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05/28/2012 12:00 AMSeniors Joe Schwab and Onalee Collins both took first place in the javelin with throws of 159 feet-8 inches and 124-1, respectively, to help North Haven's boys' and girls' track squads fare well at the Southern Connecticut Conference Championship at Sheehan last week. The Indians boys scored 47 points to take sixth out of 18 teams with the girls totaling 54 to tie for fourth with Cross out of 19 squads. Amity won the boys' meet and Hillhouse took first in the girls' competition.
Schwab and Collins had both won the javelin at the SCC Western Sectional, and at SCCs, Schwab defeated runner-up Anthony D'Angelo of Shelton by just over six feet with Collins besting second-place Elizabeth Christensen of Guilford by a smidge over four feet.
"I was disappointed that I didn't throw better than my personal-record throw at Sectionals [166-1], but I was lucky enough to pull it off at a more competitive meet against some really tough competition," said Schwab. "Both our boys' and girls' teams have a lot of competitive athletes, we expect nothing less to do well, and we did do well at this meet."
Claiming top-eight spots for the boys were John Spencer in the 110 high hurdles (2nd, 15.43) and 300 intermediate hurdles (2nd, 40.78) after having won the latter at Sectionals; Steve Cofrancesco in the 110 hurdles (4th, 16.32) and triple jump (8th, 39-5); Matt Marcarelli in the shot put (2nd, 45-1ΒΌ) following his triumph at Sectionals; the 4x800 relay of Dave Salvo, Jonathan Gonzalez, Gray Piscatelli, and Dave Goodrich (5th, 8:34.04); along with Dillon McManus in the pole vault (6th, 10-6).
"We're pleased with a sixth-place finish which included a first with Joe Schwab and three runner-up places," Coach Steve Celmer said. "Our performances could have been better, but the weather conditions probably had something to do with that. John Spencer again came up big for us by scoring 16 points as the runner-up in both hurdles. We are also pleased to have two scorers in the 110 high hurdles, the only team to do so with Steve Cofrancesco taking fourth place."
Additionally scoring points for the girls' squad by virtue of finishing in the top eight were Katie Carmen in the pole vault (2nd, 9-6); the 4x400 relay of Abby Tantorski, Christina Sanzari, Heather Piscatelli, and Kristen Fournier (4th, 4:16.26), a quartet which had taken first at the West Sectional; as well as Emi Kanyo in high jump (2nd, 5-0) on the heels of her win at Sectionals and also in the triple jump (5th, 33-0); Kathryn Ionta in the discus (5th, 94-6), plus Vanessa Riordan (5th, 97-0) and Carly Flannery (7th, 95-6) in the javelin.