Trumbull High’s Kate Romanchick was dominant, leading wire-to-wire at Wickham Park in Manchester, winning the Class LL girls cross country title with a time of 19:22.
“Winning the race was amazing, it was my first time being a state champion,” said Romanchick, after breaking the school record for a second week in a row.
“Afterwards my mom and all my friends were screaming and hugging me. A big motivation our team has is Coach McCaff (Jim McCaffrey). He's the best coach ever, he helped us get in shape and form an unbreakable team bond. Being able to run for him for the last four years has been a blessing.
“If it wasn't for his coaching, I might have not began to love running the way I do. He's one of the best people I know, and he always knows exactly what to say to get me inspired. He's also one of the strongest people I know, right alongside his daughter Mia.”
Romanchick, a four-year team member, outpaced Emily Criscuolo from Amity Regional (19:26) and Gabi Galletta of Fairfield Warde (19:37).
“Our team worked really hard this season and we always motivated each other,” Romanchick said. “During LL’s, the one thing I had on my mind was how I owed it to my team to run as fast as I could to help us qualify for the Open meet. Everyone ran their hearts out, and the feeling afterwards was indescribable.”
Romanchick, sophomore Margaret LoSchiavo (24th), freshman Ally Zaffina (31st), senior Sophia Hopwood (34th) and senior Molly Malloy (60th) led McCaffrey’s Eagles to a fourth-place finish.
“I'm so lucky to have been able to run for Trumbull cross country for four years,” Romanchick said. “Many of the girls on the team I've only been running with for one or two years, but we're so close that it makes it feel like a lifetime.
“I know all our team can agree that they show us how you can never fight too hard or give too much. There's always more in us. After I finished that race on Saturday, our assistant coach Dennis McLaughlin told me, ‘There's no one I know who deserves it more than you.’ He and Coach McCaff are our biggest fans and it's what keeps us going.
“Cross country has provided me with more happiness than I can describe. Our team this year has already broken records and qualified for big meets. All of us want to accomplish more for our school, our coaches, our families, and everyone who has supported Trumbull cross country.
“The amount of love our team and I have received this season is unbelievable and it makes me really proud to live and run in Trumbull.”