Familiar Faces for Girls Cross Country

Steve Norris, who is entering his 33rd season as Darien's girls cross country coach, has a slew of runners returning, as the Blue Wave looks to improve on last year's 11-6 record.

Among the returnees are the team's four senior co-captains: Megan Keane, Amanda Dobler, Sarah Smith, and Tricia Vossler. Keene earned all-FCIAC first team track honors in the spring and Dobler was an all-league first team selection in cross country last fall.

Senior Katie Grozier and junior Meredith Ott—along with sophomores Grace Loh, Ellen Bauer, Katie Farren, and Sarah Colon—give the Blue Wave plenty of depth and experience.

The only key losses were captains Kelly Brophy and Hannah Lyons.

"Our best runners have posted quality track times last spring," said Norris, who has a career mark of 310-126 at Darien. "We need to convert their performances to the cross country distances."

Darien opens it season Tuesday at Staples in a quad meet that also includes FCIAC rivals Stamford at Ridgefield.