By Ken Morse, Citizen’s News
NEW BRITAIN — The Naugatuck boys 4×400 relay team is the fastest in the state.
The foursome of Taylor Trowers, LeoAngel Lopez, Jayshawn Lindsay and Jon Volpe raced to first in 3 minutes, 22.99 seconds at the State Open track and field championships June 10 at Willow Brook Park.
Volpe, who won a foot race with Hall’s Tobias Ruffo over the final 100 meters, also placed fourth in the 800 with a season-best time of 1:55.64.
“It was a good day at the track,” Naugatuck head coach Ralph Roper said. “It was a long day but definitely a good day for the Greyhounds.”
The 4×100 relay squad of Radsir Vaughn, Lindsay, Trowers and Lopez finished seventh (43.79) to also score for Naugy.
On the girls side, Naugatuck’s Julia Kropo placed seventh in the javelin with a personal-best throw of 105 feet, 9 inches. Allison Murphy ran a personal best (46.66) in 300 hurdles to place eighth.
“Our kids did a great job,” Roper said. “I can’t complain at all with the performance as a team and I can’t complain with the outcome. I’m proud of the boys in the 4×4. They have been working on it for a while and just missed the school record.”
“And it was a good day for the ‘Volpmister,’ finishing fourth in the 800 and being part of the 4×4 team,” he added. “Kropo threw a personal-best in the javelin, and those kinds of things happen when you have an actual throwing coach and a good one in Trey Taylor.”
Jaden Young led Woodland with a sixth-place finish (2:17.33) in the 800 to score the only points for the Hawks on the day.
The Hawks had a few finishes in the top ten. Daniella Celotto placed ninth (5:13.23) in the 1600 and Sarah Cooley finished ninth (99-00) in the javelin. The 4×400 relay team of Kim Poulos, Rebecca Benoit, Paige Letourneau and Young placed ninth (4:06.48).
“Sarah Cooley made it to the finals, and for a sophomore who just started throwing this year that’s a great accomplishment,” Woodland girls head coach Jeff Lownds said.
Eric Meade had the highest finish for the Woodland boys. Meade placed 12th (5-10) in the high jump. The 4×400 relay squad of Nathaniel Smith, Alex Farr, Nathan Swercewski and Conrad Filippone placed 21st (3:36.40).
“We are happy with our season and I’m proud of our kids for the way they performed this year,” Lownds said. “If you make the State Open you are in the top 3 to 5%, so that is doing something.”
“Jaden (Young) was All-State in a field that had teams from the FCIAC and the SCC, those are tough conferences,” Lownds added. “There was an incredible 1600 boys race and the kid had a 4:01 that won. That’s the kind of competition you are facing at the State Open. We had a good season and we are proud of all of our kids.”
