If you ask Haddam-Killingworth cross country coach Matt Diglio about the top runners in his program, one of the first names that comes to his mind is Brianna Minervino.

Brianna is serving as a captain for H-K’s girls’ cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track teams in her senior year. A key member of all three squads, Brianna competes in a wide variety of events for the Cougars.

“I have been involved in running since I was very young. My dad [John] is a big runner and got me involved in the little kid races that would take place before his races began,” Brianna says. “At H-K, I compete in the 5K distance during cross country. In indoor and outdoor track, I’ve raced in the 400, 600, 800, 1,000, 1,600, and 3,200 distances, as well as being a part of many 4x400, 4x800, and sprint medley relays.”

Brianna gained plenty of valuable experience as a runner after getting started at a young age. Brianna says the relationships that she’s built with her teammates are what keeps her participating in her sports on a year-round basis.

“My teammates are easily my favorite aspect of running. Running has provided me with some of the strongest and greatest friendships that I have ever had,” says Brianna. “The running community is like no other and truly does contain the best people and environment. My teammates are very important to me and make all the long runs, brutal workouts, and hard races enjoyable and worth it.”

Brianna has contributed to her fair share of championships at H-K, including a Shoreline Conference title for the girls’ outdoor track team during the 2021 spring season. One of Brianna’s proudest moments as a runner came in 2019, when she helped her cross country team claim both the Shoreline Conference crown and the Class SS state title.

“Our varsity squad started that season off on kind of a rough note. But after sitting down and having a heart-to-heart following practice one day, things really took a turn,” Brianna says. “We all changed our attitudes and realized how important it was to run for each other, as well as ourselves. Winning these titles showed us how hard work pays off and that a bad start doesn’t determine the rest of your season. These moments bonded us very strongly and were very meaningful.”

Coach Diglio says that Brianna has made a big impact for the cross country team from the second she stepped on the trails in her freshman year. Since then, Diglio has seen Brianna continually get better with each passing season.

“Brianna has been a contributing member of the team from the moment she joined our team as a freshman,” said Diglio. “She has consistently been one of our top five runners for the past three years and a key member of our Shoreline and state championship teams during that time.”

Brianna feels lucky to have Diglio as her coach in both cross country and track. Brianna describes Coach Diglio as a mentor and a friend.

“Coach Diglio is one of the most understanding, compassionate, and dedicated coaches you will ever meet and truly cares about all of his athletes,” Brianna says. “I consider him a great leader and feel comfortable turning to him for anything. He has helped me through injuries, hard times, and has been a constant support system.”

The support that Brianna receives from her coaches and teammates motivates her to perform her best in all three of her sports. Brianna also puts in a lot of hard work both on off the pathways in order to improve her performance.

“I try to stretch and roll out as much as possible before and after practice to help relieve tension and sore muscles. Also, I am very fond of cross training within the offseason,” says Brianna. “I enjoy going to the YMCA to swim laps for a good workout, as well as lifting. Running year-round can become very draining on your legs, so I find these things very helpful in avoiding injuries.”

Brianna has some big expectations about what H-K can achieve the rest of the way this year. Brianna wants to end her cross country run with the Cougars by finishing the season as both Shoreline Conference and state champs.

“I am very hopeful for this season. Although we lost some vital members of our team, I see some great potential and very hard workers within us,” Brianna says. “We all have been working very hard this season so far, and I am certain that it will pay off. We have created some large goals for ourselves this season, but I know that we have it in us to accomplish them.”