Naugatuck on track to get back in the race

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The Naugatuck outdoor boys track and field team will be led this season by a strong senior class. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck track and field team has been on the outside looking in the past few years when it comes to competing for a Naugatuck Valley League outdoor title.

Last year, the boys finished fifth and the girls placed seventh as they failed to score points in eight and six events, respectively.

That’s giving away a lot of points, and head coach Ralph Roper went to work to correct that problem.

Roper brought in Naugy football coach Dave Sollazzo to help build up the throwers and assistant football coach Ollie Gray to work with the sprinters. Longtime assistant Bill Hanley has been working with the distance runners.

The development of talent is underway, and the Greyhounds are shaping up to be back in the race.

“We are coming along,” Roper said. “We have a few athletes returning that didn’t participate last season due to injuries or other issues and that is going to help us out quite a bit.”

Roper added, “Our jumpers and hurdlers are in a good place and we are looking to develop some younger athletes to get some depth.”

The boys are led by senior Aren Seeger, who was second in the NVL last year in the 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles and 200 meters.

Junior Zach Koslosky finished third in the pole vault last year and uses his speed in the 200 and 400.

The Greyhounds will have a stable of distance to mid-distance runners with seniors Chris Nanadoum, Ross Via and Elliot Via, junior Austin Herb, and sophomores Charley Marenghi, Bryce Cegielski and Brendon Soubannarath.

Junior Ben Healy leads the jumpers in the triple jump, long jump and high jump. Juniors Jayden Anderson and Jacob Fazekas will do the hurdles, and Ty Coney will be counted on to add depth in the jumps.

Freshman Chris Akindura will be a big plus in the sprints along with sophomores Isaiah Williams and Paul Marsh.

Naugy will have a solid throwing team with seniors Matt Pimpinelli, who excelled last season, Sammy Ayash, Jiram Lopez, and sophomore David Green.

The Naugatuck outdoor girls track and field team will be led this season by a strong senior class. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

For the girls, senior Brianna Lennon and sophomores Abigail Lombardi, Caitlin Doris and Lauren Rupsis lead the distance team along with freshman Brittany Soubannarath. Senior Macie Best, juniors Brianna Haye, Julia Dudek and sophomores Paige Cruz and Liz Krooss lead the sprinters.

“The girls team is a little light in the distance,” Roper said. “But we have more balance, and some of the injuries we had last year have healed and we look a little stronger.”

Senior Erin Doris is back from an injury. Junior Kimani Grey is also back from an injury and is the high jump threat.

Sophomore Rachel Huculak runs the 200 and 400 and will try the triple jump for the first time as Roper looks to see how some athletes fair in new events.

“I’m trying several girls in some new events to add to our depth,” Roper said. “Haye is going to try the long jump.”

Junior Alyssa Zarella (pole vault, hurdles), Evelyn Diaz (sprints) and Brianna Soubannarath (hurdles, sprints) bring versatility to the team. Sophomores Loren Quarles and Latecianna Stoudmire can do sprints with freshmen Katelyn Fortney and Sara Whiteley being relied in the throwing events.

Naugy starts off the season on Tuesday at Torrington in a tri-meet with the Raiders and Woodland. The Greyhounds first home track meet is April 10 versus Crosby and Kennedy.