The 5-foot-7 sophomore placed ninth at the national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships this past season with a time of 17:50, earning All-American honors. Connolly also finished fourth at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional championships and won the Division 1 state meet with a time of 18:27, breaking the tape 58 seconds ahead of her next-closest competitor. The Boston Globe Division 1 Runner of the Year, she was unbeaten against in-state competition this past fall.
Connolly has maintained an A-minus average in the classroom. She will begin her junior year of high school this fall.
One of 12 members of her school's Student Advisory Council, Connolly has volunteered locally as part of multiple fundraising campaigns to benefit cancer research and as a youth running coach. "Grace was an extremely impressive cross country runner this fall," said Chris Van Cott, head coach of Needham High. "I was particularly impressed with her ability and desire to compete against older, faster runners last year despite only being a freshman. Additionally, she's a model student-athlete."
