‘A Culture of Belonging and Hard Work’: NCHS Girls Cross-Country Wins Another State Championship

In a town of football, basketball and lacrosse—where other sports sometimes are cast aside—a juggernaut has been growing before our eyes. 

Junior Charlotte Moor running in the Class L State Championship. https://mysportsresults.smugmug.com/2023-CIAC-XC-Division-Championships/Girls-L-Race/i-8DFcx65

An undefeated regular season last year, top-three finishes in the last three FCIAC Championships, and two state championships in the last five years: The New Canaan High School Girls Cross-Country Team is in a golden age. Beginning with a state championship in 2019—the team’s first since 2001—the squad has not stopped winning. 

Head Coach Jeffrey Brentson, who came from Brien McMahon in 2015, is a major reason for the success. A track coach since 1997, Brentson brought experience and knowledge to New Canaan’s running teams that changed the culture of the sport. 

Junior Radea Raleva running in the Class L State Championship. https://mysportsresults.smugmug.com/2023-CIAC-XC-Division-Championships/Girls-L-Race/i-8DFcx65

“I tried to build up the intensity and competition within the team,” Brentson said. “Before, the girls treated the sport as just something to put on the resume, so we had to emphasize the idea that we should be competing and trying to win.”

And win they have. 

Since 2016, the girls have a regular season record of 87-25 (.777) to accompany the aforementioned postseason success.

“We have built up a strong group of serious girls who place winning as their first priority, and are really a no-nonsense team,” Brentson said. “There’s no drama or distractions, just a culture of belonging and hard work that fuels success. We have worked to create a supportive environment where the girls want to come out and run after school every day. In 2018, we started to see the success as the team really started taking off. Ever since then, we have been chasing championships.”

Sophomore Niyathi Iyengar running in the Class L State Championship. https://mysportsresults.smugmug.com/2023-CIAC-XC-Division-Championships/Girls-L-Race/i-8DFcx65

This fall, the girls’ streak of dominance took the form of winning the 2023 Class L State Championship. On Oct. 28 at Wickham Park in Manchester, the team took home the gold medal supported by fourth-place and eleventh-place finishes from juniors Charlotte Moor and Radea Raleva. 

It was a team effort, as all five runners with counted scores placed in the top 30.

“It felt amazing to win, especially after coming second two years in a row,” Raleva said. “We finally got over the hump and broke the second-place curse. I’m super proud of the whole team. We have put in so much work throughout the season, so it’s really nice to be able to see that hard work pay off.”

Senior Captain Elizabeth McLaughlin, who finished 28th place, said she’s “proud to be captain of this truly amazing team.”

“Winning States is a testament to the hours of hard work that we have put in throughout the season, and I can guarantee that no one deserves it more,” she said.

To Brentson, winning the state championship is meaningful on a program-wide scale. 

“It’s really special,” he said. “It shows that our program is the real deal and that we are accomplishing what we want to do. This second championship again justifies everything we are doing and shows us that we are heading in the right direction. We have cultivated a successful and nurturing environment that hopefully will translate to even more success in the future.”