OLD LYME — Capping an extraordinary season, Lyme-Old Lyme High School freshman sensation Chase Gilbert finished 13th in Saturday’s New England Cross-Country Championships, in which the ‘best of the best’ compete. She was the highest-placed freshman in the whole event, which was held at Ponaganset High School in North Scituate, R.I.
Gilbert was subsequently awarded Second Team All-New England Honors for Cross-Country at the Awards Ceremony, pictured above, based on her performance at the Championships.
Gilbert’s time of 19:04 is a new school record as well as a best time ever for a Lyme -Old Lyme female athlete at any New England championship.
Additionally Gilbert’s winning time of 18:07 at the Shoreline Championship is the fastest high school female athlete 5K time in the state.
Gilbert is pictured left competing in her award-winning race.
Hearty congratulations from all of us at LymeLine, Chase! We are already looking forward to following your running career in future years.
It is inspiring and reassuring to see runners,male and female,from Lyme-Old Lyme,do well in state and New England competition.When I came through the system and competed in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s,distance running was regarded as an unusual form of self-expression.Most parents were not physically active and it reflected on their children.There were a few of us who competed and did alright,but making it to a state open meet was just a fantasy.Things’ have improved greatly since those days.Congrats to Chase!
This young lady ,Chase Gilbert, is simply the best ever . Yes LOLHS had state champs with Kelly O’Rourke 1996,Jenn Ross 2009 and Ross Golebewski 2014 but her accomplishments are the best. She is the state champ like her predecessors but placed 3rd in the state open and 13th in New Englands and who knows about the Eastern Regionals in two weeks? Regis Sterling,coached XC in the 70’s and I, Bill Rayder ,coached XC 1980-2018 .I can’t believe what she has accomplished .Rock on Chase!!
Nice comments!
Hi Chase,
congratulations from Germany to this awesome race!
the Buchberger‘s
Matteo & Hannes
Upon further reflection,one must credit certain people in Old Lyme’s past for the current success of our school district’s distance runners,namely Bill Rayder and Regis Sterling.Mr. Sterling coached cross country at a time when it truly was a niche sport compared to other fall activities.Mr. Rayder helped deliver our team to qualifying for a state class S championship for the first time in 1980.That was a very big deal.He kept the program going in spite of the general apathy which reigned at the time among the student population and under threat of being eliminated by the school board as a part of budget cuts.He had attitude,which rubbed off and helped as many students did not look kindly on the sport.Having a coach who told you that it was cool to do this meant the world.Having a younger generation of parents who hold exercise in high esteem and lead a fit lifestyle themselves makes it easier for youngsters coming along to feel good about getting into distance running.Also,having a real track facility sends the message that when it comes to distance running,LOLHS means business and you as a student athlete will be supported.These two men should be congratulated for their time and efforts in the past.I thank them both.