40 Years Later, Glastonbury Doctor's Running Feat Still Remarkable

GLASTONBURY, CT — Four decades ago this Thanksgiving, Dr. Leslie Wrixon completed one of the most remarkable running accomplishments ever in Connecticut — and she did it before her 18th birthday.

It was 1982 and Wrixon was a 17-year-old senior at Glastonbury High School. She said she felt prepared for the championship meet season after a grueling training schedule and dual-meet season that went off pretty well. What came next, though, was beyond anyone's imagination.

It all happened within about a month's time. Wrixon captured the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Class LL cross country championship, leaving her nearest competitor 26 seconds behind on the 4,000 meter course. She followed that up eight days later by winning the State Open, becoming the first state girl to break the 16-minute mark over 5,000 meters.

Wrixon then won the Manchester Road Race.

"It's a precious memory. It was a happy time in my life," said the now-57-year-old Wrixon. "Winning the high school championship races and winning the Manchester Road Race were the beginning of the next step of my career."

She was honored by race officials Thursday at the annual Earl Yost News Conference that kicks off the festivities leading up to the annual Thanksgiving Day event.

Longtime Manchester Road Race official Richard Dyer said it was "really special" to see Wrixon at Thursday's festivities.

"She is the only person ever to win the overall women's race in Manchester as a high school student and she still holds the age group record," Dyer said. "To also win the high school races that year and only a few years after Title IX was passed says a lot. It was historic and always will be."

Wrixon said the Manchester Road Race was a natural progression to the late-fall success she experienced in 1982.

"I had won the LL meet and the state open, so I was pretty pumped," Wrixon said. "I was feeling very energetic that Thanksgiving morning and I just went out fast."

Fast pretty much summed up her performance. She broke away from her competition over the second half of the race, and her time of 27:01 over the 4.748-mile course was 20 seconds ahead of defending champion Sue Richardson.

"I felt like I was in control when I reached the (Highland Park) hill," Wrixon said. "Manchester is a very colorful course in terms of the people who come there. The crowd pulled me along. When I reached Mile 4, I felt fast and I think I began my kick with about three-quarters-of-a-mile to go. I still had a lot of energy when I came screaming down Main Street."

Her time in that race is still the fastest ever run in the Female 14 to 18 age division.

Also winning in 1982 was Irish superstar Eamonn Coghlan (21:43). That spring, Wrixon also happened to win the state open 3,000-meter race in record time (10:16). She continued her running career at Boston College.

Wrixon no longer runs competitively, especially after heart surgery a few years ago. She now stays in condition with a rowing regimen and is a practicing psychotherapist in Glastonbury. She said she plans to attend the 86th running of the race on Thanksgiving morning.

On Thursday, she offered a tip for the person she was 40 years ago.

"Now, I work with young athletes and I recommend finding a consistent work habit," Wrixon said. "Don't overdo it. Find a coach that allows you to develop at the pace and style in which you do your best."