Swierbut, Nichols highlight locals headed to nationals
With each second shaved off her stellar times in several events, Carly Swierbut has rewrote a section of the record book at Newtown High. It’s resulted in SWC, Class LL and State Open championships for the gifted junior.
Now she’ll take her talents to the highest level. Swierbut will participate in the 400-meter run at New Balance Outdoor Nationals, held this weekend at North Carolina A&T University.
The final meet of the season is the prize for Swierbut, who missed indoor nationals by .04 seconds in the 300. Swierbut will be one of 30 runners participating in Sunday’s event; she did not run at last week’s New England championships, though her PR would have taken first place.
“I think she’s in a good spot because this meet is more for fun,” said Nighthawks track coach Rich Marcello. “She knows going in (finishing in the top six) for All-American will be tough; we’re talking about this year as a good experience and taking it all in because next year is the year — if she continues to do what she’s doing — we could realistically talk about All-American.”
The event will provide plenty of exposure in front of college coaches for Swierbut.
Swierbut won three events at the SWC championships before sweeping the 400 at states. Her best time of 55.42 came at the Class LL meet, where she edged Aisha Gay of Hamden. Her breakout time — according to Marcello — came in the 200 at the Loucks Games last month, where she clocked in at 24.97.
“Speed always comes first and she has raw speed, which obviously helps,” Marcello said. “I think what sets her apart from anyone I’ve ever coached is how hard she works; she works harder than some of the college kids I’ve worked with. She puts herself out there every day and track is her life.”
Swierbut is one of a host of locals headed to North Carolina. Danbury’s Dan Nichols will run the 2-mile on Saturday at 5:35 p.m. Nichols was also slated to run the 5,000 but will scratch to focus on the
2-mile; the Hatters boys and girls teams arrived Friday evening after an
11-hour trip.
“It wraps everything up for us and it’s a celebration of our current team this year,” said Hatters boys coach Rob Murray. “It’s great being a part of the best of the best teams in the country and the sport. They shoot to qualify for this level and they get to test themselves on a fast track.”
Nichols is coming off a spring in which he swept the FCIAC, Class LL and State Open crowns in the
3,200. Nichols twice defeated Drew Thompson of Fairfield Prep in close battles at the state level.
“He really stepped up his game,” Murray said. “Going into the state he was one of the top distance runners in the state but he really broke some boundaries for himself. It all came from his individual mindset to excel and be great.”
New Milford’s Eli Nahom will participate in the Steeplechase while the Hatters boys and girls teams will send several relay teams. Standout junior Malcolm Going will miss the event through illness.
Others will participate in the Emerging Elite events, including New Milford’s James Day and Andrew Grinnell in the javelin. Danbury’s Nathaniel Llanos (pole vault), Lauren Moore (1-mile) and Celyna Custodio (shot put) will also make the trip. Newtown’s Zach Crebbin will be in the high jump while Ridgefield’s Emma Langis will be in the 400 hurdles.