The Nutmeg State will have three invitational meets over the next three days’ beginning with Thursday’s 27th annual Run to the Sun Invitational at Coginchaug High. Last year’s meet attracted more than 300 runners to the starting line with Coginchaug Regional’s Christian Alberico posting the fastest time of the day with a 16:47.06 clocking for the five-kilometer course. The fastest among girls was Paris Hill ninth-grader Sabrina Chesters with a winning 19:46.57 effort.
There will be two invites on Saturday. Stratton Brook Park in Simsbury will be the site for the 34th annual Stratton Brook Invitational. At Cromwell High, runners will answer the gun for the 4th annual Connecticut River Invitational.
Last year’s Stratton Brook meet was the first race of the season for Staples’ standout Hannah DeBalsi, who easily captured the Varsity Race with a time of 17:35.99, nearly two minutes ahead of her closest competitor. DeBalsi, the defending state and New England champion, will be skipping this year’s meet to focus on her training.
In the Connecticut River meet, E.O. Smith won the girls' team title, led by a 1-2 finish from tenth-graders McKenna Spaulding and Annie Morrison.