Koslosky places 5th at New England meet

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Naugatuck senior Zach Koslosky finished his high school track career in style by placing fifth in the pole vault at the New England championship June 8 in Saco, Maine.

Koslosky, who won the pole vault at the Naugatuck Valley League and Class L championships before placing third at the State Open, cleared 14 feet, 3 inches among a field of 32 competitors at New Englands.

“Obviously everyone that competed was very good,” Koslosky said. “I knew most of the kids that were there through competing against them the past few years, so it was a real fun meet to participate in.

“I feel I did pretty good. I just came up a little short of my best height of 14-6.”

“At the New England championship they adjust the height a little different than at the state meets,” Naugatuck head coach Ralph Roper said. “Instead of raising the distance by three-inch intervals they raised it by six inches once you reach a certain height. Once Zach cleared 14-3, the next attempt was at 14-9 and it was just out of his reach.”

Koslosky, who was also a playmaker for the Naugatuck football team at receiver, is keeping his options open as far as college goes. He’s looking to play football at Western New England University, but also visited Southern Connecticut State University for track.

“Zach is a very gifted athlete who is an extremely hard worker,” Roper said. “I know the coaches at Southern Connecticut are very interested in him. Zach has helped to shape and elevate our track program over the past few seasons. He is clearly and inspiration to our athletes on the track team. His parents have done an outstanding job in raising such a fine young man and he has a very bright future wherever he goes.”

Koslosky, Healy compete in decathlon: Koslosky and teammate Ben Healy competed in the state decathlon June 11 and 12 at Manchester High School.

Koslosky finished sixth in the boys decathlon with 5,387 points. He won the pole vault (13 feet, 11 1/ 4 inches) and placed sixth in the 110 hurdles and the javelin.

Healy, who is going to Sacred Heart University and will run track, took 11th with 5,187 points. He won the 100 meter dash, placed fifth in the long jump, eighth in the javelin and ninth in the 400 meters.

“It was a challenging two days for Ben and Zach,” Roper said. “The first day of the event was graduation day, so we had to rush back to the high school after competing all day. … I thought they both performed well under the circumstances.”