Naugatuck track and field ready to take on all comers in two non-league events

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BY KEN MORSE
CITIZEN’S NEWS
The Naugatuck track and field program is closing out the month of April right where it expected to be, and it is looking to take things up a notch. The Greyhounds improved to 5-0 on the season with both the boys and girls picking up victories over Kennedy on April 19.
The boys secured a 109-40 win over the Eagles and the girls won easily, 118-23. Jayshawn Lindsay (100, 11.4; high jump, 5-6), Lalo Lopez (400, 51.8; 800, 2:05) and Taylor Trowers (200, 23.4; 300 hurdles, 49.2) were double winners to pace the boys. Lily Jason led the girls with three individual victories in the 100 (13.2), long jump (13-10) and triple jump (32-5).
Naugatuck is scheduled to take on all competitors at the Hillhouse Invitational on Saturday in New Haven. The Greyhounds will also take a contingent of athletes to Philadelphia the following weekend for the Penn Relays on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.
“The goal is to get better each and every time we get out there on the track,” said Naugy coach Ralph Roper. “In order to accomplish that, we leave no stones unturned to complete that process.
“I think we are right were we want to be as far as the NVL is concerned, but we want to test ourselves with every competition that we engage in. I think competing against teams outside the league will give us a different perspective of where we are and where we need to be.”
The girls team has certainly been a surprise with Allison Murphy, Julia Kropo and Lauren Sonksi being triple winners in most meets, along with double winner threats in Alyssa Jones, Lily Jason, Ayana Williams. There’s also relay sprinters Kaylee Jackson, Jayda Costa and Leticia DoNascimento.
Matt Nofri, Zach McCasland, Shayne Hasipi and Brendan Lyles form a strong contingent in distance events while speedsters Jett Hall, Dan Anderson and Matt Kilmer compete in the dashes.
“There is no sleeping at the wheel,” said Roper. “We need to take what we are doing very seriously. We can’t afford to downplay any one of our opponents. I think going outside the NVL and facing that kind of competition will help us to stay on top of our game and not lose anything down the stretch.”
In between the two non-league events, the Greyhounds will be on track to continue making their statement in the NVL as they will face Seymour and Oxford at the Wolverines’ track on April 26.
“The motto is slow and steady wins the race,” added Roper. “We need to come out everyday, give it our very best effort and continue to improve in the process, and we are certainly heading in that direction.”