43rd Wickham Park XC Invitational: Girls runners to watch on Saturday

The 43rd edition of the annual Wickham Park XC Invitational will be held Saturday in Manchester. Varsity races begin with the Boys Small Division at 2:15 p.m., followed by Girls Small Division at 2:45 p.m.

Here are 10 girls cross country runners to watch (by fastest times run to date):

Lauren Parrett, Glastonbury, Jr. (Varsity Large Division):She owns the state’s fastest time of 17:29.5, and it’s by over 45 seconds over the second-best mark. Parrett ran that time while competing at the Maine XC Festival of Champions in Belfast last Saturday.

Madison McGarry, Avon, Fr. (Varsity Medium Division):She has put together an impressive first season, which includes the state’s second-fastest time (18:15.1). McGarry ran that time during a CCC home meet against Farmington and Northwest Catholic on Sept. 15 at Fisher Meadows Recreation Area.

Harper Shirley, Manchester, Sr. (Var-Large):What, did you think she would miss a chance to run in her hometown meet in her final season? Shirley ran 18:16, the state’s third-fastest time, during a CCC meet against host Windsor, RHAM and East Catholic at Northwest Park.

Molly Chien, Hall, Jr. (Var-Large):She turned in the state’s fourth-fastest time, 18:29.7, during a CCC meet on Tuesday against Conard and Avon at the West Hartford Reservoir.

Ashley Brining, Hale Ray, Fr. (Var-Small):Another first-year runner who has impressed, she turned in the state’s fifth-fastest time, 18:41.6, during the 14th Connecticut River Valley Invitational on Sept. 19 in Cromwell.

Briana Belanger, Thomaston, Sr. (Var-Small):She also ran her best time at the CT River Valley invite, which was 18:44.1. That time ranks her sixth in the state.

Edith “Edie” Ranta, RHAM, So. (Var-Medium):Yet another runner who put up her best time at the CT River Valley invite, which was 18:57.7. That time is ranked eighth in the state.

Rebecca Langlais, Tolland, Sr. (Var-Small):She ran her top time of 19:05.6 at the 14th Harry Geraghty XC Invitational on Sept. 25 at Nevers Park in South Windsor. That time is 10th overall in the state.

Carolyn Kamp, Glastonbury, Jr. (Var-Large):Another good runner who makes the Guardians go, she ran her best time of 19:07.7 at the Maine XC Festival of Champions.

Callie DeLuise, Oxford, Jr. (Var-Small):She ran her best time of 19:13.9 at the 67th Nonnewaug XC Invitational on Oct. 2.

Others to note:Maya Donzella, Windsor, Sr. (Var-Medium); Sophie Passalacqua, Greenwich, Jr. (Var-Large); Cora Wasiolek, Mercy, Jr. (Var-Med); Charlotte Kenney, Branford, Jr. (Var-Med); and Dahlia Livingston, Bolton (Var-Small).

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This article originally published at 43rd Wickham Park XC Invitational: Girls runners to watch on Saturday.