Lucy Moran might have been late to the track party in terms of her high school athletic career, but she more than made up with her proficient and prodigious pace. It all culminated with arguably one of the best solo performances in Branford track history.

The Class of 2024 graduate played soccer for 13 years, and track was never a thought until her freshman year, when she joined and practiced with the Hornets. Lucy’s first full-time competitive campaign did not come until a year ago during the outdoor slate for her junior year.

At the New Balance National Championships in Philadelphia last month, Lucy broke her own school record that she set earlier that same postseason in the outdoor 800 meters by clocking in at two minutes and 12.79 seconds. Moreso, she was part of a sprint medley team that also set a new program mark by finishing in a blistering squad sequence of 4:09.19. In that relay run for Lucy’s personal leg of it, she sped across the track in a swift pace of two minutes and 11 seconds.

“I love how track is more of a lifestyle that brings a lot of discipline with it. I just love competing and the things we did in practice. I love the structure track brings as well,” says Lucy. “Nationals was honestly a great wrap to the year. I did not get the times I wanted earlier in the postseason, so I was really motivated. It was the best weekend of track I had ever been a part of. I was really disciplined the last four weeks leading up to it, so it was really nice to set those records. It was a great time and experience going there with a great group of girls.”

Before she begins racing and running her legs, Lucy knows she has to slow down her mind at first before getting out of the starting blocks. She knows that a sound runner must get out of a down head set and reflect on their past feats and current abilities.

“I try not to stress too much before a race. In the past, I would get nervous before races and think negatively,” Lucy says. “But I knew this was my last season, so I just told myself to run the best I could out there.”

Speaking more to the mind games, Lucy knows that is the right amount of pride without arrogance that can really propel a competitor. She breaks down the sport to its most basic elements and view and just attacks the track.

“The mental game is 100% the biggest part of track,” says Lucy. “It is how you approach the race. You have to go into it confident and realize at the end of the day, we are all just running in circles. I just remind myself who I am and what I have done. I think the ability to push through anything is what separates the competitors.”

Pounding the pitch has helped cultivate Lucy’s stamina over the years. She details that her technique may have been off when she arrived as a fresh-faced athlete. Yet she has worked hard and perfected it over the course of time while diligently rehabbing through injury.

“From playing soccer for so many years, I have had a lot of endurance through all the miles I ran on the field,” Lucy says. “My running form my freshman year was bad. But I did drills daily to improve my form, and it also helped increase my speed. I was injured during the fall and winter, but I did cross training to stay sharp, which was huge for me.”

Branford track Head Coach Kevin Connell notes that Lucy’s tireless dedication to her craft has enabled her to be not only a standout in her state, but all of New England. He also adds that she may have taken the anchor spot for any relay she has lined up for; she did anything but bring the Hornets to a screeching halt.

“Lucy is an extremely dedicated athlete; she sets high goals for herself and works diligently to achieve them. Her training has enabled her to become one of the top middle distance runners in the Northeast,” says Connell. “She has positioned herself as the anchor runner in every relay she has competed on for Branford, and she has never let her teammates down. Over the past season, culminating with the New Balance Nationals, she has left us in awe of her drive to win. She has run some of the most outstanding anchor legs I've ever seen. Her teammates have total confidence in her.”

While Lucy reciprocates the admiration and gratitude back to her coach, she adds that he really helped shape her scope of the sport. Still, the camaraderie and the bus rides all around the state to various competitions are the moments that she will remember most.

“I definitely have to give so much thanks to Coach Connell,” says Lucy. “He really helped change my view on the sport of track for the better. My dad was also a huge help in training me. Being around everyone on the track team was really nice; it was honestly the best part of it all and going to the meets with my friends.”