Central Connecticut Girls
By MARTY OGDEN
Finishing as State Open runner-up is always a reason to celebrate, but when it happens three years in a row to the same team that happens to be in your conference, it can become frustrating. Glastonbury and Tolland have battled it out the past three years with Tolland coming out on top each time with the exception of last year's CCC meet when they tied and the Tomahawks won on a sixth-man tie-breaker.
This year it looks like Tolland will once again come into the season fully loaded with four returners in the top 15, which makes them the favorite again, including the top two returners in the conference and state, Katherine DeLoreto and Hayley Collins. But don't count out Glastonbury. While its lost four girls in its top seven to graduation, you can't keep a good program down. Glastonbury is led by All-New England runner, Gaelyn Kattman, and managed to develop a few runners during track season to keep it in contention.
Southington, led by junior Isabella Scalise, Conard led by Gwendolyn Geisler and Lindsey Chen and Avon led by Rachel Martin should round out the top five schools based on returning runners.
Individually, it looks like "All Everything" DeLoreto and Collins of Tolland could repeat their accomplishment of going first and second in the meet. They are the top two returners from the State Open and will be challenged by All-New England runner Kattman of Glastonbury. Conard's Geisler, who was Class LL runner-up in the 1,600-meter run and took her talents to the lacrosse field last spring, should also be in the mix as well.
