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Health & Fitness

AHS Girls Track Wins NCCC, Boys Place 4th

After one of the coldest, windiest, stormiest outdoor track seasons in history, the extraordinarily hot, muggy conditions at yesterday’s NCCC tournament inspired our teams to turn in fantastic performances.

The Avon Track & Field Girls team won the NCCC tournament, capping off an undefeated season (13-0). The Avon Boys, also with a winning season (10-3), placed 4th in an incredibly competitive field. There are a total of 13 schools participating in the NCCC track and field conference.  The 4th place finish by the boys is their best since the 2001 team finished 3rd.  And the girls won the meet for the first time since 1989.

“Both teams should be honored in what they have accomplished” said Head Coach Al Dadario. “In all the years I have been a coach in Avon, they have developed a culture in running that I will always be most proud of. To be a runner or field event participant is not easy. Track and Field is a sport that is greatly underrated.”

NCCC Championship Summary
The Avon Girls arrived in Coventry yesterday with confidence. We had numerous multiple medalists in this very deep team. Golds included both the 4x100 (Stephanie Koo, Emma Schweitzer, Tara Shayler, Karina Bucci) and 4x400 relay teams (Jennifer Koo, Colleen Norton, Tara Shayler, Shilpe Donde). More golds went to Maddi McHugh in the 1600 and Molly Hamel in the 3200, who had a convincing win over her competition. Our silver winners included Sara Stokesbury (800), Tara Shayler (200), Kaely Quijano (pole vault) and the 4x800 team (Amanda Holzman, Molly Hamel, Maddi McHugh, Sara Stokesbury). Bronze medals went to Alannah Noonan (100 hurdles, pole vault), Stephanie Koo (100), Caroline Renderio (high jump). Additional medalists included Molly Hamel (1600), Jennifer Koo (400), Ryley Higgins (3200), and Maeve Reiss (triple jump).

 Cory DiBacco and Colin Ponzani led the Avon boys team, ending with three medals each. Cory and Colin each were silver winners in individual events: Cory in the 400 and Colin in the 800. Both were also part of the 4th placed 4x800 team (Ben Crawford, Cory DiBacco, Adam Helmy and Colin Ponzani). And in a hotly contested race, the 4x400 team won gold, with Evan Edgar, Zach Zweibel, Colin Ponzani, and anchor Cory DiBacco. The Boys 4x100 team medaled placing 4th (RJ Reid, Christian Salhany, Zach Zweibel, Scott Frederik). In the field, Jake Sartain won two silvers for the high jump and the triple jump, with RJ Reid placing 4th in the long jump.

The next step for those eligible from both teams is the MM Conference tournament to be held Wednesday, May 29th at Middletown High School.

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