Naugatuck stays in the running

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Naugatuck’s Mark Zamani runs to the finish line in the 4x800 relay versus Derby and St. Paul Tuesday in Naugatuck. –LUKE MARSHALL
Naugatuck’s Mark Zamani runs to the finish line in the 4×800 relay versus Derby and St. Paul Tuesday in Naugatuck. –LUKE MARSHALL

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck boys and girls track team stayed in the hunt for a league title following a tri-meet Tuesday versus Derby and St. Paul.

The girls earned victories over Derby (88-61) and St. Paul (126-23) to improve to 9-2. The boys earned a win over St. Paul (138-11) and fell to Derby (81-69) to bring their record to 9-2 on the season.

The girls were led by the astounding effort of senior Jasmine Grey, who captured first place in four events. Grey won the 110 and 300 hurdles along with the long jump and high jump.

Ariana Alvarado was a double winner for the Greyhounds taking first in the 100 and 200 sprints.

Naugy also won two of the three relays. The 4×100 foursome of Alvarado, Rachel Garcia, Kyla Magalhaes and Renell Clarence raced to first in 51.5. The 4×400 squad of Alvarado, Clarence, Magalhaes and Melissa Goja took first in 4:40.

Naugatuck's Erin Schofield competes in the shotput during a meet versus Derby and St. Paul Tuesday in Naugatuck. –LUKE MARSHALL
Erin Schofield competes in the shotput during a meet versus Derby and St. Paul Tuesday in Naugatuck. –LUKE MARSHALL

Erin Schofield took first in the javelin at 96 feet, 2 inches.

“We are starting to get into a little bit of a rhythm the closer we get to the end of the season,” Naugatuck head coach Ralph Roper said. “We are also starting to see some of the tougher competition in the league. Two weeks ago we faced Seymour, this week we face Derby and next week Woodland. The kids are starting to understand what it takes to get it done against some tough competition.”

Last week, the girls earned wins over Kennedy (107-38) and Sacred Heart (108-36) but fell to Oxford (75-71). Grey led the way winning the 400, 100 hurdles and the shot put.

Liz Trumbley finished first in the pole vault, Macie Best won the triple jump at 28 feet, and Schofield won the javelin at 115 feet, 8 inches in the quad-meet.

The Naugy boys were led Monday by Mark Zamani, Graden Beasley and Fejiro Onakpoma, who were all double winners.

Naugatuck won the 4×800 relay with the team of David Kerns, Ross Via, Beasley and Zamani finishing in 8:20.73.

Zamani handled the shorter distance runs winning the 400 and 800, while Beasley took first in the 1600 and 3200. Onakpoma took first in the long jump and triple jump.

Naugatuck’s Ariana Alvarado runs the first leg of the 4x100 relay during a meet versus Derby and St. Paul Tuesday in Naugatuck. –LUKE MARSHALL
Naugatuck’s Ariana Alvarado runs the first leg of the 4×100 relay during a meet versus Derby and St. Paul Tuesday in Naugatuck. –LUKE MARSHALL

Freshman Zach Koslosky won the pole vault for the second week in a row adding to the field depth for the ‘Hounds.

Last week, the boys earned the trifecta with wins over Oxford (113-35), Kennedy (108-41) and Sacred Heart (116-32).

Matt Wahl was a double winner in the 110 and 300 hurdles, Onakpoma won the triple jump and high jump, and Zamani won the 800 and 1600.

Kyle Anders won first in the javelin at 121 feet, 5 inches. Antoine Sistrunk won the long jump at 18 feet, 8 inches, and Beasley took first in the 3200 in 10.42.

“We still have some athletes that are not at 100 percent so we are keeping them short and not trying to push them,” Roper said.

The Greyhounds will be at Woodland Tuesday to take on the Hawks, Holy Cross and Watertown in the final regular season meet. The NVL championship is May 24 in Torrington.