NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck track teams continue to pick up steam.
The boys are showing they are a contenders in the NVL. On Tuesday, they picked up wins over Wolcott, 112-38, and Oxford, 116-34, to improve to 7-1 on the season.
Aren Seeger won four events to lead the way. He took first place in the 110 hurdles (15.1 seconds), 300 hurdles (39.8 seconds), 200 meters (22.5 seconds) and the long jump (21 feet, 7 inches).
Elliot Via was a double winner in the 1600 meters (4:54) and the 3200 (11:31). Ben Healy also picked up two first-place finishes. He won the 400 meters (54.1 seconds) and the triple jump (39 feet, 11 1/2 inches).
Naugy also won three other individual events. Chris Akindura raced to victory in the 100 meters (10.8 seconds), Mike Pimppinelli won the shot put (39 feet, 3 inches), and Zach Koslosky won the pole vault (12 feet).
The 4×800 relay team of Elliot Via, Brendon Soubannarath, Jonathon Volpe and Bryce Cegielski ran to first place in 8:56.
“We have some depth on the boys side, something we haven’t had the past few seasons. When the Via brothers (Ross and Elliot) are healthy we do OK in the distances. Elliot was able to help us out today,” Naugatuck head coach Ralph Roper said. “Brendon, Bryce and Charley Marenghi are all dropping times. The boys are really in a good place and I think we can have tremendous success come championship time.”
The girls team fell 79-71 to Wolcott and 78-72 to Oxford. The girls are showing a stronger competitive side and continue to improve at 3-5 on the season.
“The girls had a couple of losses but they are being competitive,” Roper said. “We did have several kids put up personal best times and distances and that shows signs of improvement all the way around.”
Brianna Soubannarath led the girls finishing first in the 110 hurdles (17.3 seconds). Alyssa Zarrella took first in the 300 hurdles (54.0 seconds) and Evelyn Diaz won the 800 meters (2:45.6).
The Greyhounds’ relay teams picked up two first-place finishes. The 4×100 team of Paige Cruz, Rachel Huculak, Kimani Grey and Brianna Haye won in 53.1. The 4×400 foursome of Huculak, Diaz, Latecianna Stoudmire and Julia Dudek raced to victory in 4:35.
“It’s a process finding events that these kids can excel in, but we are seeing development in those areas,” Roper said. “We have a lot more numbers to work with than we’ve had in the past on the girls side. We have a solid core of eight to ten girls who are doing really. The hurdlers are doing exceptionally well. Evelyn Diaz came onto the team this year and she has been helping us quite a bit.”
Last Tuesday, the boys split a meet falling to Derby, 88-61, and beating St. Paul, 126-24. Akindura was a double winner in the 100 (11.6 seconds) and the 200 (23.5 seconds).
The girls defeated St. Paul, 106-24, and were edged out by Derby, 75-72. Brianna Soubannarath was a double winner in the 110 hurdles (18.7 seconds) and the pole vault (6 feet, 6 inches). Cruz won the 300 hurdles (53.9 seconds), Huculak won the 200 meters (28.9 seconds), and Grey won the high jump (4 feet, 6 inches).
The Greyhounds are back in action on Tuesday when they will host Waterbury Career and Holy Cross.
