New Milford girls cross country caps off huge season
NEW MILFORD, Conn. — After securing the Class L title earlier this month, the New Milford girls cross country team capped off their 2021 season by bagging their first-ever State Open championship.
The Green Wave realized both team success and individual success at the CIAC Cross Country State Open at Wickham Park.
Not only did New Milford take home the crown as a team, but they were the only school to post two top-10 individual runners as well. Sydney Kelleher placed third in 18:49 and Madeline Sweeney placed seventh in 19:11.
“I was expected to be low 19s and hoped for a top-10,” Kelleher said. “Maggie (Sweeney) and I went off fast. We settled in a pushed as hard as we could.”
New Milford also received an added boost at the State Open in the form of All-State runner Claire Daniels. The senior returned from an illness that kept her away from the team for two weeks. Needless to say, both her teammates and her coach Giles Vaughan were ecstatic to have her back.
“I got a text from Claire last night that she could run,” coach Vaughan stated. “It was the best text I’ve received in a while. I had no idea how she would do with two weeks off from running, but I knew what it would do for our team.”
While Daniels didn’t put up her usual numbers, she was still able to contribute to the victory with a time of 19:35, which was good for 21st.
“It was hard being out those two weeks,” Daniels confirmed. “I knew we had so much potential. I wanted to be with the girls so we could fulfill it. This team has been working for this moment for years and it all came together.”
Impressively, the Green Wave won the Class L title earlier this month without their All-Stater, speaking to the depth of talent on this squad. Coach Vaughan along with the team’s leaders did a phenomenal job staying on task in the face of adversity.
“It was all about our team culture today,” Vaughan asserted. “The girls run with names of their teammates on clasps attached to their shoelaces. This is a driven group.”
The results affirm that sentiment. This group battled through last-minute setbacks to cap off the most successful girls cross country season in school history.
“The girls are amazing,” coach Vaughan continued, “They don’t see the training that got them here as hard work. They see it as hanging out with their friends and enjoying a sport that they love.”
The 2021 State Open served as Claire Daniel’s final race. She’s undoubtedly one of the most decorated runners in New Milford cross country history. Meanwhile, the majority of this season’s top performers will be back next year as the Green Wave will attempt to defend their titles.
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