Few Montville High School girls' cross country runners in history have accomplished as much as Mady Whittaker.

Whittaker is already a three-time all-state selection, qualified for three State Opens and became the program's first Eastern Connecticut Conference champion in 32 years.

"That's rare," Montville coach Steve LaBranche said of the three all-state honors.

Whittaker joined elite company, being named The Day's 2017 All-Area Girls' Country Runner of the Year, earning the honor for the second straight year.

She accomplished all the goals that she set at the beginning of the season.

"I thought it went awesome," Whittaker said. "I was really proud of my season. My coach and I went over the different goals that I wanted. I wanted to win the ECCs but I also wanted to go to New Englands.

"(Coach) asked me which goal would I be happier with. I was like, why pick one when I can try to do both?"

A junior, Whittaker still has one more year to add to her impressive resume.

By the time she graduates, Whittaker will rank among the best cross country runners in program history. She's approaching the territory of Montville Sports Hall of Fame inductees Kelly Hawkes, Kim Hawkes Weidman and Mary Bridge Baker. The Hawkes sisters both were four-time all-state picks, while Bridge was a three-time selection.

"It's helped considerably for her to know who she is chasing," LaBranche said. "She knows the history of the Montville program. Her getting all-state all four years, it's a goal. It's an opportunity to say I belong in the same sentence as those people."

LaBranche admits that he sometimes puts added pressure on Whittaker, as he did before the ECC meet.

He had never seen her as stressed before a race as that October day. Whittaker said she was a nervous wreck days before and standing on the starting line.

Whittaker badly wanted to become the first Montville girl to win the ECC individual title since Kelly Hawkes accomplished the feat in 1985.

Once the starting gun went off, Whittaker immediately settled down, focused and ran a terrific race, beating runner-up Lily Anderson of Stonington by 55 seconds while finishing in 20:25. It meant the world to her to break the drought.

"They're like my idols," said Whittaker, referring to the three previously mentioned Montville cross country greats. "The whole 32-year streak of not winning an ECC championship was always in the back of my head. The whole time I was thinking, 'I just really want to do this so I can be in the history books.'"

Her season started off a bit slow due to a hip injury. But she gradually improved, found her stride and built up her confidence, leading to her excelling in the major meets.

She placed fifth in the Class SS state championship in 20:29, finished a personal-best 16th in the State Open and ran a personal record of 19:47.7 at the New England championship. She capped her fine season by competing at the prestigious Foot Locker Northeast Regional at Van Cortlandt Park in New York.

"She kept getting better every single meet," LaBranche said.

Whittaker is far from satisfied.

She still has plenty of other lofty goals on her target list in cross country as well as indoor and outdoor track before graduating. She's shooting to qualify for the State Open 11 times (out of 12 chances in the fall, winter and spring seasons combined). So far she's only missed out in outdoor track her freshman year.

"I just want to keep on improving," Whittaker said. "I feel like I haven't reached my peak yet. I feel like I still have a ways to go."

LaBranche believes Whittaker has the personality, drive and support from her family to complete her journey on a high note.

"She's a great student," LaBranche said. "She's very strong-willed, a type A personality. She's very, very competitive. She has a very strong family structure. The family is close-knit and very supportive."

College also is on Whittaker's mind. She's still early in the process but has already zeroed in on a major.

"I want to be a doctor," Whittaker said. "I always feel a calling just to help people and to be really compassionate and caring. And I love kids, too, so I'd like to be a pediatric doctor."

g.keefe@theday.com

The Day's 2017 All-Area Girls' Cross Country Team

Player

of

the

Year — Mady Whittaker (Montville)

Julia Adrian (Fitch)

Lily Anderson (Stonington)

Eve Buckridge (NFA)

Rasa Kirvelevicius (East Lyme)

Claire Mason (East Lyme)

Christina McCaffrey (St. Bernard)

Catie Shannon (NFA)