The junior then qualified for the State Open in the 3200 meter run, by taking first with a time of 9:34.76.

The 4x400 meter relay team also shined. John Hampford, Peter Kerns, Trevor Carey, and Jimmy Mooney took 11th in the event and set a new school record by finishing in 3:42.95. They broke the previous record, set by Jon Toll, Scott Nichols, Matt Saxonmeyer, and Eric Thornberg at the Class LL Championships in 2007 with a time of 3:46.11.

On the girls’ side, Reagan Cerney took third in the 600 meter run with a time of 1:39.64. She set the former record in the event at SWC the week prior with a 1:40.6 time.

Meanwhile, Lauren O’Connell tied her former school record in the pole vault at 11 feet, which she set at the SWC meet.

Newtown Coach Doug Russell said he was very proud of both the girls and boys in their performances.

“It was great to finish in the top ten on both sides,” Russell said. “They’re very strong finishes considering the strength of the schools at that division. Overall, incredible performances.”

Feinstein will be joined by other top competitors at the State Open. Qualifiers were not announced until after The Bee sports section went to press.

The State Open will be held at the New Haven Athletic Center on Saturday, February 18 at 12 pm.