The high school cross-country season officially begins next week for Connecticut athletes.
During the last few days, MileSplit CT featured the top schools from each class in the Nutmeg State. In the coming weeks, we'll highlight the individuals to keep an eye on for the upcoming 2015 campaign. Can Staples' Hannah DeBlasi finish off her outstanding career with an unprecedented fourth straight state crown? Can Tolland win its third consecutive class title and fifth straight state crown. You be the judge by some of its talented harriers who will be returning to the trails?
We begin our Runners to Watch series with the girls. Thanks to MARY ALBI for writing the bios of our athletes.
Caitlin Swanson
Tolland, senior
You’ll be hard-pressed to find an athlete that made more strides than Swanson in a year’s span. Swanson put in the work over the winter and spring, not only winning State Open team titles for Tolland, but making individual progress herself.
At the outdoor State Open, she ran 5:02.71 for fourth in the 1,600 and was second in the 3,200 (10:52.53). At New Balance Nationals, she was part of the second place 4x1 mile relay, where she ran a 4:59.78 split, and was the anchor on the DMR that finished fourth.
Last fall, she was part of an Eagles’ squad that claimed its fourth-straight Class M state cross country title, as she placed second individually (19:17). Swanson ended the season capturing 21st place at the Nike Cross Northeast Nationals, running 19:35.7.
Swanson is posed for a strong final season on the trails with Tolland as the Eagles will be vying for its fifth consecutive state title and third straight State Open.