Which (public) high schools in Connecticut are the best at developing young runners? Discuss.
Which (public) high schools in Connecticut are the best at developing young runners? Discuss.
Staples produced Henry Wynne. Probably the best recent runner from the state.
recent best wrote:
Staples produced Henry Wynne. Probably the best recent runner from the state.
You mean Henry Wynne attended Staples. Do you remember Norman Greenbaum?
InterestedInCT wrote:
Which (public) high schools in Connecticut are the best at developing young runners? Discuss.
Disclosure: I run at a ct high school in the ciac.
Over the last decade or two the best boys teams have been:
Staples, Xavier, Tolland, Danbury, HK, Hall, Conard, Ridgefield
There’s some schools that consistently have good teams, but I’d argue it’s because of their size more than anything else. Glastonbury is a massive schools relative to other CT schools and does decently, but with your pick of that many guys I’d hope for a team at least that good. Some schools are consistently decent, say Southington, but haven’t been amazing as of late.
Some other schools have had very recent success to a degree, such as Avon. Program is on the rise there. Others don’t really put out insane runners, but the coaches and program are still solid. Ellington is a good example of this, would be glad to run there, but it’s hard to be good when the people around you aren’t pushing you.
If I could compete at any school in the state, I don’t think you could go wrong with Staples, Xavier, Tolland, Hall, HK, Ridgefield or Avon.
Staples- Good school in a good school district, always competitive, don’t know a ton about the program.
Xavier- Private all boys school. Good academics, great culture of success there from what I’ve seen and heard. Tradition of winning.
Tolland-Smaller than other schools on the list (~800 kids), but has put out amazing teams on the boys and girls side.
Hall- Massive team. 120 guys. Seems to be competitive within the team and also competitive as a team. Met the coach, seems solid.
HK-Similar size to Tolland. Don’t think they’ve ever really been in the convo for the open, but always up there in class M (was SS not long ago). Good teams year in year out
Ridgefield- very similar to staples. Would’ve won the open in 2020 if it happened. Don’t know a ton about the program. Top guys last year ran higher ish milage (think 60s+) in base phase. Don’t know if that’s on their own or a coached thing
Avon- on the rise. Seems to have a good culture, looks up their Instagram, it’s like avonrunners or something. Seems to be good stuff going on there.
I would say Ridgefield. They have a great class of people graduating right now (4:09/1:53, 4:14, 9:19) and none of which were very good as freshmen. They also have a freshman now who ran like 4:26 at the divisional meet I believe. As previously mentioned, they would’ve won Opens with a legit xc season. They also have the 7th best (I think) 4x8 time in the nation this year, and have a chance to do really well in the 4xmile and DMR in Oregon.
Ridgefield would have had potential to qualify for NXN in 2020, especially if there was an at-large bid from the NE.