NAUGATUCK — Track meets are a test of endurance. Tuesday’s meet involving four teams at Naugatuck High School proved the point as the final event wasn’t over until 9:30 p.m.
Naugatuck, Woodland, Watertown and Derby lined up in the blocks for the first race at around 4 p.m., and five and a half hours later victory was at hand.
The Naugatuck boys prevailed over Watertown 118-31, but fell to Derby, 86-60, and to Woodland, 85-65.
The girls raced past Derby, 95-47, and Watertown, 96-58, but came up short against the Hawks, 102-48.
The boys fell to 3-3 on the season, while the girls improved to 4-2 on the year.
Senior Brian Reilly continued his solid start on the season, taking first place in the 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles. Reilly also captured first place in both events in last week’s season-opening victories over Torrington, 84-66, and Kennedy, 103-46, but the ‘Hounds were tripped up by Seymour, 82-68, in the first meet.
Senior Body Hale continued his long distance prominence winning both the 1,600 and the 3,200 in Tuesday’s meet after taking first place in the 3,200 at the season-opening meet. Senior Dan Schumacher, Naugy’s main threat, has yet to take the track as Naugatuck looks to stay competitive this season.
Sophomore Graden Beasley has shown improvement winning the 800 and 1,600 in the season-opener. Senior Mark Zamani raced to victory in the 800 in Tuesday’s meet.
Senior Michael Nanadoum showed explosive speed in the 4×100, but the ‘Hounds fell off the pace when a handoff didn’t go as planned and Mike Popescu was edged out at the finish.
“I changed hands on the handoff and it took me out of my stride,” said Popescu, who came over from the boys tennis team. “It was a tough decision to change from tennis to track, but I will be going to UConn and want to do track in college. So, I’m looking to continue the success I had at indoors.”
Nanadoum said the team is fine tuning its technique and is making progress every day.
“This is my senior year and I want to go all out and help the team be successful,” Nanadoum said. “We are still working on our technique after being in the gym so long, but we are making progress and are getting better everyday.”
The Naugatuck girls have been putting up consistent numbers so far this season. The Greyhounds beat Torrington, 96-53, and Kennedy, 130-15, but fell to Seymour, 87-63, in the opening meet.
Arianna Alvarado won the 100 meters at Tuesday’s meet. The junior speedster was a triple winner in the season-opening meet taking first in the 100, 200 and 400.
Junior Abreana McKoy was a double winner on Tuesday taking first in the high jump and the shot put. Senior Carla Soares won the triple jump. Naugatuck also has a threat in senior Harmony Sturdivant in the 800, junior Courtney Morin in the 1,600 and sophomore Lauren Stankiewicz in the 3,200. They all raced to victory in the season-opening meet.
The Greyhounds will be back on the track Tuesday when they host Holy Cross and Crosby.
