Track showdown

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Woodland girls remain perfect, boys fall to Seymour

Woodland's Erika Michie, left, sprints to the finish ahead of Seymour's Sarah Granese in the 4x100 relay during a meet with Kennedy and Waterbury Career Academy in Beacon Falls on Tuesday. -REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
Woodland’s Erika Michie, left, sprints to the finish ahead of Seymour’s Sarah Granese in the 4×100 relay during a meet with Kennedy and Waterbury Career Academy in Beacon Falls on Tuesday. -REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

BEACON FALLS — The rules may have changed but one thing hasn’t — to win the NVL track championship teams need to show up on that day and turn in their best effort.

No longer will dual-meet results have any say it what takes place at the championship, but the athletes certainly don’t see it that way once the gun goes off.

The dreary skies turned the Woodland track into a damp, cold and raw surface Tuesday as the Hawks hosted Seymour, Kennedy and Waterbury Career. The marquee matchup was Woodland versus Seymour as both squads entered the meet undefeated.

The Woodland girls remained prefect (13-0 overall, 10-0 NVL) with wins over Seymour (85-65), Kennedy (139-11) and Waterbury Career (146-3).

“As a team things are going very well for us and we are looking for another NVL title,” Woodland’s 100 hurdler Jordan Williams said.

The boys fell to Seymour by a slim 78-71 margin, but picked up wins over Kennedy (133-17) and Waterbury Career (143-7). The boys stand at 12-1 overall and 9-1 in the NVL.

Kelsey Mitchell and Lauren Lombardo were double winners to lead the girls. Mitchell took first in the 1600 and 3200, and Lombardo won the long jump and triple jump.

The Woodland girls showed signs they have what it takes to win a fourth straight NVL title as they won all three relays.

The 4×100 team of Stephanie Poynton, Jessica Rodrigues, Julia Accetura and Erika Michie came in with a time of 52.8.

The 4×400 team of Lisa Thrasher, Alexa Casimiro, Megen Sirowich and Michie finished first in 4:22, and the 4×800 squad of Casimiro, Erin Machado, Sirowich and Thrasher took first in 11:17.

Michie also won the 200 meters and Clara Drozdowski won the 800 in 2:29.

The Hawks have balance as well. In last week’s 127-23 win over Wolcott, Kristen Persico was a double winner in the shot put and javelin. Emille Noreika won the pole vault and Stephanie McLean won the discus.

The boys team was led by Jeff Giusto on Tuesday. The senior ran to three victories taking first in the 800, 1600 and 3200.

“We are pretty solid,” Giusto said. “We have at least one athlete qualified for states in almost every event. I competed indoors keeping it low mileage, but now I’m pretty much where I was before the injury.”

Woodland's Brandon Clifford clears a hurdle during the 110 hurdles during a meet with Seymour, Kennedy and Waterbury Career Academy in Beacon Falls on Tuesday. -REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
Woodland’s Brandon Clifford clears a hurdle during the 110 hurdles during a meet with Seymour, Kennedy and Waterbury Career Academy in Beacon Falls on Tuesday. -REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

With Giusto back at full strength the Hawks having depth, Woodland will be a threat at the NVL championships.

Brandon Clifford gives the Hawks a dual-threat as he won the 110 hurdles in 16.2 and took first in the triple jump at 41 feet. Craig Starkey won the pole vault at 10 feet, 6 inches, and Sean McAllen took first in the javelin at 165 feet, 5 inches.

The Hawks 4×800 team of Matt Luxeder, Cedric Benoit, Vincent Costanzo and Brian Sardinskas raced to victory in 8:59. The 4×400 foursome of Sean Mardin, Edit Krivca, Colton Cronin and Luxeder put up a winning time of 3:40.

In last week’s 114-35 win over Wolcott, the boys showed they have another force in Tyler Collodel, who earned wins in the long jump and triple jump. Quincy Koch won the 300 hurdles and Sardinskas won the 3200.

“We have some strong senior athletes and some younger kids who are giving solid contributions,” Woodland boys coach Tim Shea said. “We are a little more balanced in the jumps. We are improving in our throws and we still have another meet to work it all out.”

Woodland will host Naugatuck, Holy Cross and Watertown Tuesday in the final regular season meet. The NVL championship is May 24 in Torrington.