BY KEN MORSE
CITIZEN’S NEWS
The Woodland track and field program continued to pick up the pace and swept past Watertown and Holy Cross on April 19, improving to 4-1 on the season. The boys got past Watertown, 110-40, and Holy Cross by a closer margin of 93-5-56.5. The Lady Hawks ran roughshod over the Warriors, 127-22, and the Crusaders, 137-12.
“At this point we are not looking at competing in any Invitational meets,” said Woodland coach Jeff Lownds. “We were going to go to one next week but had to move our meet with Kennedy because they had a problem with a bus issue.
“We have a handful of athletes who do the heavy lifting for us, competing in so many events. We don’t want to burn them out. Between Billy Ferrare, the boys coach, and myself, right now I think we are coming together as a team really well.”
Eric Meade was a triple winner to help pace the boys. Meade was first in the 110 hurdles (16.0), high jump (5-8) and the triple jump (39-4.5).
Alex Farr was a double winner in the 400 (53.6) and the 800 (2:05) as was Brian Babo in the shot put (37.6) and the discus (105-11). Sean Swanson was first in the javelin (127-7), Kian Sirowich won the pole vault (10-0), Colin Slavin won the 1600 (4:57) and the 3200 winner was Sam Ambrocio (10:55).
“Eric (Meade) is really starting to come on for us,” said Lownds. “Alex (Farr) has done really well lately. Sam (Ambrocio) has run two sub-elevens in the 3200. Gabe Diamante has been scoring points. Those second and third places are just as important.”
Sarah Cooley won all three throwing events for the second meet in a row for the girls, claiming first in the shot put (29-5), discus 86-5) and the javelin (103-1).
The girls team is also anchored by Chloe Poulos, who is a triple threat for first place finishes at any meet. Sara Alessio (jumps) and Jamie Lynn-Shaffer (hurdles) are both capable of being double winners.
Dani Celotto (distance) and Kim Poulos (relays), along with Kathleen Henriques, Meghan Hartnett, Michaela Gasparri and Olivia Schwenger in relays, give the Hawks a solid lineup.
“You can only use athletes in three events at the NVLs so we need to start plotting on where we are going to put people to get the most possible points,” Lownds said. “Obviously Colin is Colin and Chloe is Chloe. But we have a strong cast of athletes that can get the job done.”
Woodland will look to continue the momentum they have built when they host Kennedy and Waterbury Career on Saturday.
