Cross Country: Thomas kicks off senior season by shattering meet record at Spiked Shoe Invitational.  

University of Connecticut senior Chloe Thomas kicked off her 2024 season by shattering the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational meet record, finishing twelve seconds in front of the next runner with a time of 19:51.8 in the women’s six-kilometer race.  

The Huskies finished fourth overall with an average time of 20:43, behind only Princeton, Syracuse and Penn State. Eleven runners competed, two of which finished inside the top four – Thomas and fellow senior Jenna Zydanowicz, who finished with a time of 20:19.4. Senior Caroline Towle finished in 15^th with a time of 20:50.1. 

Sophomore Malin Rahm debuted in her second season with a time of 21:12.3, placing 33^rd overall. Chloe Trudel, another Husky sophomore, placed 41^st with a time of 21:24.9. The two highest Husky finishers in the team’s first meet of the season, Madison Relyea and Loghan Hughes, finished with times of 21:46.2 (68) and 21:49.0 (72), respectively. Senior Rachael Woodruff finished 82^nd with a time of 21:58.3, followed by sophomore Calista Mayer (91) and freshman Claire Paci (101). 

The Huskies finished with, on average, a better time than both Princeton (20:48) and Syracuse (20:44), a testament to the depth the Huskies have established throughout the program.  

Thomas broke the all-time meet record at the invitational, running the fastest time a Husky has ever ran at the course, and the fourth fastest time in course history at Penn State’s Blue and White Course.  

Penn State’s Florence Caron finished second overall with a time of 20:03.9, followed by Syracuse’s Savannah Roark 15 seconds later at 20:18.6. Caron will return next season, as the Nittany Lion is only a junior. The highest finishing freshman was Princeton’s Meg Madison, who clocked out at 20:40.6. Caron and Madison are the only two runners who finished inside the top 10 scheduled to return for next season.  

Two UConn runners finished inside the top five, something no other school accomplished. Three Penn State runners finished inside the top 10, followed by UConn, Syracuse and Princeton with two apiece. Pittsburgh’s Winnie Incorvaia finished 10^th with a time of 20:43.7.  

The Huskies will next compete at the Paul Short Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Lehigh University. With a three-week break separating the two meets, expect the Huskies to be refreshed heading into their contest with the Mountain Hawks.