By MARTY OGDEN
The SWC boys' meet has been dominated by New Milford, who won 10 straight titles from 2002-2011 before losing two straight to Newtown and Brookfield. But the Green Wave has come back and won the last two titles and will be shooting for a three-peat this year.
Their top returner from last year is James Kane.The biggest surprise for New Milford, however, might be Herlandt Lino, who has gone from their No. 7 runner to a State Open qualifier for 3,200 meters. That might give them four finishers in the top 10 and possibly another crown.
But Newtown and Pomperaug will be attempting to stop them. What they are lacking for in star power, they more than make up in depth. Pomperaug loses their No.1 harrier Alex Abraham to graduation, but they have the rest of their lineup returning from last year's second-place team. Newtown was fourth last year, but they have their entire top five returning and have a chance to have five finishers in the top 15.
In the individual race, Michael Bortolot of Joel Barlow is the top returner in the SWC and the third returner from the State Open. He would have to be given the role of pre-season favorite. One of his biggest challenges just might come from his teammate Ben Ruffing who is the No. 2 returner. Challenging them will be New Milford's Lino who ran 9:45 for 3,200m and 4:31 for 1,500m in outdoor track and Moetiz Shilleh of Masuk who led his team to their first SWC outdoor track championship and ran a 4:22 1,600m and finished sixth in the State Open.