After a third-place finish in the 2024 Big East Championships, the UConn women’s cross country team is headed to Hopkinton, New Hampshire for the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship.
Two weeks ago, the Huskies brought their talent to the conference championship and took home several top finishes. Senior Chloe Thomas earned the No. 1 spot in the 6K race with a 19:36.60 finish. Graduate student Jenna Zydanowicz crossed the line just under a minute later and secured the No. 9 spot with a 20:25.72 finish.
Thomas, who now owns the Big East Champion title, has been electric this year, finishing first in three respective meets and setting a 6K personal record in late October. The senior has been on an upward climb and has shaved 40 seconds off her 6K time since the season’s first meet in September.
Zydanowicz has also been steadily improving and has shaved over 20 seconds off her 6K time since the beginning of the season. A few of her most notable performances include a fourth-place finish at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational and a fifth-place finish in the Lehigh Paul Short Run, where she beat out tough contenders from UPenn, Missouri and Pittsburgh. Zydanowicz has also closed out her graduate season by earning Big East All-First Team honors. Graduate student Caroline Towle secured a place in the All-Second Team.
Looking ahead, the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships will be no small feat as the meet will draw fierce competition and top contenders from dominant schools. Providence will be a main focus, as the Friars were some of the Huskies’ biggest competitors at the conference championships.
At the Big East meet, the Friars placed second overall, compared to UConn’s third place finish. The Huskies and Friars will return for round two as Providence’s Alex Millard finished second to Thomas. Millar ran a 19:50.61, finishing just under 15 seconds behind UConn’s Thomas.
Three other Providence runners also placed within the top ten at the Big East: No. 6 Kimberley May, No. 8 Shannon Flockhart and No. 10 Laura Mooney. UConn’s Zydanowicz will have her work cut out for her as she finished sandwiched between the Friars at the Big East.
ACC competitors, Boston College and Syracuse, will also provide touch competition. Boston College’s Savannah Roark recently ran a 19:55 6K in the ACC championships to earn a No. 13 finish.
Despite the tough competition, UConn is no stranger to challenges and will prepare to wrap up the season up north. The race is set to begin Friday, Nov. 15 at 11 a.m. in Hopkinton, New Hampshire.