Megan Brawner has an adventurous spirit. She especially enjoys exploring a place for the first time.

Whether it's walking the traffic-free streets of Mürren, a quaint, scenic Swiss mountain village, as she did last year, or checking out charming Dublin where she's planning to go this summer, Brawner likes to wander around.

Life is an adventure for Brawner.

"I love it," Brawner said. "This is going to sound crazy, but I love getting lost in a new place."

There's no doubt Brawner, a Ledyard High School graduate, knows exactly where she's going in her life.

She's interested in counter terrorism and plans to eventually join the armed forces — likely the army — after finishing up at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, where she's an accomplished track and field and cross country athlete.

In May, she'll earn an undergraduate degree as an international business major. She'll extend her stay at CCSU thanks to the NCAA granting spring athletes another year of eligibility after their season was canceled due to the coronavirus crisis. She'll work toward a Master's degree in strategic communication and compete during the 2021 outdoor season.

"Luckily, I can still compete with the team," Brawner said. "I'm really grateful. ... It was devastating (losing the outdoor season) because I was graduating in May and I didn't get the closure that I was looking for. But now knowing I can go back next spring and have one last season with the team is pretty great."

Brawner has compiled an impressive resume while running in the fall, winter and spring seasons for the Blue Devils.

During the recently completed indoor season, Brawner set a program record for the mile at four minutes, 49.55 seconds while finishing fourth at the IC4A/ECAC Championship. She won a share of the Most Outstanding Track Performer (distance) award at the Northeast Conference Championships after winning the mile and 5,000 meters for the first time in that event while also running a leg on the winning distance medley relay team.

Her favorite memory from the indoor season was her distance medley relay team's performance at the highly competitive BU John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston. The foursome finished in a school record 11:41.59 while placing third.

"That stands out because we hadn't raced that event yet, so the four of us came together and we just went for it and ended up breaking the record," Brawner said. "BU is a really special place to compete at because you have so many talented teams. Literally, people from all over the country come to race at that track, so lining up against some of those athletes is pretty cool."

Brawner also experienced success during her Ledyard days. She was a four-time winner of The Day's All-Area top athlete award -- twice for outdoor track, once each for indoor track and cross country.

But her CCSU running career got off to a slow start.

Cross country coach Eric Blake, who's also in charge of the women's track program, had Brawner take a redshirt year as a freshman.

"I was devastated," Brawner said. "I was just so upset. I pretty much used that as motivation. I realized that when you come onto a team that has really big goals sometimes you have to put that first. So, I worked really hard during those months. Coach Blake believed in me from the start.

"... You just learn to be patient. And then when everything just started to click, I was like, 'Wow, I didn't think I could ever run these times.'"

Brawner still has plenty to look forward to over the next year.

The next few weeks, Brawner will finish her classes online while living at home. CCSU has postponed the graduation ceremony until December.

The extra free time gives Brawner more chance to explore her creative side.

She keeps a story journal, detailing funny things that happened throughout the day. Letter writing is another hobby.

She started exchanging letters back and forth with her best friend, Leah Sheltry, during high school. She also writes to an aunt in Washington, D.C.

"People don't appreciate it enough," Brawner said. "It's easy to send a text message. But sitting down and writing things out, it just makes it more special."

And, of course, she plans to travel this upcoming year. Last March, she toured Switzerland with her twin brother, Kevin.

In June, Brawner's hopeful that she'll be able to make a solo trip to Ireland and then join a tour group in Kenya.

"I'm traveling by myself," Brawner said. "I think my parents are a little nervous about it. I'm calling it my coming of age trip."

g.keefe@theday.com