Former Bristol Eastern athlete Hope Johnsky has been a standout in the pool for years, first with the Lancers then with the Colonials of Western Connecticut State University.
Johnsky has turned to cross country in her senior year at WCSU, and what a start her season got off to on Friday. In the first race of her collegiate career, Johnsky finished first at the Castleton Invitational in 22:02. In finishing first, Johnsky picked up the first individual victory in the history of the WCSU women’s cross country program. Johnsky, who finished six seconds ahead of runner-up Lydia Snow of SUNY-Canton, help lead the Colonials to a program-best second place finish among the four teams that scored in the meet, which was held in Castleton, Vt. WCSU tied for second with the hosts from Castleton (score of 69).
For Johnsky’s effort, she was named Little East Conference runner and rookie of the week.
Eastern Connecticut State University finished first as a team with a score of 26. Alison LeClerc, a freshman from Wolcott, finished fourth in 22:20. Maggie Santacroce, a senior from Bristol Eastern, placed eighth in 23:02.
