MySportsResults.com – News – Preview of South West Conference T&F Championships

By Senior Correspondent Marty Ogden, Editing and Graphics by Ron Knapp

The South West Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held at Bunnell High School in Stratford, CT on Monday, May 22nd, with field events starting at 3:00 pm and the track events at 3:30 pm.

Last year was particularly close in team scoring in both the boys and girls championships with Weston girls winning their third straight by a score of 142.42 to Newtown who scored 135. New MIlford boys won their first title since 2017 by outlasting Newtown 126 to 116.5. 

Girls Championship Preview

Only Weston and Newtown have won a conference outdoor championship since Masuk last repeated as champs in 2003. While the Trojans have won the majority of titles, Newtown has been a thorn in their side for the last two decades having won four titles with six runner-up finishes. 

This year looks more of the same, but Newtown has a great chance to score a win since their last title in 2018. Based on seeds they are expected to score big points in every event except the two longest distance events and the javelin. And this is without All-New England mid distance runner and soccer player Riley Powers, who has been sidelined with a torn ACL. But the Nighthawks are deep in talent and should have big points in all three relays plus sophomore Aashni Shetty who is the number two seed in both hurdles plus the top seed in both the long and triple jumps. 

Weston has traditionally relied upon their 400m and 800m runners plus relays and the pole vault. Some injuries to a couple of key runners will hurt, but they have slowly been picking up more throwing points the past few years. Senior Sofia Zharyy is the top seed in the shot and discus throws and Alexis Banks is the top freshman javelin thrower in the state and the top seed at SWCs. Ellison Weiner hasn’t lost an SWC pole vault title since her first indoor season as a freshman but will have some tough competition this year. 

Bethel has big points coming from Talia Graham in the two short sprints, plus the vault. Don’t forget about multi event star Rosie Volpintesta in the high jump and the two hurdle events who should add to the Wildcat’s totals. 

Most of the top seeds in the distance events come from cross country power houses New Fairfield and New Milford, the two northern most schools in the conference. 

Boys Championship Preview

Newtown has been runner-up at SWCs four times since 1996, including last year, but has never won a…