STORRS, Conn. – For the last four years, Chloe Thomas and Jenna Zydanowicz have been leading the way for UConn cross country. Now in their final season together, the two best friends will grace the national stage together on Saturday at the NCAA Championships in Madison, Wisconsin.
"We're thrilled to be headed to Wisconsin with our NCAA Regional Champion Chloe Thomas. She's looking great this week we've had great recovery after the race and ready for this challenge, exciting for her. Jenna has put together a reason for the record books as well, very prepared well executed regional championship. The whole season these two have been tremendous for us. Couldn't be more proud than to line them up, shoot the gun, and have some fun," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Beth Alford-Sullivan.
Thomas and Zydanowicz have taken different paths to get this point. Coming to Storrs from Dundas, Ontario, Thomas has had one of the most decorated careers in UConn history, securing all-BIG EAST honors three times, all Northeast Region the last two years, and qualifying for the NCAA Championships in 2023 and 2024. This year, she has elevated her performance to levels that place her in rarified air in UConn cross country history, breaking meet records in September, earning national athlete of the week honors in October. Thomas carried this momentum into the postseason winning both the BIG EAST Championship and Northeast Regional, the first female runner to ever do so as a Husky.
While Thomas came to UConn all the way from Canada, Zydanowicz starred at the high school level in Connecticut, winning the Class L and LL Championships as the captain of the Hall High School Cross Country and Track & Field teams in West Hartford, securing all New-England honors. The leadership experience she gained at Hall has made her the ideal captain and leader for this 2024 UConn team and their success as a group, a sentiment echoed by Thomas. "I think our team captain, Jenna, has done a phenomenal job this year. We have been super synergized in our work ethic and our goals, which has been special and makes going into practice every day super exciting and fun."
Thomas and Zydanowicz join an exclusive list of Husky greats that have qualified for the NCAA Championships. The list includes:
- Katie O'Toole (1992, 1993, 1995)
- Danyelle Wood (1996)
- Sarah Casili (2001)
- Jillian Sullivan (2006)
- Lauren Sara (2011, 2014)
- Emily Durgin (2014)
- Mia Nahom (2019)
Sullivan and Sara (2014) are the only two Huskies in history to finish as All-Americans. Sullivan finished in 24th, and Sara finished in 35th. The top-40 runners in the Championships earn this distinction.
"To be in this position is special and to do it with your best friend is even more special. To see all your hard work and determination and everything come together," Zydanowicz emphasized."
"Jenna's literally my ride or die," said Thomas. "Every single meet I am lined up beside her because she's the person that gives me the most comfort and most confidence, and I hope I do the same for her…. Being able to do that all season and going into a national championship, look to my left or right and see Jenna is so special. I think that's the best way you could ask to finish off a career, is with your best friend."
The two best friends will line up together one last time at 10:20 am in Madison on ESPNU.
Players Mentioned
Players Mentioned
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