BY KEN MORSE
CITIZEN’S NEWS
The 2022 outdoor track season began on April 5 and the Woodland Hawks put their best foot forward, splitting a tri-meet with Derby and Naugatuck. Head coaches Jeff Lownds (girls) and Bill Ferrare (boys) knew they had their work cut out for them after graduating 13 athletes from last season.
The defending NVL champion Woodland girls saw the effects of that graduating class during the recent indoor season as they fell to third place. The Hawks got by Derby, 102-44, but fell short to Naugatuck, 78-72.
The boys were the NVL runner-up last outdoor season and finished as runner-up during the NVL indoor meet, so they are looking to make a statement this spring. The Hawks upended Derby, 87-62, but dropped a tough 96-54 decision to Naugatuck.
“Usually a big meet like that is later in the season,” said Lownds. “By then you have a couple of meets under your belt having worked all the kinks out. But if they are on the schedule that’s who we are going against and I thought as a team we did a real good job.”
Chloe Poulos led the girls team, racing to first place finishes in the 800 meters (2:29.70), 1600 (5:26.67) and 3200 (11:52.55). Eric Meade paced the boys with first place finishes in the 110 hurdles (16.53 seconds), triple jump (40 feet, 0 inches) and high jump. Colin Slavin won both the 1600 (4:38.19) and the 3200 (10:14.17).
The girls 4×800 relay of Ireland Starziski, Kim Poulos, Faye Carnemolia and Dani Celotto took first in 10:12.17 and the 4×100 relay squad of Sara Alessio, Jamie Shaffer, Laci Davis and Paige Letourneau finished second in 53.57. The boys 4×800 team of Slavin, Sam Ambrocio, Chase Young and Alex Farr placed second in 8:41.96.
Letourneau had a strong showing for the girls squad with second place finishes in 100 (13.39 seconds) and 200 meters (27.56). Isabella Bianchini won the pole vault at eight feet while Faith Herren was first in the discus at 87 feet, 7 inches. Other top girls finishers were: Isabella Mejias (100 hurdles, second, 19.27); Shaffer (100 hurdles, third, 19.29); Celotto (1600, second, 5:33.86); Kyla O’Connor (400, third, 1:03.19); and Alessio (long jump, second, 15-7).
Farr made his presence felt on the boys side by winning the 800 (2:06.34) and finishing third in the 400 (51.91). Other top boys finishers were Kian Sirowich (pole vault, second, 9-6) and Ervin Owusu (100, third, 12.13).
“We still have a lot of areas to work on so we are a work in progress,” said Lownds. “Overall we are pleased to start out the way we did.”
Woodland is scheduled to host a quad meet on April 12 against Torrington, Platt Tech and O’Brien Tech.
