At Saturday’s New England Track and Field Championships outside Hartford, the Staples High School track team set records and scored some gold and bronze. The boys 4 x 400 relay team won in a close race against teams from Massachusetts seeded with faster times. With a time of 3.19.43, the relay team set a school record and ran the fastest time ever in the New England region. Junior Rafael Ray also won a bronze medal for his performance in the 400. Staples senior Jocelyn Henry won fourth place in the shot put event, also setting a Staples record with a distance of 39-feet-10-inches. Pictured is the 4 x 400 relay team: (l-r) Rafael Ray, Jack Roche, Sean Gallagher, and John Heil. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Emily Hamilton Laux for WestportNow.com

On a wet and slippery track, Staples High School junior Rafael Ray brings home a victory in the last leg of the 4 x 400 relay at Saturday’s New England Track and Field Championships held outside Hartford. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Emily Hamilton Laux for WestportNow.com

Cool, confident and dry before the race, Staples High School Track Coach Laddie Lawrence beams from under his umbrella Saturday at the New England Track and Field Championships outside Hartford. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Emily Hamilton Laux for WestportNow.com

Jim Corridon, brother of Longshore’s Olympian Marie Corridon, visited the Westport Historical Society’s exhibit “Longshore Memories” today to view a collage honoring his sister Marie who learned to swim at Longshore Club at the age of 5 in the ‘30s. Marie Corridon died May 26 in Norwalk at the age of 80 – two days before the exhibit opened. She won a gold medal in the 1948 Summer Games in London as a member of the U.S. 4 x 100 meter relay team, setting an Olympic record in the process. A replica of her gold medal is also on display. The exhibit runs through Sept.  4 in the Little Gallery and features a 26-minute film celebrating the 50th anniversary of the town’s purchase of Longshore. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Ellen Naftalin for WestportNow.com

Today’s World Cup opening in South Africa is attracting interest around the world, including on Post Road East in Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Bob Walter for WestportNow.com

The FCIAC title hopes of the Staples baseball team came to abrupt end today as the No. 2 seeded Wreckers (18-4) dropped their Class LL state tournament opening round game 7-3 to No. 31 Hamden (10-12). “We want to thank the seniors for their incredible accomplishments in the Staples baseball program, and for setting the standard for years to come,” said Head Coach Jack McFarland. “This was truly an elite class.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Pam Moss for WestportNow.com

Westport’s Staples High School boys volleyball team Friday night won its eighth straight FCIAC championship with a 3-1 win over Darien. MVP Mike Fitzgerald and Tom Prendergast led the top-seeded and unbeaten Wreckers (19-0) to a 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 25-17 win over the third-seeded Blue Wave (13-7) at Fairfield Ludlowe. staplesvolleyball.com photo

There was a large turnout today at Westport’s Longshore Club Park for the 14th annual Firefighters Benevolent Golf Tournament. Funds raised are donated to the Connecticut Firefighters Burn Foundation and many local charities. A popular event was the $10-a-putt competition. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Justin Malinow, an eighth grader at Bedford Middle School, scores an
over the top goal Saturday against Amity during a U15 Westport PAL lacrosse game at PJ Romano Field in Westport. The Westporters won 10-2. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Susan Goldman for WestportNow.com

There were smiles all around today as Staples locked up the No. 1 spot in the FCIAC West and top seed in the FCIAC tournament with the 7-5 win over St. Josephs in Trumbull. “It’s a huge accomplishment for our program to win our division and earn the No. 1 seed for the second straight year,” said Head Coach Jack McFarland. Staples improved to 17-1 overall, 15-1 FCIAC as senior captain righty Jimmy Sikorski went 5 1/3 innings for the win. Senior captain lefty David Speer retired four batters to pick up his third save of the season. Senior captain Jack Hennessy had his 100th career hit. Pam Moss for WestportNow.com