A personal best in the 25-pound weigh throw with the nation’s No. 1 distance, a near state mark in the 55-meter dash and a back-and-forth duel for first place in the long jump.  There was a select group of Rhode Island athletes that made their way to the victory stand at the annual R.I. Classic Track & Field Invitational on Dec. 28. And the few that did certainly made their presence known inside the confines of the Providence Career and Technical Academy field house.

It was a record breaking day on Tuesday at the Boston Holiday Challenge, with more to come on Thursday when the Holiday Qualifier takes over the Reggie Lewis Center.  

Dual meet season is underway, and several large invitationals took place last weekend.  Although there will be a lull in the action over the holiday weekend, the rankings will most likely be upended when the Boston Holiday Challenge and Rhode Island Classic take place early next week. 

Rick Mitton had a successful eight-year tenure coaching track and field at Lyman Memorial High School. In his first year, he had 20 runners, compared with 80 by the time he left Lyman this year to take over as girls indoor track coach at Bacon Academy. (via http://www.norwichbulletin.com)

WILTON, Conn. - Brynn Parsons and Kafesha Thomas of the Connecticut Elite Track and Field Club opened the Colgate Women's Games in Brooklyn, N.Y. with a couple of outstanding performances.  (via www.thedailywilton.com)

Griswold's Alyssa Brehler earned All-New England honors by finishing 12th in the regional championship in 18 minutes, 51 seconds, the top Connecticut finisher. She is The Day's 2011 All-Area Girls' Cross Country Athlete of the Year.

In this second episode of The Fit Runner our host is Tara Gidus, aka the "Diet Diva" and nutritionist to the Orlando Magic. She gives us some solid meal and hydration ideas for before, after, and during a run. This is the latest episode in our series on being a fit runner. (via MileSplit United States)

The 10th Annual New Haven Invitational signaled the start of major invitational action in Connecticut, and several prominent athletes from last year picked up right where they left off.  It was record breaking first day at the Floyd Little Athletic Center as the Varsity athletes were on center stage Friday evening.

Old Lyme senior Nick Walker won the Shoreline Conference championship for the first time and made a name for himself, finishing 13th in the State Open to qualify for the New England meet. He's The Day's 2011 Boys' Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Griswold sophomore Alyssa Brehler was born with athletic ability. Growing up, Brehler was a standout  in soccer, basketball, and softball. She had never tried track and field until the seventh grade.  It was when her friends had told her about their enjoyment with the sport  that she decided to test it out herself. She quickly found out how good she was and says she then had a decision to make.

Runner of the Year Connor Rog (Fairfield Prep) won the State Open (15:22), Class LL (15:51) and SCC (15:59) championships ... Helped the Jesuits win the State Open, Class LL and SCC Quinnipiac division titles and finish third at the SCC championships ... Was runner-up at the New England championship (15:27) and 18th at the national championship in San Diego (15:35) ... All-Northeast, All-New England, All-State, All-SCC ... Will run at North Carolina.  (via Connecticut Post)

Runner of the Year Caroline Koenig (Staples High School) was fifth in Class LL (19:52) .... Finished 10th at the FCIAC championships (15:30) ... Placed 21st at the State Open (19:33) ... Was the top regional finisher at the New England meet (19:42) ... All-FCIAC first team.  Coach of the Year Ed Lucas (Oxford High School) led the Wolverines to the Class SS championship and 11th place at the State Open ... Posted an 11-win season, the most wins in a single season for any Oxford varsity sport. (via Connecticut Post)

If you have ever had the pleasure of meeting any of the track and field greats you will notice that they all exhibit one common trait; a compulsive desire to be successful.  The same can be said about the greats of any industry, but in sports it plays-out in the public eye. 

After back-to-back second place finishes in the Class S championship in indoor and outdoor track, Northwest Catholic feels it has the personnel and talent to bring home its first indoor track title. (via Hartford Courant)

 Michelle Grecni (Danbury, Conn.) of the Southern Connecticut State University women's indoor track and field team was named Field Rookie of the Week by the Northeast-10 Conference for the second week in a row.  (via www.southernctowls.com)

For 25 years, men's cross countryhead coach Jim Butler has looked forward to 4:30 p.m. as his favorite time of day.Butler, who thrives in his full-time position as director of the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments in nearby Norwich, knows that late afternoon hour signifies the start of cross country practice and the opportunity to work with his extended family, the talented harriers of Connecticut College.  (via www.conncoll.edu)

Cheserek held off a late charge by Zeinasellassie after a back and forth battle nearly the whole way.  Seidel was able to make a break with 300 to go after Finn led the race for close to 2.5 miles.  Great races all around from all the athletes!  (Photo by Don Rich)

The girls race at Foot Locker Nationals is a little more wide open than the boys race, but there are still a handful of girls at the top who will be difficult to beat.  The top 3 returners from last year have all had great seasons and have proven they can race well under the pressure at Balboa Park.  (via MileSplit United States)

One of Connecticuts' top distance runners Connor Rog talks about his high school career, preparation for Foot Locker Nationals this weekend, and his plans to run collegiately at the University of North Carolina.

The boys race at Foot Locker Nationals has the potential to be a very special event.  The course record of 14:36 at Balboa Park has been held by Reuben Reina since 1985.  This record is in serious jeopardy as both Edward Cheserek (NJ) and Futsum Zenasellassie (IN) have been consistently under 15 minutes this year.  Photos by Victah Sailor/Photorun.net.  Center Photo by Don Rich.

The holidays bring cold weather, friends, and best of all….. eggnog.  It's a frightening combination for the members of the BYU cross country team.  For some unknown reason, the annual tradition is practiced all over the country, but the one that takes place in Provo, Utah, is one of the best. Many have tried and failed, as gastrointestinal fortitude trumps running ability in this disgusting display of “talent”.

SIMSBURY — Indoor track is not always taken seriously by runners, parents or even coaches. Tell that to Simsbury’s Mike Cohen.The longtime boys cross country and boys outdoor track at Simsbury High School, Cohen took over the reigns of the indoor track team when it was formed at SHS six years ago.He lives and breathes Trojan running, and it’s growing on the school’s student-athletes as the winter season approaches. (via Northwestern Connecticut Newspapers)

Even by the lofty standards by which it has set for itself, the Guilford girls' cross-country team had another banner season in 2011. The Indians continued to show why for nearly the last two decades they have been a staple in postseason championships and the measuring stick surely almost all other programs compare themselves to. (via www.theday.com)  

It all starts Saturday with Nike Cross Nationals and Foot Locker West Regionals. (via MileSplit United States)