Triple threats lead the way

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NAUGATUCK — Even without being at full strength, the Naugatuck boys and girls track teams picked up two wins in a quad-meet Tuesday.

The boys and girls defeated Crosby and Wolcott while coming up just short to Seymour as both squads improved to 5-1 on the year.

The boys outscored Crosby, 106-44, and Wolcott, 107-42, and fell to Seymour, 91-59.

Senior Mark Zamani led the way for the boys winning the 800, 1600 and 3200 for the second week in a row.

“Due to spring vacation we are missing about half of our team,” Naugatuck head coach Ralph Roper said. “But all the teams in the league are going through it at this time of year. The good thing is some of the younger kids are getting an opportunity and they are taking advantage.”

The girls topped Crosby, 83-56, and Wolcott, 90-49, and fell to Seymour, 89-60.

Senior Ariana Alvarado had as much speed as Zamani had endurance. She won the 100, 200 and 400 for the second straight meet.

“We worked real hard on Friday at practice,” Alvarado said. “The hard work pays off as my 400 time of 61.5 is the best I’ve had. Sometimes going down the last stretch I’m spent but today I felt pretty good right through the end.”

The girls team certainly left its mark as junior Kyla Magalhaes, in her very first 300 hurdles, defeated the Wildcats NVL defending champion Maddie Lynch in 49.7.

“I knew I was running a good race against her but I never expected to beat her,” Magalhaes said. “But we worked really hard the other day at practice and the extra work really paid off.”

On the boys side, the Greyhounds filled the score sheet with points. Fejiro Onakpoma was a double winner in the high jump and triple jump. The 4×400 relay team of Mike Zamani, Fazekas, Wahl and Joe Dempsey also raced to victory.

Luis Garces (3200), Jacob Fazekas (110 hurdles), Antoine Sistrunk (100 meters), Mike Zamani (400) and Matt Wahl (300 hurdles) all took second.

“It all comes down to staying healthy,” Roper said. “And that starts with warming up properly. A lot of hamstring and quad issues has to do with improper warming up.”

On the girls side, Erin Schofield won the javelin for the second meet in a row and Lauren Stankiewicz was a double winner for the second straight meet in the 1600 and 3200. Stankiewicz added a second-place showing in the 800.

Briana Lennon took second in the 1600 and third in the 3200. Magalhaes not only won the 300 hurdles she also had a third place showing in the 100 hurdles and the 100 meters. The 4×400 relay team of Alvarado, Magalhaes, Alyssa Peterson and Schofield ran to a first.

“We are working on having some balance this year,” Roper said. “We have a new throwing coach in Ron Mills from Southern Connecticut. We are working on our technique and once we get a little bit of confidence we will be able to put some points on the board.”

Naugatuck will be back in action Tuesday at home against Kennedy, Oxford and Sacred Heart.