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03/07/2018 11:00 PMAfter participating in the sprinting and hurdling events during the first half of her track career at Haddam-Killingworth, Julie Kelly decided to try her hand at longer distances by joining the cross-country program as a junior. Julie promptly earned a varsity spot that first year and, in her senior season last fall, she made the All-Shoreline Conference First Team, while contributing to Shoreline and Class SS state titles for Head Coach Matt Diglio’s cross-country squad.
“Coach Diglio suggested cross country in order to build up my endurance for the 400 in track, but then once I got there junior year, I fell in love with the team and distance running,” says Julie. “When I started as a junior, Coach Diglio had me on a freshman training schedule, and it was frustrating at first, but then I worked up to the varsity training group. It was a well-thought-out process now that I think about it, because it helped me to have a smooth transition.”
Julie’s nerves dissipated pretty quickly when she started competing in the cross-country circuit. Julie began her career on the trails in triumphant fashion, and it didn’t take long for her to bond with her new set of teammates.
“I was nervous at first, but once I got into it, I realized it wasn’t a huge switch,” Julie says. “My first race was a JV race at the Blue Dragon Invitational in Middletown. I was listening to Coach Diglio all race giving me tips like to relax and put my arms down. I passed a girl in the last half mile to win, and then I won my next race, so I had more confidence in myself. I also realized how supportive this team was. It was like another family.”
Julie had a leg up on the competition when it came to mastering the technical aspects of the cross-country course. That’s because she had already learned how to outpace opponents in a wide variety of events as a member of the H-K girls’ indoor track squad with Head Coach Dick Dupuis.
“[Dupuis] allowed me to try different things, so I got a taste of all kinds of events. I also learned how to race with strategy and worked on my speed, as well,” says Julie, who made the All-Shoreline Second Team for indoor track with her runner-up 4x800 relay this winter. “When I got to cross country, I never forgot how to be quick and use my speed to my advantage.”
Julie felt thrilled to help the Cougars claim a pair of titles in her final season of cross country. However, she felt the defining moment of the campaign came at the State Open Championship, where Julie truly displayed her determination as a runner. H-K finished in fifth place at the Open to qualify for the New England Championship as a team for the first time in program history.
“This past cross-country season was amazing for all of us. It was the best season we could’ve asked for. I saw improvements in my times from last year at the start of the season,” Julie says. “Halfway through our season, it was a team goal to go to New Englands, and it was one of the biggest races of the year. I collapsed before the finish line, but when I came to, I got up and finished the race, and we still made New Englands. It was a bittersweet moment for me, but I was so proud of our team, and we all worked so hard to get there.”
Coach Diglio says that Julie’s cross-country journey not only saw her become a tremendous distance runner, but also an influential leader for the future pacesetters in the program.
“Julie always works extremely hard in the classroom and on the track and gives everything she has to the team. This fall, she was the No. 2 runner on varsity, earned All-Shoreline First Team honors, and was a crucial member of the team that helped the girls win Shorelines and states and also place fifth at the State Open to help the team advance to New Englands for the first time in school history,” Diglio says. “Julie is a nice, smart, sweet, and funny young lady who has had a huge impact on the team and program over the course of her running career.”
Being a selfless teammate is one of the most important things that Julie will take away from her time as an athlete at Haddam- Killingworth. Julie says that no matter where she finishes in an individual event, she knows the most important thing is that she does everything she can to make sure her squad accomplishes its goal of finishing at the top.
“It’s about sacrifice. We actually have that word on the back of our team T-shirts,” says Julie. “Running is based on individual performances, but it’s such a team sport, because every man counts, and you have to sacrifice solo success for the team.”