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11/07/2023 01:31 PMPersistence pays off quite often when doubt hangs in the balance. Such was the case for Sydney Adelberg and her running career, as she stuck with it and achieved great success after hitting some crossroads in her tenure.
The Haddam-Killingworth senior played soccer all throughout elementary school prior to 5th grade, when she tried out for her cross country squad. Despite not making the cut, Sydney saw it through and made the team the next year and stuck with it through 8th grade.
She had doubts about joining the Cougars girls’ cross country program as a freshman, but after encouragement from her older sister, she stuck to the path and recently helped H-K claim a Shoreline Conference crown back on Oct. 19. She additionally notched her third consecutive First Team All-Shoreline spot by finishing seventh overall for the meet, before finishing 11th overall at the Class SS State Championship on Oct. 28 for the runner-up Cougars.
“As a freshman, I did not think I would love it, but I really enjoyed it, and it is the best team I have ever been on. H-K has a reputation of always being a close-knit team where everyone is welcomed, and that has been the case here,” says Sydney. “Big factors for me in running have been trying to stay on top of my training in the offseason, along with having confidence in myself going into races.”
Out of the starting gun for each meet, Sydney details that she doesn’t like to lag behind, but she also conversely does not ignite to the front of the fray. She goes at her own tempo before picking her spots to excel at the ending phases of the race to the finish line.
“I usually like to have a strong and controlled start,” Sydney says. “Then, I like to ease into the right pace for the race, and then I like to pick people off and pass them as I go towards the end of the race.”
A sound body, especially in any daunting athletic endeavor, starts with a sound mind, seeing the goal, and manifesting it. Sydney has done just that, but turning up her confidence meter when it comes to taking down the kilometers and her contemporary running colleagues.
“For my freshman year, I did not have a good mentality to start. I would get too nervous and in my own head before races began,” says Sydney. “Over the past few years, I have worked on that and have a stronger and better mentality. That better thinking has also helped me physically and I have improved upon my times.”
Sydney further details she does not need to be a captain in order to ignite her desire to be that influential upperclassmen member of the program, and being a beacon of light to aid the future of the Cougars that will assume her position once she graduates.
“I am not a captain this year, but I help out and try my best to set good examples for the younger girls and those that are newcomers to the team,” Sydney says. “Because it can really be an adjustment going from middle school to high school cross country and running 5K races.”
The Cougars and Sydney overcame the injury bug and completed the rebound by posting another conference championship–their third-straight season emerging at the top of the Shoreline heap. She adds it was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to their attainment of postseason objectives as a group.
“We have had a rough year with some injuries on the team,” says Sydney. “We were hoping to win states and then also we wanted to place in the top 10 at the State Open. Winning Shorelines was a positive step in the right direction towards the goals we wanted to accomplish this year.”
H-K Head Coach Matt Diglio notes that Sydney’s year-round diligence towards the team and her own personal enhancement as an athlete aided her well, especially when she showcased her durability and mental fortitude by rebounding from an early-season injury.
“Sydney has been a consistent and reliable member of our varsity girls team since her freshman year. She is very hard-working, dedicated, and goal-orientated, “ says Diglio. “Sydney has been a crucial member of the team that has won three consecutive Shoreline Championships. This past fall, she trained and worked extremely hard over the summer and was in terrific shape to start the season. Unfortunately she injured her knee after our first meet and was unable to train or race for a month. However, she bounced back and showed her resilience and toughness as she placed 7th at the Shoreline Championship meet last week.”
Through her many miles logged over the course of the last four falls of her life, along with several even prior to that in middle school and junior high, Sydney recollects that fruits of labor is something that can create a bountiful harvest of emotional and physical satisfaction when it comes to reaching new heights.
“Cross country has taught me several things, such as discipline and dedication,” says Sydney. “I also learned that the work you put in with training really pays off during races, and that is something I will use to apply in my life post-graduation.”