Emma Redett has the skills and drive to be one of the area’s top cross country runners this season. (Submitted photo)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

Last cross country season, Danbury High School sophomore, Emma Redett, made it to state, and this year, as a junior, she’s already showing promise of creating an exceptional year. She is only the second Danbury cross country girls runner to make it to the state level, and the first state qualifier didn’t actually run at the state meet.

“So Emma is the first to go to state,” said Danbury girls cross country coach, Jane Letterhos.

Reditt’s personal best in the 5,000-meter last year was 19.55. At this year’s first meet, she ran 20.22, which beat her 2023 first-meet run of 22.26 by about two minutes, proving she has improved tremendously over the last year.

“She’s already a couple of minutes ahead of where she needs to be in the season,” Letterhos said.

Letterhos said Redett has what it takes to make a great athlete.

“She’s got that competitive mindset, and she wants to win,” Letterhos said. “She has the drive in her to push herself to do whatever she needs to do.”

Redett also ran outdoor track last season, where she podiumed in the two-mile. That experience and her success in reaching state are giving her a strong mental foundation for this season.

“I think coming off that strong season, she gained a lot of confidence in herself and her abilities,” Letterhos said. “Running is 90% mental, and she’s catching on quickly to that mental part.”

Letterhos has transformed her coaching style this year, which has the potential to give Redett another edge on the track.

“We’re taking a new training approach this year. We’re implementing more strides and more race pace work, and we’re working on starts and finishes and mirroring what happens in the race in different segments during practice,” Letterhos said.

Those changes, which strengthen the runners’ mental game, are creating improvements across the team. Mimicking a race in practice prepares them for competition.

“You know how it’s going to feel. You know it’s going to hurt, but when you’ve overcome that in practice, you know you can overcome it during a meet,” Letterhos said.

Even though it’s early in the season, Letterhos already recognizes strong potential in Redett.

“She could definitely make it to state. I would absolutely love to see her on the podium down there,” Letterhos said. “I truly think that’s possible. She just has to continue to put in the time and work, and work on her mental game, too.”