Dinnan shines as freshman

In Freshman Courtney Dinnan's hometown of Hamden, where she blossomed into an enormous cross country and track star, her friends, classmates, even coaches joke about the "mistake" she made in high school. Rather than running cross country in the fall of her freshman year she played soccer.

That winter, after her successful indoor track season, it was clear she would not return to the Hamden High soccer team the next fall. It is safe to say Dinnan made the right choice choosing the trail over turf, and running cross-country.

Dinnan made another great choice when she chose to run here at UConn over Maryland and Quinnipiac among others. She concluded that UConn was the right fit for her.

"It is a big school with a lot of school spirit," she said. "I love running at UConn and I could not be happier with the way things have gone so far."

Dinnan runs cross country, indoor and outdoor track. Her cross country career started out with a bang this September. In her first college meet she won the Blue Devil Invitational, as the team finished second. Two weeks later, she finished first for UConn with a personal best time of 18:34. The next meet, she returned home to face Quinnipiac. On a rainy day with a disappointing team showing, Dinnan shined finishing first for the team again. Sickness and injuries limited her in the final four meets, but Dinnan still qualified for the NCAA Regional Championships. Now she looks forward to the indoor track season and the rest of her career at UConn.

"I hope to do the best I possibly can," Dinnan said. "I want to look back and say I had a great four years."

Dinnan's presence and success as a freshman is a great accomplishment, but her more impressive presence is off the track. She knows what the sport is all about, and handles herself the way a runner should. She is humble, encouraging and does not put herself above the team. Even though running may seem individual, Dinnan is a team player and has helped teammates get better since she started running. In high school, rather than going home after meets, Dinnan would often stick around and cheer on the boys' varsity and junior varsity races. She never once placed herself above the team.

Her former coach at Hamden, Nils Leblang, echoed these sentiments; "Courtney was one of the finest ladies to come out of HHS in the 14 years I coached. She is the best runner I've seen and an even better student."

It all started 2005, in the woods of Hamden's Brooksvale Park. As a sophomore, she was the best overall runner on the Hamden High cross country team. In her first career race, Dinnan won and set the course record at the West Beach Invitational. As a three time All-Area selection and two-time All-Area MVP in cross-country Dinnan captained Hamden to an impressive record in 2 years and won two individual SCC championships. She also finished her senior season undefeated in head-to-head meets. During practice senior year, she consistently trained with the boys varsity runners to improve her stride. After being recruited by colleges since her junior year, Dinnan made the decision to become a Husky in April of 2008.

"I loved the coaches here and I knew UConn was a special place. They said that I will probably leave here with Big East Championship rings," Dinnan said.

Championship rings are not the only thing on Dinnan's mind. She is enjoying the atmosphere and the full college experience at UConn.

"I have had a lot of fun meeting some of the basketball players and other athletes at the dining hall and athletic facilities," she said.

Dinnan also likes spending time with friends, when she is not on the track.

After a semester at Storrs, Dinnan has not forgotten about Hamden. During Thanksgiving break she returned to train with her old teammates. It does not matter how many races she has won, or with whom she has eaten at the dining hall, in the end Dinnan still keeps a low profile. And when asked about the Olympic Trials in four years, Dinnan answers in the same humble, yet focused approach she uses on the track.

"I'm just worried about qualifying for the Big East Championship," she said.

Just like at meets, Dinnan does not look back or too far ahead. She only focuses on what is in front of her.