Wilton Runner Brynn Parsons Sprints To College Glory

WILTON, Conn. – Wilton’s Brynn Parsons said she had a slow start in her first year with the Johns Hopkins track and field team. She made up for it with a fast finish.

Wilton's Brynn Parsons won the 100 meters, finished second in the 200 and anchored a relay team to victory for Johns Hopkins in the college's conference championships. Photo Credit: *Tom Renner*

Tom Renner

05/10/2013 4:00 a.m.

Parsons won the 100-meter title, finished second in the 200 and anchored the 4 x 100 relay team to victory in the Centennial Conference championships in Collegeville, Pa. Staples grads Kelley Hussey, Alexandra Popkin and Ingrid Johnson also picked up points for the Blue Jays, who won their fourth straight conference crown. Julia Broach of Wilton is also on the team roster.

Parsons won the 100 in 12.79, defeating two-time champion Amanda Laurito of Ursinus College in the process. Laurito, a senior, nipped Parsons in the 200. In the relay, Parsons anchored a team that included former Connecticut Elite teammate Kelley Hussey to victory. The relay erased a school record.

“I’m happy with this year, considering I hadn’t done some of the weight training and I had a bumpy start,’’ Parson said. “All things considered, it turned out well.”

Parsons, who battled hamstring injuries throughout her high school career, hurt a knee early in the indoor season. Midway through the outdoor season, she tweaked a hamstring. Coach Bobby Van Allen eased Parsons’ workouts, and she raced infrequently. She ran the 200 just once before the league championships.

“Resting was beneficial,’’ Parsons said. “It gave me a little time to recuperate and get as good physically as I possibly could. He had me run one good workout a week, and I was doing other things to keep in shape. I was able to keep my fitness up.”

Parsons said the adjustment to college track was hard.

“It was a rough start,’’ she said. “Missing home, everything was a change, different track, different workouts. As a freshman you come in and it was OK, I’m the baby. But speed is speed. I don’t think I’d have been able to do this without all of my teammates and coaches.” The conference championship was the final meet of the year for Parsons, who plans to return to Wilton for the summer and train with Foley.

“I’ll be in the gym, at the track and coaches are going to send us workout packets,’’ she said. “It’s going to be a combination of working out and keeping the motivation up. I want to go into next season strong.”

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