Tolland Girls "Three-Peat" as State Open Champions

At the State Open cross country championships Friday at Wickham Park in Manchester, no one was going to beat Hannah DeBalsi of Staples in the girls’ race, but when it came to team totals, no one would come close to Tolland.

For the third straight year, the Eagles won the state crown, compiling 97 to 131 for runnerup Glastonbury.

“This was the hardest one we’ve ever done,” coach Judy LaFontaine said.

On an unseasonably warm November afternoon, Katherine Deloreto paced Tolland’s winning effort with a second-place finish, while Hayley Collins took fourth.

“Katherine’s had a phenomenal year,” LaFontaine said, “and Hayley had a phenomenal race since she’s been battling pneumonia and bronchitis all season. She finally came back today and had a great race.”

Also finishing in the top 30 in the 181-runner field were Caitlin Swanson (23rd) and Michaela Caron (28th).

Tolland becomes the sixth girls team to win at least three straight Open titles. St. Bernard holds the record with four straight championships (1975-1978), while Montville (1981-1983), Wilton (1990-1992), Fitch (1999-2001) and Ridgefield (2003-2005) each captured three consecutive Opens.

The Eagles will run in the New England Cross Country Championships Nov. 14 at Thetford Academy, just outside of White River Junction, VT.

On the boys’ side, Josh Bedard ran as an individual and placed 32nd in a field of 188, missing a trip to the New Englands by just 14 seconds.

Photo credits: Tim Jensen