Connecticut Girls Cross Country Top Performers Week of Oct. 3

Connecticut’s high school girls cross country scene was electric last week. Standout performances lit up courses from Rhode Island to local parks.

Top runners from towns and cities like RHAM, Shepaug, New Canaan, Windsor, Fairfield, Lyme, South Windsor, New Fairfield, Cromwell, Pomperaug, Lakeview, Greenwich, Amity, and Madison showed off speed, grit, and teamwork. They delivered thrilling wins and set the stage for a big stretch of the fall season.

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From individual triumphs to team victories, these results hint at which athletes are gaining momentum heading into major upcoming meets. It’s hard not to feel a little excited for what’s next.

Ocean State Invitational Delivers Big Moments

The Ocean State Invitational in Rhode Island drew some of Connecticut’s best. RHAM’s Ellie Ballard ran a fast 20:21.7 in the varsity 2 race, finishing sixth overall.

Cromwell’s dynamic duo—freshman Sophia Rodriguez and sophomore Brianna Jones—posted times of 20:43.8 and 20:51.8. Their efforts secured the varsity 2 team title and made a statement for Cromwell’s program.

Championship Division Standouts

The championship division at Ocean State brought even more standout performances. Lyme/Old Lyme’s Chase Gilbert blazed through in 18:02.2 to grab second overall.

Fairfield Warde’s Meghan Elterich ran 20:07.8. South Windsor’s Sofia Holovatska (18:47.6), New Fairfield’s Katie McMorrow (18:52.8), and Mercy’s Sarah Roberts (18:54.2) finished near the front, showing Connecticut’s depth up top.

Local Meets Feature Cross Country Stars

Back in Connecticut, local parks and trails hosted some exciting races. In a Berkshire League showdown, Shepaug sophomore Lillian Casini claimed victory in 20:04.

Her win helped Shepaug edge out defending champions Nonnewaug by just five points, 25–30. That’s the kind of close finish that keeps fans on their toes.

Dominance at Waveny Park

At New Canaan’s Waveny Park, Sienna De Kanter ran 19:14.4. She led her squad to a sweep of Staples and Brien McMahon.

Those kinds of commanding efforts highlight both individual dominance and the deep, team-wide strength popping up around the state. It’s not just about the stars—these teams are stacked.

Inspiration from Invitational Champions

Bigger wins showed up across multiple invitationals. Windsor junior Maya Donzella took the Harry Geraghty Invitational at Nevers Park in 19:39.9.

She secured her place among the week’s elite. Other notable victories include:

Pomperaug’s Madelyn Mariani – 19:13.9
Lakeview’s Lilyana Markavich – 19:51
Greenwich’s Sophia Passalacqua – 18:10.6
Amity’s Claire Theiss – 18:50.8
Daniel Hand’s Annecy Vlieks – 18:04.9

Looking Ahead: Marquee Events on the Horizon

The week’s results set the stage for the 66th Nonnewaug Invitational, a true highlight of the cross-country calendar. There’s also plenty of buzz around Darien’s girls team as they get ready for the Great American XC Festival in North Carolina.

They’ll be testing themselves against some of the nation’s best. Should be a wild ride.

Momentum Building for the Season

Times keep dropping, and rivalries are getting heated. Connecticut’s high school girls cross country athletes look ready for a season to remember.

We’ll probably see more neck-and-neck finishes as teams move toward championship meets. Breakout performances feel almost inevitable at this point.

From Cromwell’s young stars to Greenwich’s blazing speedsters, this past week made it clear—Connecticut still claims some of the nation’s most exciting high school distance runners.

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Here is the source article for this story: Connecticut high school girls cross country top performances over the past week (Oct. 3)

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