Connecticut high school girls cross country has seen some great efforts from freshmen runners this fall.
The biggest names in the first-year class are Avon's Madison McGarry and Hale Ray's Ashley Brining. Both have found themselves near the top of most races they've run in, and each have victories to their credit. Here's more on each freshman:
Madison McGarry
All McGarry did at the 43rd Wickham Park XC Invitational on Oct. 10 was place first ahead of seasoned junior Mercy standout Cora Wasiolek during the Medium Division race.
"I feel like I train very hard and that training gives me the confidence to know that I could win this," McGarry said after her victory.
McGarry moved into the lead in the race before the infamous ‘Green Monster' portion of the course.
"I knew I was capable of doing it, so I just wanted to make sure I kept myself in it, and I knew I could catch back up," McGarry said.
McGarry also knew that a flat part was coming up in the race and felt that she could have caught up at that point.
McGarry ran 18:15.1 in a Sept. 15 home meet against Farmington and Northwest Catholic, and that time still stands as the fifth-fastest in the state, according to Athletic.net. McGarry sets high goals for herself, so quality runs at Central Connecticut Conference (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. start time for girls) and Class MM (Oct. 31) at Wickham Park are far from out of the question.
In the CCC, her time ranks only behind seniors Lauren Parrett of Glastonbury (first in state, 17:29.5 at Maine XC Festival of Champions on Oct. 3) and Harper Shirley of Manchester (second, 17:58, Wickham invite on Oct. 10).
Ashley Brining
She didn't win the Small Division race at the Wickham invite (19:15.4), but she left an impression on Tolland senior Rebecca Langlais, who finished first (19:02.3) after winning the Medium Division the year before.
"She's incredible," Langlais said at the time. "I can't even imagine how amazing it must feel for her to be able to run so fast so early."
Brining's fastest time of the season was 18:41.6, which she ran at the 14th Connecticut River Valley Invitational on Sept. 19 at Cromwell High School.
Brining owns the state's eighth-fastest time.
In terms of Shoreline Conference runners, that ranks only behind senior Charlotte Behnke of Haddam-Killingworth (fourth in state, 18:11.4, Saratoga (N.Y.) Cross Country Invitational on Oct. 10).
The Shoreline championship meet is on Thursday at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison with the girls running at 2 p.m. Brining will compete in the Class S state championship on Oct. 31 at Wickham Park.
Other freshmen to watch
Glastonbury's Madeline Lamb ran a time of 19:19.1 during the Maine XC Festival of Champions on Oct. 3. That time puts her at 26th in the state.
Ledyard's Lacey D'Amato ran 19:36 during a Sept. 15 ECC meet against East Lyme, Killingly, Plainfield and Tourtellotte at Ledyard High School. That time is ranked 38th in the state.
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This article originally published at Pair of Connecticut freshman cross country runners could have big impact in postseason meets.