By Michael Letendre

It would be shameless not to recognize Bristol Eastern’s newest All-State runner, junior Fiona Gallagher – an exceptional athlete who was one of the top harriers in the Mum City this year along with two seniors, Bristol Central’s Natalia Popielarz and Eastern teammate Avery Braccia.

Gallagher became just the second female runner from Bristol Eastern to earn All-State honors, along with Amanda Sumner (Class of 2008, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga).

And both of those athletes made races from Stanley Park in New Britain their showcase events.

On October 16, 2008, the CCC South Championship race from Stanley Park saw Sumner win the event in 19:05, which nearly established a Bristol Eastern record.

Sumner holds the Lancers’ fastest time of 18:56, clocked at the Greater Hartford Invite on October 4, 2008.

And Gallagher was exceptional as well, posting a time of 20:10 – her personal record – from Stanley Quarter Park on October 28 against New Britain as she was the leading runner on the Eastern squad this past fall.

Gallagher won her race against the Golden Hurricanes and will have one more opportunity to improve her outstanding times in 2021 as a senior.

Over the last two months, Gallagher and the Lancers’ squad were a very competitive bunch during what turned into a weird and shortened season that ended up not having its usual class races and State Open events.

To go along with that outstanding time of 20:10, Gallagher won the race at Lewis Mills back on October 21 – making a finish of 21:09, while at the final regular season meet for the Lancers on November 4, Gallagher nearly netted another career best time.

In a close loss to Avon on November 4, she was the runner-up from the Fisher Meadow Soccer Fields in Avon – posting a time of 20:12.6 to end the year.

And in her final Bristol Eastern meet of the campaign, Gallagher placed sixth in the Central Connecticut Conference Region B Championships on November 10 with a finish of 20:52 from Stanley Park.

Her improvement from October 1 to the end of the season was impressive as she finished her final three races in under 21 minutes.

After placing fourth in the Lancers’ opening day meet against Farmington on October 1, Gallagher either finished in first or second place the remainder of the scholastic season.

Gallagher proved she belonged with the best runners of the Central Connecticut Conference as a sophomore, making a top-30 showing in the Class MM championships in 2019.

She placed 28th overall with a time of 21:58 from the course at Wickham Park in Manchester on Saturday, October 26.

And as freshman, Gallagher placed 51st at the 2018 Class MM Championships in 22:27 – another very good finish from Manchester.

Bristol Eastern’s Fiona Gallagher had an excellent season for the girls cross country team in 2020. Here’s a quick look at her results, leading to her All-State nod:

2020 Bristol Eastern girls Cross Country – Fiona Gallagher

Date Opponent Time/Place

October 1 vs. Farmington 24:21/4th

October 7 vs. Bristol Central 21:37/2nd

October 14 at Plainville 22:28/2nd

October 21 at Lewis Mills 21:09/1st

October 28 at New Britain 20:10/1st

November 4 at Avon 20:12.6/2nd

November 10 CCC Region B Race 20:52/6th