By Senior Correspondent Marty Ogden, Editing and Graphics by Ron Knapp
MySportsResults.com begins our 26th season of coverage that includes news, photos, results and records of our state athletes and teams that includes a season kick-off of previews of some of the top returning athletes across the individual events.
If you are a fan of CT track and field there is so much to be proud of in the girls distance events. Records have been going down, New England and National honors have been earned and there are plenty of up and comers who should be doing the same for years to come.
National Champion! That could be the sole line in the description of Brooke Strauss’ career at Glastonbury High. At New Balance Nationals Indoor, the UConn committed senior came from behind over the last 100m and won a thrilling race, becoming the first CT girl to break 4:40 for the mile with her time of 4:39.53. But her career has so many other highlights and as she enters her final season of high school track, she will be looking to put her final stamp on Glastonbury’s program, Connecticut, New England and the nation. This year alone, she was the State Open and New England champion in cross country and earned All American at Foot Locker Nationals. During indoor, besides winning the Open and New England titles in the 1000m, she also set all time state records in the 1000m, 1600m, mile and 3000m. Last year she was All American and helped the CT and New England meet record in the 4x800m. This doesn’t include several other State Open, New England, Class LL and conference titles she has been winning since freshman year. In short, she is making a claim for the title of GOAT CT female distance runner.
With all other credentials that Strauss has accumulated, Lyme Old Lyme junior Chase Gilbert showed no fear when the two met at the State Open this past winter. She took it out hard against a girl she had never beaten before and gave the All American the only defeat against a CT runner this season and in the process broke Strauss’ state record in the 1600m with a time of 4:44.68. She followed that victory up with a dominating win at New Englands. This cross country season she was in the lead pack in every race she ran, taking 3rd at the Open and 2nd at New Englands. She followed that up and joined three other girls from CT to qualify for Foot Locker Nationals where she finished 26th.
The depth of Connecticut distance runners is on display when you have someone like Liv…
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