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06/22/2017 12:00 AMWhether it’s sprints, relays, or jumps, Veronica Chrzanowski can do just about anything as a track and field athlete. Veronica demonstrated her versatility by putting together an impressive junior year that featured an excellent postseason for Haddam-Killingworth this spring.
Veronica grew up with soccer, but wanted to expand her athletic horizons in high school, and so she ventured onto the track and field circuit at the suggestion of her friends. In the recent season, Veronica had a stellar showing at the Shoreline Conference Championship by winning the triple jump with a distance of 34 feet-4 inches to go with a second-place showing in the long jump (17-2) and a third-performance in the 200-meter dash (27.77 seconds). She was also part of a fourth-place 4x100 relay squad.
After that, Veronica finished fifth in the triple jump and was sixth for the long jump at the Class M State Championship, qualifying for the State Open in the triple behind a leap of 34-4.5.
“My favorite thing about track is that it’s a team effort, because you score points for the team, but you get to do your own events, so there’s an individual aspect to it,” says Veronica. “For a long time, I wanted to break 17 feet in the long jump, so it was great to do it at Shorelines. I also wanted to win an event and get that first-place feeling. In states, I was seeded second for the long jump, and I think I psyched myself out for it. But the reactions I got from my coaches were positive. For the State Open, the main part of it for me is getting that experience of competing at that higher level.”
The Shoreline Conference Championship was certainly a long day for Veronica, but she knew the right order in which to tackle her events to give herself the best chance to succeed in each of them.
“After the long jump, I had the triple jump and 200, so going to the triple jump after the 200 wasn’t a good idea. So I did the triple jump, and my jumps were good to get to the finals and then win,” Veronica says. “My coaches knew I had a lot of events, so they were proud of me. It’s always good to have a title, and my coaches really pushed me to do my best in each event.”
As one who’s been on both ends of the spectrum by competing individually and in relays, Veronica says the atmosphere that comes with each event has its own unique flavor. That’s something Veronica savors when she’s performing on the big stage.
“In relays, you feel a deeper connection with those on the squad than you do with being on the team. It’s a smaller team within a team. I enjoy being a part of the relays, because they are also fun to watch,” she says. “For solo events, they are just as nice, because they are all on you, and you can get in your zone and focus.”
H-K outdoor track Head Coach Matt Diglio says that Veronica always keeps her nose to the grindstone by displaying a hard-working attitude. Diglio adds that Veronica’s due diligence on the track has given her a big boost of confidence as her career has unfolded.
“Her confidence continued to grow as a sprinter and a jumper, as she now believes that she is one of the top jumpers and sprinters, not just in our conference, but in the state. Veronica has always been quiet and unassuming, but she is a very hard worker, and dedicated to improving herself and doing whatever is necessary to help the team,” says Diglio. “She is an extremely gifted and talented athlete who is able to compete in a wide variety of events. At the Shoreline Championships, she jumped to personal bests in the long jump and the triple jump. Veronica is a very polite and kind young lady who always a smile on her face and a positive attitude, and she has been an absolute pleasure to coach the past three years.”
Although Veronica’s track career got out to somewhat of a bizarre start, it didn’t take long for the sport to become her passion. One of the key reasons for that is because Veronica is part of a tremendous program that features encouraging coaches and welcoming teammates.
“At the first freshman meet before the regular season, I was sick and missed it, and the first week of practice. In my first meet, I was put in the long jump, but I had never done it. I did a good first jump for a freshman. I’ve become more involved with track from there. I watch college meets on television. It’s grown to become my favorite sport,” says Veronica, who thanks her parents, Lisa and Stan, along with her coaches, friends, and teammates. “If I could pick any team to be a part of, it would be H-K track. It was a place where you get to be who you wanted to be. It was a really accepting and friendly team. We always want to cheer each other on, and my coaches taught me how to be a better person.”