It has been a big autumn for Yellow Jackets athletics, thanks to cross country runner Caitlin Thomas. Thomas, a senior cross country and track and field runner, won the Westchester County Championship and has officially committed to the Georgia Institute of Technology for the Class of 2029 as a Division I athlete.
“It felt awesome to win the Westchester County Championship,” she said. “I worked really hard all summer, and it was super exciting to see the work pay off.” Her accomplished fall didn’t end there, as she raced through league, country, and section playoff races, ultimately becoming Hastings’ very own state champion. She also earned the special recognition of being named an All-Federation athlete, which solidified her place as one of the top runners in New York State.
While Thomas may sound unstoppable, she is honest in reflection that all of these accomplishments didn’t come easy. Reflecting on her county race, Thomas shared that “the race went out super fast, so it was definitely hard to hold on towards the end. To overcome this, I took the uphills easier and put pressure on the downhills.” Thomas was strategic in all of her races, and her dedication throughout the year is reflected in her prestigious trophies and medals. Out of all of her victories, she says she is most proud of her state championship win. “It was a super tough race with some really talented girls, and I put a lot of effort in [just] to get there,” she said.
Looking ahead, she is excited to continue her academics and athletics at Georgia Tech. “I chose Georgia Tech for its mix of elite academics and athletics as well as its supportive team environment,” she explained. “The kids on the team are super hardworking and talented, and the coaches are super passionate about the sport.”
As Thomas continues her final athletic year at HHS and prepares for her college running journey, she is still striving to leave an even more lasting mark than she already has.
