By Special Correspondent John Fixx, Editing and Graphics by Ron Knapp

RESULTS on AthleticNet

Even Olympian Parker Valby has humble beginnings. In 2013, the future Florida Gator track and cross country star did not qualify for Nationals at the Connecticut Junior Olympics Championship, finishing 37th in the Northeast. She’s come a long way since then.

On a crisp fall afternoon yesterday at the White Memorial Conservation Center in Litchfield, the next generation of national-class runners produced by Connecticut coaches announced themselves, as the 2025 Junior Olympians competed for spots in the upcoming Northeast Regional (November 23, Attleboro, Massachusetts) and National (December 13, Shelbyville IN) championships.

Boys 9 and 10 responding to the starting pistol (Max Laurans photo)

The headline of the day belonged to eighth grader Gabi Pereira and 7th grader Luca Parente, recent winners at Wickham Park in the Connecticut Middle School XC Championships, who both set course records in winning their Junior Olympics divisions, while the Danbury Hatters qualified seven teams for Regionals — showing impressive depth and collective strength.