Glastonbury junior standout Lauren Parrett just tore up the course at the 43rd Wickham Park XC Invitational, clocking in a mind-blowing 17:55.5 to win the Girls Large Division race. This wasn’t just a win, though; she shattered her own meet record of 18:04.80 from last year. We’re talking about a runner who is absolutely peaking at the right time.
Parrett’s Push to the Top
Man, that race was a battle, and Parrett faced down some serious competition. Manchester senior Harper Shirley was right on her heels, finishing second with a 17:58. But Parrett knew what she had to do. “We were definitely really close together for most of the race,” Parrett said. “We started getting really close toward the end area, but then I really tried pushing up the hill because I wanted a strong finish.” That’s the mindset you love to see, right? That refusal to give an inch, especially when the finish line is in sight. She even gave props to Shirley for the pressure, saying, “It helps going up the hills, because I think she helps push me.” Sounds like that rivalry is bringing out the best in both of them, and for Parrett, it’s pushing her into record-breaking territory.
Repeat Winners and Dominant Solo Efforts
It wasn’t just Parrett making headlines. Tolland senior Rebecca Langlais showed up and owned her race for the second straight year, taking the Girls Small Division with a 19:02.3. That’s a division down from last season’s Girls Medium Division win, but she was stoked on the competition. “This year, even being with the smaller schools, it was just so competitive, and it was so great to get to run with more people,” Langlais mentioned. Hale Ray freshman Ashley Brining was right behind her in 19:15.4, and Langlais was quick to praise her, saying, “She’s incredible. I can’t even imagine how amazing it must feel for her to be able to run so fast so early.” Thomaston senior Briana Belanger and Oxford junior Callie DeLuise also ran strong, rounding out the top four in that division.
Over in the Boys Medium Division, E.O. Smith senior Gabriel White put on a clinic, winning by over 20 seconds with a 16:10.2. Ellington junior Alexander Bianchi was second in 16:32. White called it a “solo effort,” and you gotta respect that kind of mental game. “I was able to keep it up mentally and just keep a consistent effort the entire race,” White said, clearly confident. And shoutout to Avon first-year runner Madison McGarry, who crushed her first 5K high school course at Wickham. That’s a huge debut, especially after only running 3K in middle school!
What’s Next: Postseason on the Horizon
With these kinds of performances, the postseason is where things really heat up. Gabriel White is already buzzing for what’s ahead, saying, “I know the course, I love the course. I was competing with some of the guys in my conference, and I’m just excited for what’s going to happen during the postseason.” That means Central Connecticut Conference, Class MM, and State Open races are coming, all at Wickham. And for record-breakers like Lauren Parrett, this early season form is setting her up for a deep run. You know she’s got her eyes on whatever comes next, and we’ll be watching to see if she can keep that absolute fire going!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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