Naugy sweeps track meet

0
98

Naugatuck’s Isaque Montiero runs away from the field in the 300 hurdles during a track meet Tuesday versus Holy Cross, Crosby and St. Paul in Waterbury. Naugatuck won the boys and girls meet. –KEN MORSE
Naugatuck’s Isaque Montiero runs away from the field in the 300 hurdles during a track meet Tuesday versus Holy Cross, Crosby and St. Paul in Waterbury. Naugatuck won the boys and girls meet. –KEN MORSE

WATERBURY — The Naugatuck track teams swept by Holy Cross, Crosby and St. Paul on Tuesday. The boys pulled away with a 94-53 win over the Crusaders and the girls held off Holy Cross by an 85-64 margin. Both teams cruised past the Bulldogs and Falcons, despite some injuries and a blustery afternoon.

“We are still a little banged up with some injuries,” Naugatuck coach Ralph Roper said. “Of course, this kind of weather doesn’t help anyone. We are getting some of our athletes back but there are still others who are nursing injuries. Harmony Sturdivant is not at 100 percent but (competed) for the first time.”

In her return to competition, Sturdivant leaped to victory in the triple jump with an effort of 29 feet, 7 inches.

The Greyhounds girls (7-2) also received solid efforts from Ariana Alvardo, who won the 100 (12.7 seconds) and 200 meters (26.52), and Madison Beasley, who ran to victory in the 1,600 (5:47.6) and 3,200 (12:38.7).

“I have dropped 10 seconds off my time since the first meet,” Beasley said. “But it’s pretty tough to run on a day like this.”

Beasley was also part of the winning 4-by-800 relay team with Lindsay Thoren, Sara Marques, and Jordyn Allen, as they finished ahead of the pack with a time of 11:13.03.

“Madison is running real well and has dropped her times, as the whole team has since our first meet,” Roper said. “That’s how you gauge your success — not what the other teams do, as we can’t control that aspect. But if we are dropping times and increasing distances then we are headed in the right direction.”

Allen won the 800 in 2:44.22, while Jasmine Grey took first in the high jump (4-8) and Brianna Ritter fired the discus for a first-place effort of 98-5.

The Naugatuck boys (8-1) put up a strong effort, sweeping all three relays, but it was in the 100-meter race that the weather played in the outcome.

Nate Buie set the pace and was ahead of the field nearing the finish line. In the last 20 meters, Holy Cross’ Juwan Hall managed to edge out the victory at the finish line in 10.8 seconds. Crosby’s Peter Bradshaw came from behind to take second and Buie had to settle for third in 11.0 seconds.

Naugatuck’s Chris Quarles competes in the long jump during a track meet Tuesday versus Holy Cross, Crosby and St. Paul in Waterbury. Naugatuck won the boys and girls meet. –KEN MORSE
Naugatuck’s Chris Quarles competes in the long jump during a track meet Tuesday versus Holy Cross, Crosby and St. Paul in Waterbury. Naugatuck won the boys and girls meet. –KEN MORSE

“I’ve been struggling with a (hamstring) problem,” Buie said. “I had the lead heading down the stretch and it started to tighten up on me. I saw (Hall) stride for stride but (Bradshaw) came up from behind me and I never saw him. I thought I ran a good time but I had one even better at 10.9 the week before at Watertown. The cold certainly didn’t help today.”

Naugatuck pulled away in the relays, taking first in the 4-by-800 with Mike Martins, John Caruso, Brody Hale and Pat McMahon winning in 9:33. The 4-by-100 team of Justin Jimenez, Mick Pernell, Brian Reilly and Buie won in 44.8 seconds, and the 4-by-400 team of Buie, Isaque Monteiro, Steve Santos and Pat Alves completed the relay sweep.

Mick Pernell won the high jump (5-10) and James SanAngelo took the shot put (39 feet) to pace the ‘Hounds in the field.

Dan Schumacher was a double winner, taking first in the 1,600 (4:55) and the 3,200 (10:45) Monteiro won the 300 hurdles in 42.7 seconds and Collin Reilly earned the 400 in 52.6 seconds.

The Greyhounds will be back on the track Tuesday at Seymour against the Wildcats and Torrington.