Running is considered to be an individual sport, but there is also very much a team aspect to the game, too. Lauren Dobratz understands this sentiment all too well, as she helped to facilitate and lead the Old Saybrook girls’ indoor track team, both on and off the circuit, to the Shoreline Conference Championship crown this winter.

The Rams senior captain competes in the hurdles, high jump, and long jump, and has her main mentor to thank for the success she’s found in all three events.

“I honestly had no intention of running track until fall of my freshman year,” says Lauren. “My coach, Peter Capezzone, saw me running on the soccer team and asked me what other sports I play. I responded with none, and he told me I would be running on his track and field team. Although at that time I just knew Cap as the cross country coach, Coach Cap has been my biggest inspiration and supporter to continue to grow as an athlete and as a person outside of track. He has always stood in my corner and believed in me.”

Capezzone has seen Lauren transform as an athlete since her rookie year, and and is impressed by all the strides she’s made on and off the track, particularly as a support system for her teammates.

“She has come a long way in her leadership skills, her athleticism has always been there. She has gotten better as an athlete, and not all kids are leaders,” says Capezzone. “It is a different ball game. It is one thing to do what you have to do individually and take care of yourself, but sometimes it is harder to rise up for yourself, and help the other kids on the team. Lauren has really come a long way with her leadership part of it. I am very happy with the way that she has come along.”

Having good support around you is the biggest driving force behind an athlete’s success, and Lauren has certainly grown to appreciate that, and has used it to help amp up her performances.

“I would not be where I am in my track career today without my mom by my side every step of the way. She is always the first one I look at before and after my events,” says Lauren. “Whether I cleared the bar, got a bad time, or jumped super sloppy or not, my mom will always have the biggest smile on her face and be proud of me. I love and appreciate my mom to the moon and back again.”

In addition to being one of the leaders on the track this winter, Lauren additionally kept herself busy as a captain of the girls’ soccer team in the fall, and participates in outdoor track in the spring, so she truly is the full package.

During the Shoreline Conference Championship meet on Feb. 2, Lauren earned First Team All-Shoreline honors in the hurdles, with a time of 9.14. She was named Second Team All-Shoreline in the high jump (4’10”), and placed third in the long jump, jumping 15’3.75”.

“She helped us win the championship, and has done a nice job with some of the younger kids during the beginning of the season,” says Capezzone. “We needed her to rise up as a captain, and I am very happy in the way that she has come along in that respect.”

One thing Lauren takes pride in is her ability to lead by example, constantly showing her teammates the proper warm-up routine before practice or a race, and keeping everyone in a constant mode of wanting to grow as student-athletes.

“I was able to lead my team this past season by spending more time with our warm-ups,” Lauren says. “The way we start a practice determines our flexibility and energy, and to achieve our championship goals, we have to stay in a progressive mindset all the time. I spend the majority of my time with the jumpers on my team during practice, and my fellow captains are with the other girls based on events.”

On Feb. 9, Lauren and the Rams competed in the Class S State Championships. Lauren ran a personal record (PR) time during the preliminaries of the 55m hurdles, with a time of 9.11. She also placed second in the high jump, jumping 4’10’’.

“I also competed in the long jump for states, although I did not place where I would have liked. I jumped 15’5,” which was a mark I was grateful to have after running back and forth between three events running at the same time,” says Lauren. “I achieved another personal record in the beginning of this season, at the Coast Guard Developmental Meet. I jumped 16’9.5” in the long jump. That record has given me our Old Saybrook indoor school record.”

Lauren was the only one to qualify for the State Open Championship for the Rams, which took place on Feb. 17. Although she did not place, the opportunity to be there proved even more her dedication to her craft, and her consistency with all of her events.

“She would not have made it to the Opens if she did not place first in hurdles for states. It was a very, very competitive hurdles this year, to try to get on to the Opens,” says Capezzone. “She has been very consistent this season, and that is key when coming to the jumps, and she has done a nice job with that.”

Lauren was thrilled to be able to participate on the big stage at the State Open meet, and was grateful for the chance to even be able to compete in front of her peers.

“I was extremely thankful to qualify for the State Opens meet for the high jump,” Lauren says. “I did not jump as well as I wanted to, however, again, I was very grateful to have been given the opportunity to represent the Old Saybrook girls’ track team, as I was the only female athlete from my team that qualified. I would love to acknowledge Bardth Thaci and Parker Cook, the other two athletes from the boys’ track and field/throwing team that qualified for State Opens.”

As Lauren concludes her winter campaign, she looks forward to bringing that same energy and hard work to her final outdoor track season this spring.

“I am really looking forward to the spring season, I personally think it is so much more fun than the indoor season,” Lauren says. “Practicing outside in the fresh spring air is definitely something I am looking forward to. I am excited to break more records, and I know with passion, we can take home another Shoreline, and possibly state championship, title.”