Sports
Losses are closest in years
May 8, 2008

by Rocco Paul Valluzzo
Forum Sports Editor
sports@thewestonforum.com

A few inches here and a few seconds there could have made the difference for the Weston High boys track team against not one but two opponents last week.

It was that close when the Trojans traveled to Southbury to take on Pomperaug Thursday, May 1. When all the points were totaled, the Trojans were two points behind not one but two opponents, losing to the hosts 76-74 as well as to Newtown by the same score in what was the closest regular-season meet in recent years.

“It’s the little stuff,” said Weston head coach Lloyd Weinstein, noting some strategic errors. “When you get that close it’s a matter of switching one or two third places.”

Weston had much more margin for error against Notre Dame, which was also at the meet. Taking the lead early, it never looked back in a 108-33 win.

In some events Weston would dominate, as in the 4x800. Beating all three opponents, it finished in eight minutes, 48 seconds.

It was also fast in the 4x100, finishing second only to Notre Dame in 45.4. Newtown was strong in the 110 high hurdles with a one-two finish, but Weston was third, with Andrew Vento running an 18.5.

The Trojans faced much competition from all three opponents in the 100 meters. With Josh Aviner running a 12.1 he was seventh overall.

Both the Panthers and the Nighthawks were fast in the 1,600, in which Weston placed third, with James Bloom finishing in 4:56.4. Taking second in the 400, Jim Gaffney finished in 52.8.

Paul Philpott’s 44.8 was good for second in the 300 intermediate hurdles, and Stevy Mbwa-Kanokia finished 0.2 second later for third. Nick Mello brought Weston a second place in the 800 in 2:08.1 behind Pomperaug. Jim Gaffney’s 24.1 in the 200 was good for third, as was a 10:35.3 by Chris Kalivas in the 3,200.

No one could catch Weston in the 4x400, which produced a winning time of 2:34.5.

The field events had their highlights for Weston as well. Two were the javelin and the shot put, both won by Max Champtaloup. For the former he had a toss of 145 feet, five inches and in the latter 44’ 8.5”.

New Milford, however, would dominate the discus, sweeping Weston in the event. The other schools had strong throwers as well, and the Trojans settled for a third place against both when Jackson Edelman had a throw of 90’ 10”.

A leap of 20’1” was good enough for Vento to win the long jump. He was second in the triple jump, with 40’ 8.5”. Matt Wasserman, Weston’s entry in the high jump, cleared 5’ 5”, taking fifth overall.

Aviner competed for the Trojans in the pole vault. Clearing 10 feet, he was fourth overall.

Now 4-3 overall, Weston competes at the Old Saybrook Invitational on Saturday and finishes the regular season on Tuesday at Bunnell against Stratford and New Fairfield.

© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers